Saprissa dominated and fired off 22 shots, yet still needed a stunning 89th-minute strike from their captain to salvage a draw against Cartaginés.
90 Extras staff · Photography by Giovanni León · September 9, 2026
The all-Costa Rican quarterfinal began exactly as Saprissa had planned it: possession, pressure and a goal just after the half-hour, born from a Gerson Torres cross that ended up in the net.
Cartaginés bided their time and found their moment after the restart. José “Tepa” González equalised with a left-footed finish inside the box and, shortly afterwards, Geancarlo Castro, on from the bench, completed the turnaround. That goal took Castro to four in the tournament and put him among the leading scorers.
La Cueva grew impatient and the home side were whistled. Saprissa finished with 22 shots to their opponents' five, but their finishing let them down until the 89th minute, when David Guzmán unleashed a strike from distance that beat Kevin Briceño.
The 2-2 left the tie wide open for the second leg at the Fello Meza, with Cartaginés content to have taken two goals out of La Cueva.
- Match
- Saprissa 2–2 Cartaginés
- Competition
- Concacaf Central American Cup
- Stage
- Quarterfinals · First leg
- Date
- September 9, 2026
- Stadium
- Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, San Juan de Tibás
- Photography
- Giovanni León (@gio.dleone) / 90 Extras
