SARCHI, Costa Rica (Interstat) — AD Sarchi defeated Santa Cruz 2-1 at Estadio Municipal Eliécer Pérez Conejo on Sunday, using a late second-half goal to secure the result after the visiting side had pulled level. Neither team found the net before halftime, and Karel Perez Mendoza broke the deadlock for AD Sarchi in the 51st minute. Santa Cruz responded through Luis Rodriguez in the 57th minute, leveling the match six minutes later. Tristan Demetrius restored AD Sarchi’s lead in the 82nd minute with what became the decisive goal. Santa Cruz was shown a red card in the 90th minute, and AD Sarchi held on through the closing moments to finish with its third win of the competition. The match remained scoreless at halftime.

Perez Mendoza played the full 90 minutes and scored once, opening the scoring for AD Sarchi. Demetrius also played 90 minutes and scored once, delivering what proved to be the winning goal with eight minutes remaining in regulation. Rodriguez played 90 minutes and scored once for Santa Cruz, briefly bringing the visitors level. Each of the three scorers finished the match with 90 minutes played and one goal. The three scorers were the only players listed with goals in the match. The goal sequence kept the match tight into the final stages, with AD Sarchi answering after Santa Cruz had found its equalizer. AD Sarchi’s defense then protected the one-goal advantage after the late red card left Santa Cruz with 10 players.

The result continued AD Sarchi’s recent form after a victory at AD Rosario and a home win over Grecia. Earlier in the season, AD Sarchi also lost at Quepos FC and dropped a home match to ADR Jicaral. Santa Cruz had lost each of its previous four matches this season and remained in search of its first result after losses to AD Rosario, ADR Jicaral, Grecia and Cofutpa. Santa Cruz’s previous results this season included a 2-1 loss at AD Rosario, a 3-0 home loss to ADR Jicaral, a 1-0 loss at Grecia and a 3-1 loss at Cofutpa. Santa Cruz’s previous results were all losses. AD Sarchi’s earlier wins included a 3-1 victory at AD Rosario and a 2-0 home win over Grecia, while its losses came at Quepos FC by 2-1 and at home to ADR Jicaral by 1-0.

The outcome left Santa Cruz with 0 wins and 5 losses in this competition and 0 wins and 5 losses across all competitions. AD Sarchi improved to 3 wins and 2 losses in this competition and 3 wins and 2 losses across all competitions. Santa Cruz remained without a win in either category after the final whistle, while AD Sarchi moved above .500 in the competition with the home victory. The visitors’ record reflected the same line in competition and across all competitions, as did AD Sarchi’s mark after the match. AD Sarchi concluded the contest by taking the points at home after the late red card and the decisive second goal. The result marked AD Sarchi’s third win in five competition matches and Santa Cruz’s fifth loss in five. The final whistle confirmed the home side’s third victory of the season. The home side finished the match with the advantage after the late red card and the decisive second goal.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of AD Sarchi 2, Santa Cruz 0 before kickoff. Interstat’s ELO system gave AD Sarchi an 81.6 percent probability to win. AD Sarchi was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1, and the total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.5.