On March 9, Orense and Manta faced off in a tightly contested match that ended in a 1-1 draw, marking the conclusion of matchday 3 in the Ecuabet League. The game was held at the Estadio 9 de Mayo in Machala, where Manta initially took the lead shortly after halftime with a goal from Michael Bermúdez, following a precise pass from Mena. This goal came after a challenging first half with both teams struggling to capitalize on their opportunities.

However, the match took a dramatic turn when a foul by Orense’s Alan Lorenzo led to a penalty kick for Manta. The referee, Eloy Beltrán, utilized VAR to review the incident and ultimately issued a red card to Lorenzo for his actions as the last defender. Jean Carlos Blanco successfully converted the penalty, equalizing the score at 1-1. Following this result, both teams find themselves at the bottom of the league standings, with Orense positioned ninth and Manta in fourteenth place, which reflects their struggles in the tournament thus far.

Despite the draw, Independiente del Valle continues to lead the league, remaining unbeaten with nine points from three victories. Barcelona SC is currently fifth with six points after securing a crucial win in the recent Clásico del Astillero against Emelec. This match highlighted the fiercely competitive nature of Ecuador's top football league as teams jockey for better placements in the upcoming fixtures.