Academia Deportiva Cantolao edged out Deportivo San Martín in a seven-goal thriller on June 21, 2026, prevailing 4–3 in a Copa de la Liga encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

Match Overview

Played under the lights at a packed venue, this Copa de la Liga fixture delivered everything a neutral could hope for: early goals, a dramatic comeback, and a late winner. Cantolao started brightly, racing into a two-goal lead within the first quarter of an hour. However, a resolute San Martín side responded with three unanswered strikes before halftime to turn the match on its head. The second half saw Cantolao regroup and eventually snatch all three points with a pair of goals that completed a remarkable turnaround.

Key Moments

• 8th minute: Cantolao’s striker latched onto a through ball and slotted home the opener.
• 14th minute: A defensive error from San Martín allowed Cantolao to double the lead from close range.
• 27th minute: San Martín pulled one back with a well-placed header from a corner kick.
• 35th minute: A swift counterattack saw the visitors equalise — a low drive beat the Cantolao goalkeeper.
• 40th minute: San Martín completed the comeback with a powerful free kick that curled over the wall and into the top corner.
• 58th minute: Cantolao’s midfielder volleyed home from the edge of the box to level the score at 3–3.
• 73rd minute: A penalty converted calmly by Cantolao’s captain sealed the 4–3 victory.

Tactical Story

Both sides adopted aggressive approaches from the first whistle. Cantolao relied on quick transitions and width, while San Martín pressed high and looked to exploit set‑pieces. The first half illustrated the dangers of leaving gaps — when Cantolao went 2–0 up, San Martín pushed numbers forward, a risk that paid off with three goals in 13 minutes. After the interval, Cantolao adjusted by dropping a midfielder deeper to disrupt San Martín’s rhythm, a change that allowed them to regain control and create the chances that led to the equaliser and the winning penalty.

Standout Players

Cantolao’s captain was the hero, scoring the decisive goal from the spot and providing leadership in defence. The Cantolao striker caused constant problems with his movement and opened the scoring. On the San Martín side, the central midfielder dictated play and scored the free‑kick equaliser, while the right winger assisted two goals with dangerous crosses.

Impact on the Copa de la Liga Standings

The victory gave Cantolao a crucial three points, lifting them into mid‑table contention in a tight group. For San Martín, the defeat was a bitter blow — they had shown character to fight back from two goals down but ultimately left empty‑handed. The result keeps the race for qualification wide open as the season approaches its decisive phase.