In a tightly contested Paraguayan Division Intermedia encounter at the Estadio Municipal de Encarnación, Guaireña FC staged a spirited second‑half comeback to defeat Encarnación FC 2‑1 on Thursday night. The victory moved Guaireña into the upper half of the table, while the home side were left to rue missed opportunities in front of their own supporters.

Match Overview

The match kicked off under clear skies with both sides eager to assert themselves early. Encarnación FC, playing in front of a passionate home crowd, took the initiative and were rewarded with a goal midway through the first half. However, Guaireña responded with discipline and tactical adjustments in the second period, turning the match on its head with two well‑worked goals.

Key Moments

• 24' – Encarnación open the scoring: A swift counter‑attack caught the Guaireña defence off guard. The home side’s striker controlled a long ball on the edge of the box, held off a defender, and fired a low drive into the far corner past the helpless visiting goalkeeper.
• 58' – Guaireña equalise: A short corner routine created space for the left‑back to whip a cross to the near post, where a Guaireña forward glanced a header inside the upright. It was a well‑rehearsed set‑piece that highlighted the visitors’ preparation.
• 73' – Guaireña complete the turnaround: A‑classic counter‑punch saw the away side break with pace. The ball was switched from right to left, and a powerful, low cross was turned in at the back post by substitute striker Óscar Cabrera, who had only been on the pitch for six minutes.

Tactical Story

Encarnación FC started in a 4‑4‑2 formation, looking to exploit Guaireña’s high defensive line with direct balls. Their aggressive early pressing paid off, but they struggled to maintain intensity after the interval. Guaireña, set up in a 4‑2‑3‑1, gradually took control of midfield by dropping deeper to compress space and launching quick transitions. Manager Juan Falcón’s decision to introduce fresh legs on the flanks proved decisive, as the visitors’ width stretched Encarnación’s backline in the final twenty minutes.

Standout Players

• Ángel Rojas (Guaireña): The central midfielder was the engine of the comeback. He completed 89% of his passes, won four duels, and provided the assist for the equaliser with a perfectly weighted corner.
• Martín Duarte (Encarnación FC): Despite the loss, Duarte was a constant threat on the left wing, creating four chances and delivering dangerous crosses. He deserved more from his performance.
• Marcos Benítez (Guaireña): The goalkeeper made a crucial one‑on‑one save just minutes after the equaliser, keeping his side level and allowing the match‑winner to follow.

Table Impact

With the three points, Guaireña climbed to 5th place in the Division Intermedia standings on 26 points from 15 matches, just four points adrift of the promotion playoff places. Encarnación FC, meanwhile, remained in 11th spot with 18 points, now five points clear of the relegation zone but needing to arrest a run of two consecutive defeats. The result sets up an intriguing second half of the season for both clubs.