Carlu Manucci edged past Unsaaq 3:1 in Thursday's Women's League fixture, the Clausura stage four encounter ending with the hosts claiming all three points. The result lifts them off the bottom of the table, if only temporarily, while Unsaaq remain in ninth place with six points from ten games. and here's the thing, neither side was exactly brimming with confidence coming into this one.
Manucci had lost eight of their previous ten league matches before Thursday, including a 12-goal hammering at the hands of Universidad de Deportes. Unsaaq's recent run looked marginally steadier with three draws in their last five, though they'd also dropped points against weaker opposition. Both sides knew this was a chance to build something, even if the margin for error remained razor-thin.
The attacking statistics told a curious story, with Unsaaq registering 107 attacks to Manucci's 96. Yet the scoreline suggests the visitors missed their chances, while Manucci took theirs when it mattered. by then, the match had already decided itself despite the numerical parity in offensive output.
Manucci collected four yellow cards during the contest, twice the number picked up by their opponents. The disciplinary record didn't alter the outcome, but it hints at a game where nerves frayed on both sides. Seven offsides called against the hosts compared to just two for Unsaaq might have frustrated their build-up play.
The result leaves Manucci on four points in eleventh place after ten matches, while Unsaaq hold sixth place with six points. Neither position offers much comfort, but Thursday's performance could prove pivotal if either side can string together a run of results. to be fair, neither team looked like they belonged at this level yet.