LDU Portoviejo secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Santo Domingo in the Lliga Pro Serie B Relegation Group - 3 on Thursday night. The result at minute 12 proved decisive, though the match itself offered little else to distinguish it. To be fair, neither side created much of substance throughout the ninety minutes.
The only goal arrived early, catching both defences before they had settled. Portoviejo took advantage of a moment of indecision and finished clinically. And here's the thing — once that lead took shape, the visitors found themselves chasing shadows for the remainder of the fixture.
The statistics tell a curious story. Santo Domingo enjoyed 58 per cent possession and registered 85 attacks against Portoviejo's 64. Yet the visitors managed only two shots on target, while the hosts produced the same number and scored one. There is no value left at that number without conversion, and the away end never stopped despite the lack of clear chances.
The result keeps both sides firmly in the middle of the relegation battle. Portoviejo remain ninth on 27 points from 22 games, while Santo Domingo sit eighth with 28 points. The gap between them is marginal, and every point in this group carries weight. By then, the hosts will know this win matters more than the possession figures suggest.
Portoviejo's recent form has been steady — three clean sheets in their last five matches before this victory. Santo Domingo showed more variation, including a 3-3 draw earlier in the season. The hosts held the tie in their own hands going forward, even if the margin of victory was slim.