Deportivo Maldonado secured a 2-0 victory over Cerrito in the second round of the Uruguayan Cup Group Stage on Tuesday evening. The result keeps the visitors' hopes alive in the competition despite a difficult start. Both sides entered with mixed recent form, but only one managed to convert pressure into goals.
The match turned on two red cards in quick succession. Cerrito went down to ten men at the 44th minute, and Deportivo lost E. Mozzone just three minutes later. The back-to-back dismissals levelled the numbers, but neither side gained an advantage. And here's the thing — the game opened up rather than closing down, with both teams forced to adjust on the fly.
Deportivo Maldonado took their chances when they came. G. Larrazabal broke the deadlock in the 81st minute, and S. Cartagena added a penalty in stoppage time. The visitors had only six shots on target all afternoon, yet they were clinical. Cerrito managed five but couldn't find the net despite their numerical parity after the first half.
The statistics tell a familiar story. Cerrito held 51 per cent possession and registered 70 attacks, while Deportivo Maldonado edged ahead with 76 and 49 per cent possession. Shots off target were nearly double for the visitors — nine to four — suggesting they tried more from distance. Cerrito's four yellow cards and Deportivo's five added up to a heated encounter.
Cerrito's recent run has been uneven. They beat Uruguay Montevideo 3-0 on their last home outing but lost 1-2 to Sporivo Huracan and 0-1 to Colon in the weeks before. Deportivo Maldonado have struggled to score — two draws and two losses in their last five — but their 2-0 win over Progreso showed they can still deliver.
By then the result was in doubt, and Deportivo Maldonado closed the game out. The two-goal margin means they move ahead in the group standings, while Cerrito must now win their remaining fixtures to stay competitive. Cup football has its own rules, and this afternoon the visitors proved they could dig in when it mattered.
