C.S. Cartaginés began their Clausura 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Guadalupe FC on Wednesday evening. In a match that remained balanced until the final quarter-hour, the experience of former Loon Johan Venegas proved to be the difference, as his clinical finishing ensured all three points stayed at the Estadio José Rafael “Fello” Meza.
Match recap
The match got off to a turbulent start for the home side. In the closing moments of the first half, a defensive miscommunication led to an own goal by Suhander Zúñiga in stoppage time (45+11′), handing Guadalupe a surprise lead heading into the break.
Cartaginés emerged from the interval with renewed focus and quickly leveled the score in the 52nd minute when Diego González found the back of the net. From that point on, the match became a physical battle in the midfield, with both sides searching for the decisive breakthrough. The tension finally broke in the 76th minute when the Loons’ legendary forward stepped up to seal the comeback.
Venegas’s performance
Entering his 10th season as a professional in the Costa Rican top flight, Johan Venegas showed why he remains one of the most feared strikers in the region.
- Match-winning goal: In the 76th minute, Venegas capitalized on a precise cross, beating his marker to the ball and heading it past the Guadalupe keeper to give Cartaginés the 2–1 lead.
- Leading from the front: Venegas played the full 90 minutes, acting as a focal point for the attack and consistently drawing defenders out of position to create space for González and the overlapping wingers.
- Physical presence: He recorded three successful aerial duels and was a constant threat on set pieces, nearly adding a second goal in the 84th minute with a powerful drive that was tipped over the bar.
- Veteran leadership: Throughout the match, Venegas was seen directing the young Cartaginés attack, particularly after the equalizer as the team pushed for the winning goal.
Stats
- Minutes played: 90
- Goals: 1
- Minutes played: 90 duels won: 3
- Shots on target: 2
- Match status: Full-time (2–1 Win)
With these three points, Cartaginés sits near the top of the early Clausura standings. For Venegas, starting the year with a match-winning goal provides a massive boost as he looks to lead the club toward another deep playoff run. Cartaginés will look to maintain this momentum when they travel to face Puntarenas FC on Saturday, Jan. 17.
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