Leones del Norte Pull Rank in Five-Goal Thriller, Survive Late Onslaught to Edge Gualaceo SC and Fortify Serie B Lead

By Saturday evening in Azogues, the air above Estadio Jorge Andrade pulsed with the expectancy of a league-defining fixture. First played third, and the match delivered on its billing: a gripping, sometimes chaotic contest capped by Leones del Norte clinging to a 3-2 victory over hosts Gualaceo SC, a result that may reverberate through the closing chapters of the Liga Pro Serie B season.

A match that started in a blaze never truly cooled. Inside four minutes, Leones del Norte landed their statement of intent—a lightning-quick opener that stunned the home stands and set the tone for what would become a furious first half. The visitors’ confidence was unmistakable: league leaders brimming with purpose, determined to avenge their September defeat at home to this same Gualaceo side.

Yet Gualaceo, still licking the wounds of a 6-0 Copa Ecuador humiliation midweek, summoned an immediate response. Just five minutes after falling behind, they capitalized on sustained pressure, finding the equalizer in the ninth minute. With that, nerves gave way to the kind of open football that both excites neutrals and torments coaches.

As the half wore on, Leones del Norte marshaled their composure and resumed control. In the 41st minute, they broke through again—a decisive finish that restored their advantage and saw them carry a narrow 2-1 lead into the interval. For Gualaceo, the half’s conclusion was a test of resilience. A team unbeaten in their last three league home games, they now faced the challenge of overturning a deficit against the division’s most consistent outfit.

The second half brought more drama. With Gualaceo pushing desperately for parity, Leones del Norte struck a third—this time in the 64th minute—a goal that felt, for a moment, like the exclamation point on a statement win. But the narrative would not be so neatly resolved.

Just past the 70-minute mark, the match tilted. Leones del Norte saw red in the 71st: a sending-off that left them down to ten men and, suddenly, vulnerable. Sensing opportunity, Gualaceo surged forward, undeterred by their bruised recent form. For a side that had taken just one point from their last three fixtures, the urgency was palpable. The crowd’s energy redoubled as time waned.

In the 90th minute, their persistence paid off—a second goal that reignited hope and set up a tense, frantic finale. Leones del Norte, backs against the wall, clung to their lead through stoppage time. Referee’s whistle at last brought both exhaustion and elation: Gualaceo’s rally had come too late, and Leones del Norte’s three points were secured.

Context sharpened every edge of this encounter. Gualaceo, sitting third with 35 points from 22 matches (9W-8D-5L), entered the evening at a crossroads. The club’s early September form—unbeaten in three—has lately given way to a rocky patch: two straight league defeats and that bruising Copa Ecuador exit. The memory of their September 11th victory over Leones del Norte, a 2-1 away triumph, felt distant as the whistle blew on this reversal.

For the visitors, tonight’s win represents more than simple retribution. Leones del Norte, now five points clear atop the table (11W-7D-4L), restored momentum after a string of draws and a scoreless stalemate against Emelec in cup play. The psychological impact cannot be understated: last time these two met, Gualaceo handed Leones their only loss in the last six games. This time, the league leaders proved they could both outplay and outlast a direct rival—despite adversity and the late numerical disadvantage.

The standings now reflect the day’s drama. Leones del Norte have created breathing room at the summit, their title ambitions burnished by a gritty away triumph. For Gualaceo, still stationed third but now at risk of losing touch with the leaders, the path forward demands a recalibration—a return to defensive discipline and the rediscovery of the attacking verve that lit their early campaign.

The stakes are only intensifying. As the league barrels toward its final stages, every point—and every moment—matters. Leones del Norte know the target on their backs has only grown larger; tonight, they proved they might just be strong enough to wear it. For Gualaceo, the chase continues, urgency mounting with every matchday left to play.