LigaPro. Barcelona SC needed a stoppage-time header from substitute Erick Mendoza to draw 1-1 with Universidad Católica at Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha on Sunday night, with La Tri’s coaching staff in the stands. Earlier in the day, Emelec came from behind to win 3-1 at Leones del Norte in the Copa Sudamericana group, and Franco Ayunta scored a hat-trick in Delfín’s 4-2 win over Manta.
VAR, a late header and one more disallowed goal in Guayaquil
Católica thought they had scored early on, but referee Augusto Aragón ruled out a goal by Mauro Díaz for offside after a VAR review, according to Primicias. The visitors did go ahead in the 65th minute. Panamanian forward Azarías Londoño‘s strike was first flagged offside, then given after VAR confirmed he was onside. Primicias reported that Mauro Díaz set it up.
Barcelona SC pushed forward and were rewarded in the fifth minute of stoppage time, according to FotMob’s timeline (some outlets list it as the 94th minute). Mendoza, who had come on in the 81st minute, rose to head in the equalizer. There was still time for one more twist: substitute Darwin Nazareno put the ball in the net for Católica about ten minutes into stoppage time, but VAR ruled it out for offside as well. El Telégrafo noted the small crowd at the Monumental.
Gallardo’s staff at the Monumental
La Tri announced on X that members of Marcelo Gallardo’s coaching staff attended the game “as part of the ongoing work of monitoring and evaluating players in the national championship.” It came a day after they watched Aucas vs Liga de Quito.
Three Barcelona SC players named in Ecuadorian press reports about Gallardo’s scouting were in the matchday squad, according to FotMob’s lineups. Bryan Carabalí played the full game, Johan García was booked in the 72nd minute and replaced a minute later, and Jandry Gómez stayed on the bench.
The title hexagonal
Neither side has won yet in the final phase, Afición Central pointed out. Católica are fourth on 52 points. Barcelona SC are sixth on 45, with a game in hand: their hexagonal opener against Independiente del Valle was postponed and still has no date, according to Primicias. Leaders IDV lost 1-0 at Macará on Saturday and host Católica on Friday, October 23 (4:30 PM ET). Barcelona SC visit Aucas on Sunday, October 25 (5:30 PM ET).
| # | Title hexagonal | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Independiente del Valle | 32 | 77 |
| 2 | Macará | 33 | 60 |
| 3 | Liga de Quito | 33 | 53 |
| 4 | Universidad Católica | 33 | 52 |
| 5 | Aucas | 33 | 51 |
| 6 | Barcelona SC | 32 | 45 |
Points carried over from the first stage are included. Table: FotMob, after Sunday’s games.
Emelec come from behind in Ibarra to stay in the Sudamericana race
Leones del Norte 1-3 Emelec. Emelec scored twice in three minutes to turn the game around at Estadio Olímpico de Ibarra in round 3 of the four-team group for Ecuador’s Copa Sudamericana 2027 spot. Martín Caramuto put Leones ahead in the 57th minute. After a VAR review, Emelec were given a penalty and Ronie Carrillo converted it in the 62nd; Juan Pablo Ruiz then made it 2-1 two minutes later, according to FotMob’s timeline. Reixon Saya added the third in stoppage time, set up by Sebastián Arce. El Diario reported that more than 500 Emelec fans made the trip.
Only the group winner goes to the Sudamericana. Libertad (50 points) lead after beating Guayaquil City 4-0 on Saturday, ahead of Guayaquil City (43), Emelec (42) and Leones (40), per FotMob. With nine points left to play for, Leones can no longer catch Libertad, and El Hoy noted that a win at Leones on Sunday, October 25 (12:30 PM ET) would clinch the spot for Libertad. Emelec host Guayaquil City the same day (3:00 PM ET) and finish the group at Libertad on November 8.
| # | Sudamericana group | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Libertad | 33 | 50 |
| 2 | Guayaquil City | 33 | 43 |
| 3 | Emelec | 33 | 42 |
| 4 | Leones del Norte | 33 | 40 |
Ayunta hat-trick lifts Delfín out of the drop zone
Delfín 4-2 Manta. Franco Ayunta scored a hat-trick as Delfín won the Manta derby at Estadio Jocay in the relegation group. Ayunta opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, before José Angulo struck twice in two minutes for Manta, from the penalty spot in the 37th and again in the 38th. Ayunta equalized with a penalty in first-half stoppage time and put Delfín back in front in the 74th, and substitute Kevin Ushiña made it 4-2 deep into stoppage time.
According to Afición Central, the win moves Delfín (35 points) up to third in the relegation group and out of the relegation places, while Manta stay bottom on 27, six points behind Técnico Universitario. Mushuc Runa host Orense in the group tonight, Monday, October 19 (4:30 PM ET). Delfín visit Orense next Saturday, October 24 (3:00 PM ET), and Manta host Deportivo Cuenca earlier that day (12:30 PM ET).
Every LigaPro fixture is on our Schedule page.
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