FORTALEZA (Interstat) — Matias Segovia scored in the 51st minute and America MG beat Ceara 1-0 in a Brazilian football match on Sunday at Estádio Governador Plácido Aderaldo Castelo. Ceara was the home side, while America MG was the visitor. The goal was the only scoring play of the match and decided a contest that remained tight through the final whistle. Ceara had the support of the home crowd but could not turn possession into a tying goal.

The first half ended scoreless. Ceara made a 30th-minute substitution involving Lopez R., and both sides made halftime changes, with Savio involved for Ceara and Paulo Victor involved for America MG. The match remained level until the early stages of the second half.

Segovia’s goal came one minute after Ceara’s Rian Santana received a yellow card. Eduardo Person was credited with the assist on the play. America MG protected the one-goal lead through the second half and added late bookings while Ceara pushed for an equalizer that did not come. The result improved America MG to 4-1 in the competition and 4-1 across all competitions. Ceara dropped to 1-4-1 in the competition and 1-4-1 overall. Ceara’s best spell came after halftime, but it could not find an equalizer. America MG defended compactly and kept the home side from scoring. The visitors’ goal came from their most influential attacking player, Segovia, who also picked up a late yellow card. Ceara pressed late but could not break through. The final whistle confirmed America MG’s win. Ceara’s home defeat left it without a win in the match.

Ceara finished with more disciplinary attention. Rian Santana was booked in the 50th minute, Lenny Lobato in the 76th, Lucca in the fourth minute of stoppage time and Richard in the seventh minute of stoppage time. America MG’s L. Montes was booked in the 79th minute, Segovia in the 83rd and Gustavo Barreto in the second minute of stoppage time. The cards came as the match grew more physical in the closing stages. Ceara’s bookings interrupted its attempts to build sustained pressure, while America MG accepted the stops and protected its lead. The match produced seven yellow cards in all.

Both sides used substitutions to reshape the match. Ceara made a 30th-minute change involving Lopez R., brought on Savio at halftime and made two changes in the 59th involving Richardson and Rian Santana. Bryan Borges entered for Ceara in the 73rd minute. America MG brought on Paulo Victor at halftime, Ostchega T. in the 66th minute and Otavio Goncalves in the 89th. America MG also made late changes involving Segovia and Willian Bigode in the third minute of stoppage time. The substitutions added fresh legs for both teams as Ceara chased the game and America MG looked to close it out.

America MG’s win followed recent results that included a 3-1 victory at Londrina, a 1-0 home win over Cuiaba and a 1-0 home win over Operario-PR. Ceara’s recent run included a 2-1 loss at Athletic Club, a 2-0 home loss to Goias and a 2-2 home draw with Juventude. The match at Estádio Governador Plácido Aderaldo Castelo played out differently from the pregame projections. America MG’s result added another win to a run that had already produced three victories in its previous four matches before the trip to Fortaleza.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Ceara 1, America MG 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Ceara with a 90.2 percent probability to win. Ceara had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 1 went over the over/under line of 2.5.