Cuenca Juniors edged out Pottu Via Ho 1-0 in a tense Ecuadorian Campeonato Serie B encounter on 10 July 2026, thanks to a first-half strike that proved decisive at the Alejandro Serrano Aguilar Stadium. The home side climbed further up the Serie B standings with a hard-fought victory that underlined their promotional ambitions, while Pottu Via Ho were left to rue missed opportunities in a match dominated by defensive discipline.

Match Overview

The fixture, played under clear skies and a lively crowd, saw Cuenca Juniors take control from the opening whistle. Despite a spirited response from Pottu Via Ho in the second half, the home side’s compact defensive shape and clinical finishing ensured the three points stayed in Cuenca. The result moved the Juniors into the top half of the Serie B table, while Pottu Via Ho remained mired in mid-table mediocrity.

Key Moments

• 32nd minute – Cuenca Juniors broke the deadlock. A quick corner routine found midfielder Juan Pablo Ruiz, who volleyed home from the edge of the box after a defensive mix-up. The goal sent the home supporters into a frenzy.
• 58th minute – Pottu Via Ho thought they had equalised when striker Álvaro Mejía tapped in from a free-kick, but the linesman’s flag ruled him offside, much to the visitors’ frustration.
• 85th minute – Cuenca goalkeeper Miguel Santana produced a stunning reflex save to deny Pottu Via Ho’s substitute Carlos López, preserving the slim advantage.

Tactical Story

Cuenca Juniors set up in a compact 4-4-2, prioritising vertical transitions through wingers David Ochoa and Luis Hidalgo. Their ability to stretch the pitch forced Pottu Via Ho into wide defensive cover, leaving space in central areas that Ruiz exploited. Pottu Via Ho, deployed in a 4-3-3, struggled to break down Cuenca’s disciplined low block. Their possession often became sterile, with the midfield trio failing to find penetrative passes. In the second half, Pottu Via Ho switched to a more direct approach, but Cuenca’s centre-backs Jorge Ampuero and Fabián Vargas won every aerial duel.

Standout Performers

• Juan Pablo Ruiz (Cuenca Juniors) – Scored the decisive goal and provided a tireless box-to-box performance, winning four tackles and creating two chances.
• Miguel Santana (Cuenca Juniors) – Made five saves, including the vital stop in the 85th minute, earning his clean sheet with authority.
• Álvaro Mejía (Pottu Via Ho) – Despite having a goal disallowed, he was Pottu Via Ho’s most dangerous outlet, forcing Santana into three saves.

Season Impact

The victory lifted Cuenca Juniors to 6th place in the Ecuadorian Serie B standings with 28 points from 18 matches, keeping them within reach of the promotion playoff spots. For Pottu Via Ho, the defeat halted a run of three games unbeaten, leaving them in 11th place with 21 points—safely clear of relegation but needing consistency to challenge for a top-eight finish. The Serie B season remains wide open, with five points separating 4th place from 12th. Cuenca Juniors’ home form—now five wins in nine at the Alejandro Serrano Aguilar—could prove decisive in their push for a return to the top flight.