LUGO, Spain (Interstat) — Lugo held off visiting AD Merida 2-1 on Sunday, using a first-half goal from Chiqui and another Lugo goal credited to Alex Gallar to secure the home result. Chiqui scored in the 32nd minute and played 82 minutes. Gallar also played 82 minutes and was listed with one goal. AD Merida answered through Sigurdur Hallsson in the 77th minute, but the visitors could not produce an equalizer. Hallsson played the full match, scored once and received a yellow card. Alberto Ulloa of Lugo played the full match and recorded an assist. Daniel Sandoval of AD Merida provided an assist in 24 minutes. The game remained tight after Hallsson’s goal, and Lugo managed the closing stages well enough to protect its advantage. The result gave Lugo its fifth win of the competition season and handed AD Merida its first loss in this competition after a draw and three victories.

The match was physical and heavily officiated. The first half alone produced five yellow cards, including four for AD Merida. AD Merida received seven yellow cards overall: Barbu in the 20th minute, Csenterics A. in the 21st, Gonzalez Nacho in the 43rd, Hallsson in first-half stoppage time, Beneit R. in the 56th, Lopez J. in the 64th and Almeida G. in the 86th. Lugo was booked twice, with Godoy A. receiving a yellow card in the 38th minute and Costa A. in second-half stoppage time. The bookings disrupted the flow of a contest that remained close into the final minutes, and AD Merida finished with more disciplinary attention than the home side. Lugo’s Godoy A. was also substituted at the start of the second half after his booking.

Lugo’s substitutions began at the start of the second half, when Godoy A. came off in the 46th minute. AD Merida made a double change in the 66th minute with Barbu and Sanz H. departing. Lugo then made a pair of changes in the 82nd minute, with Chiqui and Gallar A. coming off, while AD Merida also changed Jay A. and Carrillo H. in the 82nd. Lugo’s Ulloa A. was substituted in the 90th minute, and AD Merida’s Beneit R. came off in second-half stoppage time. The changes gave both sides fresh legs for the closing stretch, though Lugo’s defense held after Hallsson’s goal.

The result leaves Lugo with five wins and one loss in the competition and across all competitions. AD Merida now has three wins, one loss and one draw in the competition and across all competitions. Lugo’s previous results this season included a 4-1 loss at R. Union, a 3-0 home win over Dep. Fabril, a 3-1 home win over UD Logrones, a 2-1 win at Real Aviles and a 1-0 home win over Racing Club Ferrol. AD Merida’s previous results included a scoreless draw with Coria CF, a 4-0 win at Arenas Getxo, a 2-1 win at Pontevedra and a 2-0 home win over Cacereno. Lugo’s home form in the competition has been strong, while AD Merida’s road results included the scoreless draw, the win at Arenas Getxo and the win at Pontevedra.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Lugo 1, AD Merida 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Lugo with a 55.6 percent probability to win. Lugo had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.5.