Encarnación secured a 3-1 win away to Sporativo Carapeguá in the Intermedia regular season on Saturday. The visitors moved from behind to take all three points, finishing with a goal difference that matters more than the table suggests. And here's the thing — the hosts controlled much of the game yet could only muster one shot on target.
E. Balbuena opened the scoring in the 16th minute, giving Carapeguá an early lead. He doubled his tally in the 31st minute, and the home side looked set to close out a comfortable victory. A. Cabrera pulled one back for the visitors in the 36th minute, but the hosts refused to yield. To be fair, Sporativo had more possession and more attacks, but possession means little when you cannot finish.
It was not until the 90+5th minute that the match truly turned. F. Viveros scored for Encarnación, completing a comeback that felt like it came out of nowhere. By then, the hosts had already spent most of their energy in attack without converting properly. The away goal changed everything — a late strike that undid a dominant first half.
The statistics tell a story of wasted opportunity. Carapeguá enjoyed 62 per cent possession and recorded 103 attacks compared to 85 for the visitors. Yet they managed only one shot on target from 11 attempts, while Encarnación hit the target four times from seven shots. By then the hosts had already seen their chances slip through their fingers.
In the standings, Carapeguá remain eighth with 28 points from 21 games, four wins and four draws keeping them clear of trouble. Encarnación sit sixteenth with 15 points and 14 losses — a result that does not move the needle much, but one that proves they can still compete away from home.
