Cartaginés holds on for away win despite late Venegas penalty miss
CS Cartaginés continued their strong start to Cartaginés holds on for away win despite late Venegas penalty drama
CS Cartaginés secured a vital 2-0 victory over Puntarenas FC this afternoon at the Estadio Lito Pérez, but the match was far more dramatic than the final scoreline suggests. While the Loons alumnus Johan Venegas had a chance to put the game to bed in stoppage time, a rare miss from the spot kept the “Orange Pearl” in the fight until the final seconds of a marathon injury time period.
Match summary
Cartaginés took an early lead in the 13th minute when Diego González capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home the opener. For the majority of the match, the visitors relied on a stout defensive performance to weather the humidity and the persistent pressure from the Puntarenas attack.
The drama peaked in the 91st minute when Cartaginés was awarded a penalty that seemed destined to seal the result. However, the stadium erupted as the attempt was missed, leaving a tense final stretch. Fortunately for the visitors, Emmanuel Brenes found the back of the just afterward to finally secure the three points.
Venegas’s performance
The veteran striker was at the center of the match’s most high-pressure moments. While he wasn’t able to find the scoresheet today, his physical presence and experience were vital in securing the result at one of the league’s most difficult venues.
- The penalty miss: In the 91st minute, Venegas stepped up to take the penalty that would have made it 2-0. In a rare turn of events for the clinical finisher, his effort was saved, keeping the hosts’ hopes alive for several more minutes.
- Marathon shift: Venegas put in an exhaustive performance, battling for aerial balls and acting as a vital outlet for a defense under pressure.
- Tactical substitution: After a grueling shift in the coastal heat, Venegas was finally subbed off in the ninth minute of stoppage time (90+9′) to a round of applause from the traveling support as Cartaginés looked to see out the remaining seconds.
