Portuguesa claimed a remarkable 4-3 victory over Academia Anzoátegui in the Clausura third round on Saturday evening. The match, played at the Académia's home ground, finished with three goals in the final nine minutes to decide everything. It was a result that left the hosts reeling after they had led at one stage.
Academia Anzoátegui struck first through C. Urpin in the tenth minute, a goal that set the tone for their early dominance. They pinned the visitors back for much of the opening half, though Portuguese goalkeeper managed to keep them in it with a save. O. Lopez doubled the home side's advantage just before the break with a 45-plus-two minute finish, and by then Academia looked comfortable.
The momentum shifted sharply after the restart. J. Canete pulled one back for Portuguesa in the fifty-ninth minute, and then L. Lovazzano equalised in the sixty-first. Things came to a head as the home side, who had been in control, suddenly found themselves chasing the game. The wheels came off for Academia as Portuguesa sensed an opening.
The final quarter produced pure drama. J. Silgado restored Academia's lead in the ninetieth minute, but A. Velasco responded almost immediately in the ninety-first to snatch victory for the visitors. The incident at the end left both sides exhausted, with five yellow cards shown in total across the match.
Portuguesa's efficiency was the difference. They created four big chances against none for the hosts, and their shot accuracy of 50 percent compared to Academia's 32 percent told the story. The visitors had less possession at 58 percent but made them count when it mattered.
The result lifts Portuguesa to fourth place with 33 points from 21 games, while Academia Anzoátegui remain in thirteenth with just 21 points. It was a result that extended Portuguesa's unbeaten run and ended a poor sequence for the hosts, who had lost three of their last five matches.