Sporting FC Deals Setback to Santa Ana in Clausura 2025
Santa Ana faces increasing relegation fears after a 3-1 defeat to Sporting FC, marking their seventh consecutive match without a win.
The future of Santa Ana in the 2025 Clausura tournament appears increasingly bleak as the team recorded its seventh consecutive match without a victory, intensifying relegation fears at the Estadio de Piedades.
The players' efforts on the pitch are acknowledged, yet they have not translated into results, leaving Santa Ana at the bottom of the standings while rivals pull ahead.
The most recent defeat, a 3-1 loss away against Sporting FC, underscores their struggles.
Santa Ana currently sits with 31 points, seven points behind Pérez Zeledón, who are set to host Alajuelense on Monday, and nine points adrift of Santos, who will play at home against Liberia.
Should Pérez Zeledón or Santos secure points in their upcoming matches, the gap to Santa Ana will widen further with only 21 points left to contest in the season.
Defensive errors, missed scoring opportunities, and a lack of luck have been detrimental to the campaign led by Argentine coach Christian Salomón. The last victory for Santa Ana came on February 16, when they defeated Deportivo Saprissa 2-1 in a notable performance.
For Sporting FC, this win provides relief in what has been an inconsistent season, with the team achieving only five victories so far.
The match began positively for the hosts, who took the lead in the 11th minute through a well-executed strike from young player Adolfo Feoli, making the score 1-0.
Santa Ana managed to equalize in the 34th minute when Argentine striker Emmanuel Casado converted a penalty, bringing his season total to seven goals and tying him with Anthony Hernández of Puntarenas FC as the tournament's leading scorer.
Despite the goal, Casado expressed frustration over the defeat and emphasized the need for urgency in their situation, hoping that Pérez Zeledón and Santos would not add to their points tally later.
The locals regained the lead in the 68th minute, capitalizing on a set-piece situation.
Honduran Alejandro Reyes delivered a free kick, which Mexican Luis Donaldo Hernández headed into the net, making the score 2-1. In the dying moments of the game, a defensive clearance by Patrick Pemberton fell to Steven Cárdenas, who capitalized on the mistake to score the final goal and secure a 3-1 victory for Sporting FC.
The players' efforts on the pitch are acknowledged, yet they have not translated into results, leaving Santa Ana at the bottom of the standings while rivals pull ahead.
The most recent defeat, a 3-1 loss away against Sporting FC, underscores their struggles.
Santa Ana currently sits with 31 points, seven points behind Pérez Zeledón, who are set to host Alajuelense on Monday, and nine points adrift of Santos, who will play at home against Liberia.
Should Pérez Zeledón or Santos secure points in their upcoming matches, the gap to Santa Ana will widen further with only 21 points left to contest in the season.
Defensive errors, missed scoring opportunities, and a lack of luck have been detrimental to the campaign led by Argentine coach Christian Salomón. The last victory for Santa Ana came on February 16, when they defeated Deportivo Saprissa 2-1 in a notable performance.
For Sporting FC, this win provides relief in what has been an inconsistent season, with the team achieving only five victories so far.
The match began positively for the hosts, who took the lead in the 11th minute through a well-executed strike from young player Adolfo Feoli, making the score 1-0.
Santa Ana managed to equalize in the 34th minute when Argentine striker Emmanuel Casado converted a penalty, bringing his season total to seven goals and tying him with Anthony Hernández of Puntarenas FC as the tournament's leading scorer.
Despite the goal, Casado expressed frustration over the defeat and emphasized the need for urgency in their situation, hoping that Pérez Zeledón and Santos would not add to their points tally later.
The locals regained the lead in the 68th minute, capitalizing on a set-piece situation.
Honduran Alejandro Reyes delivered a free kick, which Mexican Luis Donaldo Hernández headed into the net, making the score 2-1. In the dying moments of the game, a defensive clearance by Patrick Pemberton fell to Steven Cárdenas, who capitalized on the mistake to score the final goal and secure a 3-1 victory for Sporting FC.
