Puntarenas secured a narrow victory at home against San Carlos in the Apertura round six fixture, winning 2:1 on 30 August 2026. The result moves the visitors into sixth place, two points clear of the hosts who remain seventh in the table. It was a match decided by fine margins, with the decisive moment arriving in stoppage time.
D. Castrillo gave San Carlos the lead in the 38th minute, a goal that held until half-time when J. Aguilar equalised for Puntarenas. The visitors had been dominant in the air from set plays throughout the opening period, and that pressure eventually told. By then, the home side looked uncomfortable without a clear plan to unlock the defence.
Substitutions began in earnest around the hour mark, with both managers looking for fresh legs. K. Fajardo and R. Cordoba came on for San Carlos in the 59th and 63rd minutes respectively, while Puntarenas replaced D. Castrillo with A. Pineda after the home captain picked up a second booking. The game grew tighter as yellow cards accumulated — R. Cole and D. Rojas both went to the referee, suggesting tensions were rising.
San Carlos might have levelled the score in the 88th minute when a penalty was awarded, but the spot-kick was missed. That miss shifted everything, and Puntarenas struck back four minutes later through A. Sinclair to close the game out. The home side were left flat-footed, unable to respond after losing their lead so late in the contest.
The result leaves Puntarenas on eight points from six games, with two wins and two draws keeping them in touch with the pack. San Carlos remain on six points after just two victories from their opening six fixtures, and the gap is beginning to feel uncomfortable. Cup football has its own rules, but in the league, consistency matters more than single moments of brilliance.