Real Esport claimed a 1:0 win against Academia Anzoátegui in the Clausura round eight of the First Division. Jose Ali Meza opened the scoring in the 24th minute, and the hosts held on to take all three points at home. The result keeps them in second place with 20 points from 20 games.
Academia Anzoátegui pushed for an equaliser after the break, bringing on fresh legs in the 62nd minute when Rommell Jhoan Ibarra Hernández came on for Juan Luis Perdomo. They also substituted Emerson Ruiz for Pablo Rojas at the same stage. By then the hosts had tightened things up and were not looking to be moved.
There were two yellow cards in the first half — David Guevara and Rommell Jhoan Ibarra Hernández for the visitors, Nelson Hernandez for the hosts. Real Esport made a double change at the break, bringing on Juan Sebastián Zeballos for Hernandez. The visitors had been struggling to find rhythm, having lost three of their last five matches.
Miguel Eduardo Gonzalez Acosta scored for Academia Anzoátegui in the 73rd minute, a moment that briefly lifted the visitors but came too late to change the outcome. Real Esport made several substitutions after the hour to manage the game, with Guillermo Marin, Flabian Londono Bedoya, Leandro Fioravanti and Carlos Barrios all introduced.
Real Esport sit second in the table with 20 points after 20 games, having won 11, drawn seven and lost twice. Academia Anzoátegui remain 13th with just 13 points from three wins and four draws. The hosts had drawn their last outing 1:1 with Puerto-Cabello before this victory, while the visitors have now lost three of their last five matches.