CS Cartagines vs San Carlos Match Recap - Nov 2, 2025

In a thrilling encounter at the Estadio José Rafael Fello Meza, CS Cartagines overcame an early setback to defeat San Carlos 2-1 in their Primera División match on November 2, 2025. The victory not only bolstered Cartagines' playoff aspirations but also highlighted the struggles of San Carlos, who remain mired in the lower half of the standings.

The match began with a surprising twist as San Carlos struck first. In the 19th minute, an unidentified player found the back of the net, giving San Carlos a brief lead and sending shockwaves through the home crowd. This early goal seemed to energize San Carlos, who had been searching for consistency after a mixed bag of results in recent weeks. However, their joy was short-lived as they faced a determined Cartagines side eager to respond.

Cartagines, sitting fourth in the league with 20 points before kickoff, had been struggling to convert draws into wins lately. Their last five matches included just one victory, so there was palpable pressure on them to perform at home against a team that had previously fallen victim to their attacking prowess earlier this season.

As the game progressed into the second half, it became clear that Cartagines would not go quietly. In the 70th minute, they leveled the score when an unknown player capitalized on a defensive lapse from San Carlos. The equalizer sparked renewed energy among Cartagines players and fans alike, igniting hopes for a comeback.

Just twelve minutes later, Cartagines took control of the match with another goal from an unidentified scorer. The stadium erupted as they celebrated what would ultimately be the winning goal. With time running out for San Carlos to find an equalizer, frustration mounted as they struggled to regain their footing.

Despite some late attempts to push forward and salvage a point, San Carlos could not break through Cartagines' defense again. Their inability to maintain momentum after taking an early lead has become emblematic of their season; now sitting in tenth place with just 12 points from 14 games played, relegation fears loom large.

Reflecting on my pre-match predictions-where I noted that CS Cartagines needed to solidify their playoff ambitions-I must admit I underestimated how resilient they could be after falling behind early. They showed grit and determination that will serve them well as they prepare for their next challenge against LD Alajuelense on November 21.

For San Carlos, this loss is yet another blow in what has been a difficult campaign thus far. They will need to regroup quickly ahead of their upcoming match against Puntarenas FC on November 24 if they hope to avoid slipping further down the table.

As both teams look ahead, CS Cartagines can take confidence from this hard-fought victory while San Carlos must confront their ongoing struggles head-on if they wish to turn around their fortunes before it's too late.