SAN JOSÉ (Interstat) — Pitbulls came from behind and defeated Carmelita 2-1 on Monday, turning a one-goal deficit into a home victory after a second-half surge. Carmelita struck early, but Pitbulls answered after halftime and scored the decisive goal in the second half. The visitors held the lead through the opening half and into the second half, but Pitbulls found the goals needed to overturn the advantage. Pitbulls then protected the lead through the closing stages and secured the home result. The victory came after Pitbulls had gone without a win in their previous matches in the competition this season. The match produced three total goals.

Wilson Villalobos put Carmelita ahead in the fourth minute and logged a 90-minute, one-goal statline. Gerald Murillo of Pitbulls posted a 90-minute, one-goal statline, and Sebastian Porras also finished with a 90-minute, one-goal statline for Pitbulls. The goal log showed Villalobos opening the scoring in the fourth minute, Monge equalizing for Pitbulls in the 61st minute and Porras scoring the eventual winner in the 73rd minute. Pitbulls’ second-half goals overturned Carmelita’s early lead and gave the home side the advantage for the final 17 minutes of regulation. Porras’ 73rd-minute finish proved decisive as Pitbulls held the lead after the comeback.

The result leaves Carmelita with two wins, two losses and one draw in this competition. Carmelita’s season record across all competitions is also two wins, two losses and one draw. Pitbulls are now one win, one loss and two draws in this competition, and the club’s season record across all competitions is also one win, one loss and two draws. Carmelita had drawn 1-1 at Ad Aserri, lost 0-2 at home to Guadalupe, won 3-0 at FC Moravia and won 1-0 at home against Santa Ana in earlier matches. Pitbulls had lost 1-2 at Santa Ana, drawn 2-2 at home with Ad Aserri and drawn 2-2 at CS Uruguay in their previous matches. Those results left both sides looking for a lift before Monday’s match, and Pitbulls found it by scoring twice after halftime.

Pitbulls’ comeback gave the home side its first win in this competition and improved its overall form after a draw and a loss in earlier matches. Carmelita, meanwhile, could not protect its early advantage and settled for a loss despite scoring first. The visiting side had entered with recent results that included a draw, a loss, a win and a win, while Pitbulls had a loss and two draws before Monday’s match. The contest turned on the second-half goals, with Pitbulls scoring twice after Carmelita’s fourth-minute opener and then holding the lead after the 73rd-minute finish. Pitbulls’ defense kept Carmelita from adding to its total after the early goal, and the home side managed the closing minutes with the one-goal cushion. Carmelita’s early goal came from Villalobos in the fourth minute, and the visitors held that lead until Pitbulls broke through after halftime. Monge’s 61st-minute goal pulled Pitbulls level, and Porras scored the winner in the 73rd minute. Pitbulls then played with the lead for the remainder of regulation. The home side’s two second-half goals came after Carmelita had led for most of the opening hour. Pitbulls’ comeback was completed when Porras found the net, and the home side kept Carmelita from answering over the final stretch.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Pitbulls 1, Carmelita 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Pitbulls with a 71.6 percent probability to win. Carmelita had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.5.