Maraton secured a narrow 1:0 victory over Olimpia in the seventh round of the National League Apertura on Saturday evening. The home side took all three points at their own ground, extending their unbeaten run to eight matches across all competitions. Both teams arrived with strong recent form, but only one could finish with something to celebrate.
The opening exchanges were characterised by caution rather than adventure, with referees quick to reach for their cards. N. Dibble picked up the first booking at the five-minute mark, and by then it was clear this would be a physical affair. E. Cuello and D. Paguada both went into the sin-bin around the thirty-sixth minute, while J. Rivera joined them shortly after.
The match shifted at the half-hour of the second period when E. Cuello received his second yellow and was sent off. That left Olimpia chasing the game from that point forward, and they had to make do with the deeper squad they had remaining. By then Maraton were already comfortable enough to control the tempo without forcing issues.
H. Figueroa broke the deadlock in the eighty-second minute, capitalising on space that had opened up since the dismissal. We had backed the hosts to come out on top in our preview, and the result confirmed that assessment. The goal came when Olimpia were still trying to recover, and it was enough to seal the win for Maraton.
There was more drama to come in the dying moments. B. Farioli collected two yellows in quick succession, arriving at his second booking in the ninety-second minute of added time. The late dismissals kept the tension high until the final whistle, though neither side could find a second goal.
The statistics tell a story of control rather than domination. Maraton registered ninety-nine attacks compared to Olimpia's seventy-seven, though the visitors managed six shots on target to the hosts' three. Possession sat at sixty-two per cent for the home side, but they did not turn those numbers into a more convincing margin.
The result moves Maraton further clear at the top with seventeen points from seven games. Olimpia remain in third place on fourteen points, still within reach of the leaders but now facing a tougher path. The gap may look small, but every point matters when the season is this tight.