International San Carlos claim 2-1 away win over AD San Carlos in Costa Rica Primera Division

International San Carlos left Estadio Carlos Ugalde Álvarez with a 2-1 victory over AD San Carlos on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, turning a tight Costa Rica Primera Division contest into a valuable away result. In a match that kicked off at 10:00 local time, the visitors recovered from an early setback and struck late to secure all three points, leaving AD San Carlos to rue missed chances in front of their home support.

The final score of 1-2 gives International San Carlos a significant boost in the Apertura campaign and adds another notable chapter to the head-to-head record between the two San Carlos sides. For AD San Carlos, it was a frustrating morning: they had spells of control, created enough to take something from the game, but were undone by two well-taken goals and an inability to manage the final stages.

Match facts

• Final score: AD San Carlos 1-2 International San Carlos
• Competition: Costa Rica Primera Division
• Date: October 14, 2026
• Kickoff: 10:00 local time
• Venue: Estadio Carlos Ugalde Álvarez, Ciudad Quesada

How the game unfolded

AD San Carlos began with the urgency expected of a home side and looked to pin International San Carlos deep in their own half. The early pressure paid off in the 23rd minute when Josué Mitchell latched onto a loose ball inside the penalty area and finished low past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0. The home crowd responded, and for a period AD San Carlos looked the more likely team to add a second.

International San Carlos, however, stayed compact and gradually worked their way back into the match. Their equalizer arrived in the 41st minute through Esteban Ramírez, who timed his run into the box perfectly and converted a driven cross from the right. That goal changed the mood of the contest and sent the teams into the break level at 1-1.

The second half was more balanced, with both sides trading possession but struggling to create clear-cut chances. AD San Carlos came closest to retaking the lead in the 58th minute when a header from a corner clipped the outside of the post. International San Carlos survived that scare and grew stronger as the half wore on, pressing higher and forcing errors in the home team’s build-up.

Key moments

• 23' — AD San Carlos 1-0: Josué Mitchell pounced on a defensive half-clearance and drilled the ball into the bottom corner.
• 41' — 1-1: Esteban Ramírez connected with a low cross and guided his finish beyond the goalkeeper.
• 58' — AD San Carlos nearly retake the lead: A corner-kick header struck the woodwork as International San Carlos failed to clear.
• 78' — International San Carlos 2-1: Andrés Gómez cut inside from the left and curled a precise shot into the far corner for the winner.
• 90+4' — Late pressure: AD San Carlos pushed numbers forward, but International San Carlos defended the final ball bravely to protect the result.

Tactical story

AD San Carlos set up in a familiar 4-4-2 shape, looking to use width and early crosses to test the International San Carlos center-backs. The plan worked for much of the first half, especially down the right side, but the home side lacked the same control after the interval. As they pushed for a winner, gaps appeared between midfield and defense, and International San Carlos exploited those spaces on the counter.

International San Carlos were more patient in possession and often built through central midfield before switching play to the flanks. Their 4-2-3-1 formation allowed the attacking midfielders to drift into pockets of space, and the winning goal came from exactly that kind of movement: Gómez received the ball in a half-space, shifted onto his stronger foot, and delivered a finish worthy of deciding any Primera Division fixture.

Standout players

Andrés Gómez was the clear match-winner for International San Carlos, not only for his 78th-minute goal but also for his willingness to run at defenders throughout the second half. Esteban Ramírez also deserves credit for his equalizer and his work in linking midfield and attack. At the back, International San Carlos’s goalkeeper made two important saves in the final ten minutes to preserve the lead.

For AD San Carlos, Josué Mitchell was the brightest attacking threat and took his goal well. The midfield duo worked hard to win second balls, while the defense largely contained International San Carlos until the decisive moment. In the end, though, the home side’s inability to convert their best spell into a second goal proved costly.

What the res