Nacional Asuncion beat San Lorenzo 3-0 in the seventh round of the Professional Division Clausura on 28 August. The visitors took all three points from the away fixture, extending their unbeaten run while San Lorenzo's struggles continued.
I. Valdez opened the scoring just before half-time, converting in the 45th minute plus three. He had been on the pitch for 23 minutes when the goal came — and here's the thing, by then Nacional had already shown they could hit when it mattered. Two more strikes followed: I. Bailone in the 90th minute and G. Benitez four minutes into stoppage time, snatching the final nail into the coffin.
San Lorenzo turned to the bench at half-time, bringing on J. Duarte, J. Barrios and J. Salcedo in quick succession. Nacional responded by subbing Valdez off after his goal, bringing on F. Jara — perhaps to rest the man who had put them ahead. The hosts threw three players on at the 80th minute, but the damage was done. To be fair, Nacional could have gone further, but they chose to manage the game rather than pile it on.
The statistics tell a story of efficiency. Nacional registered six shots on target from 12 attempts, hitting 50 per cent accuracy. San Lorenzo managed two shots on target from 12, with just 17 per cent accuracy. Both sides had equal possession at 50 per cent, but it was clear who took their chances. The hosts had more attacks — 112 to 93 — but many of them went nowhere.
The result leaves San Lorenzo rooted to 11th place with just one point from three games, having lost three of their last five matches. Nacional sit fifth with four points, their only defeat coming away at Deportivo Recoleta in a 2-3 loss. The gap between them on the table is growing, and by then it was clear which side had the momentum.
