PUNTARENAS, Costa Rica (Interstat) — Malacateco rallied from an early deficit to defeat Municipal 3-1 on Sunday, April 26, 2026, in a Liga Nacional match at Estadio Municipal de Puntarenas Miguel Ángel Lito Pérez Treacy.

Jose Alfredo Morales Concua put Municipal ahead in the eighth minute, heading home a cross from the left flank. The defender’s goal gave the home side a 1-0 advantage early in the first half. Municipal controlled possession for much of the opening period, but Malacateco equalized in stoppage time. Bancy Hernández collected a loose ball inside the box and fired past the goalkeeper in the fourth minute of added time, making it 1-1 at the break.

Malacateco seized control early in the second half. Doryan Rodriguez scored in the 50th minute, slotting a low shot from the edge of the area after a quick counterattack. Tomás Rodríguez doubled the lead in the 63rd minute, converting a pass from the right wing to make it 3-1. Malacateco’s attacking pressure forced Municipal into several defensive mistakes, and the visitors capitalized on two of them.

Municipal had chances to cut into the deficit but could not find the net again. Their best opportunity came in the 75th minute when a header from a corner kick sailed just over the crossbar. Malacateco played the final 12 minutes a man down after Wilson Ariel Godoy Gudiel received a red card in the 78th minute for a hard tackle. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Malacateco’s defense held firm and denied Municipal any clear scoring chances.

The match featured several cautions. Malacateco’s Jaikel Medina Scarlett was booked in the 12th minute, and Jorge Alberto Sánchez Laparra received a yellow in the 49th minute. Luis Fernando Ruíz Escobar was cautioned in the 78th minute. Municipal’s José Carlos Martínez Navas was shown a yellow card in the 31st minute.

The result improved Malacateco’s league record to 17 wins, 21 losses and three draws. Municipal fell to 23 wins, 12 losses and 10 draws in league play. Across all competitions, the teams hold identical records. Malacateco had lost its previous league match 1-0 at Achuapa on April 12 and had dropped three of its last four games entering Sunday. Municipal entered the match after a 3-2 win at Guastatoya on April 12 and had won four of its previous five league matches.

Sunday’s game was the third meeting between the teams this season. Malacateco lost 1-0 at Municipal on March 28 and lost 4-1 at Municipal on Oct. 25, 2025. The victory gave Malacateco its first win against Municipal in the current campaign and avenged those earlier defeats.

Both teams are scheduled to meet again later in the season. Municipal’s next match in league play is at Malacateco, while Malacateco will host Municipal in the return fixture.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 draw, though Interstat’s ELO system gave Municipal a 71.50 percent probability to win. The actual result saw Malacateco overcome the odds with a three-goal second half.