Union Tarija 1-2 Deportivo San Martin | Bolivian Reserve Cup | 26 July 2026

Deportivo San Martin came from behind to defeat Union Tarija 2-1 in the Bolivian Reserve Cup, a competition that showcases the country's emerging talent. The match at the Estadio IV Centenario was an entertaining contest featuring young players eager to impress.

How the Match Unfolded

Union Tarija took the lead in the 19th minute through a well-taken goal from Álvaro Rojas. The forward collected a pass on the edge of the box, turned, and drove a low shot into the bottom corner. The home side dominated possession in the first half hour but could not add a second.

Deportivo San Martin equalised just after the half-hour mark. A corner kick was flicked on at the near post, and centre-back Carlos Durán bundled the ball over the line from close range. The goal gave the visitors confidence, and they began to control the midfield.

Winning Goal and Late Drama

The winner came in the 68th minute. San Martin's young winger Jonathan Ríos weaved past two defenders before unleashing a powerful shot that beat the Union goalkeeper at his near post. Union Tarija pushed for an equaliser but were denied by a combination of poor finishing and solid goalkeeping from Pedro Vaca.

Context and Significance

• The Bolivian Reserve Cup serves as a development platform for players aged under-23, with each team allowed a handful of senior players.
• Deportivo San Martin move to six points in Group B, strengthening their bid for a semi-final place.
• Union Tarija remain on three points and face a must-win match in their next group fixture to keep their hopes alive.

Both teams will learn valuable lessons from this competitive encounter, with several individual performances likely to catch the attention of first-team coaches across the Bolivian league system.