Libertad Asunción ground out a narrow away victory against Deportivo Cuenca at Alejandro Serrano Aguero on Monday evening, winning 1-0 in the Liga Pro regular season. The result leaves both sides within touching distance of each other in the table, though the points gap widens slightly. Cuenca remain eleventh with thirty-five points after twenty-eight matches, while Libertad move up to eighth with thirty-eight.
Enrique Rafael Caicedo Borja made the difference in the sixty-seventh minute, finishing what was a sparse encounter. And here's the thing — it was the only shot on target that mattered all evening. Cuenca dominated possession at fifty-five per cent and created more chances, but Libertad's visitors found a way through when it counted.
There were plenty of yellow cards flying, five in total across the ninety minutes. D. Coronel and Cristhian Benalcazar saw trouble early for Cuenca, while Ordonez and Rodriguez went off together in the sixty-ninth minute. Edison Vega added his name to the list before the break ended, suggesting a game that grew increasingly ragged as frustration set in.
By then the pattern was clear enough. Cuenca had twenty-two corners, forty crosses, and thirteen shots to show for their territorial advantage. Three hit the target with thirteen per cent accuracy. Libertad managed just two corners, fourteen crosses, and three shots — but seventy-five per cent accuracy. To be fair, one goal from three attempts is efficiency most sides would take away from home.
The statistics tell a familiar story of a side that controls the ball but cannot convert. Cuenca completed four hundred and fourteen passes in total, but their attack lacked the cutting edge needed. Libertad's goalkeeper made three saves, none particularly demanding, while Cuenca's keeper had four to make — one of them likely crucial in keeping the visitors behind.
This result closes the gap between the two sides to just three points, though Cuenca have a game in hand. They cannot afford another slip if they want to climb out of the middle of the table. Libertad, meanwhile, extend their unbeaten run to two matches and keep their own ambitions alive.
