Mantaa beat Orense 2:1 in the Relegation Group of the Liga Pro at the Estadio Jockey on Monday evening. The hosts took what they needed from the visitors despite having less possession. Three goals decided it, and the pattern was clear from the first 20 minutes.
Jose Enrique Angulo Caicedo opened the scoring in the 29th minute, then added a second just before the half-hour mark. The visitors had already pushed forward with intent after the opening exchanges. Mantaa's defence held firm against the pressure.
Pedro Velasco had already picked up a yellow card for Mantaa in the 13th minute. Glendys Calos Mina followed with a booking for Orense 22 minutes in. Octavio Moscarelli and Gabriel Achilier both received yellow cards just before the break. Jean Carlos Blanco Becerra converted a penalty in the 35th minute to level matters.
The visitors had created only 1 big chance all game, and this was it. And here's the thing — Mantaa had 5 big chances of their own. The penalty converted that one opportunity into a level scoreline.
The substitutions started in the 27th minute with Rolando David Silva for Orense. 55 minutes brought double changes for both sides. Calos Mina and Angulo were both withdrawn together, then replaced in the 56th minute. Andrés Parrales and Juan Jimenez added to the card count for Orense at the same time. By then, the match had settled into a rhythm neither side could break.
Mantaa held 43 per cent possession but took 8 shots with 5 on target. Orense dominated with 57 per cent and 10 attempts, 6 on target. The visitors created just 1 big chance against Mantaa's 5. To be fair, the table tells a different story.
Mantaa sit 6th with 21 points from 30 games, while Orense occupy 3rd place with 33. We had backed the away side at 37 per cent confidence, but the match went another way. Mantaa's efficiency in front of goal is what broke the prediction.
