Dramatic Own Goal Leaves Comunicaciones Fighting for Survival in Clausura 2026 Semifinals
The first leg of the Clausura 2026 semifinals between Comunicaciones and Xelajú MC delivered a high-stakes thriller at the Estadio Cementos Progreso, ending in a 2-2 draw that shifted the momentum of the entire series. While the “Cremas” fought hard to secure a home-field advantage, a heartbreaking 85th-minute own goal erased their lead and placed them in a precarious position heading into the second leg.
A Second-Half Scoring Frenzy
The match remained deadlocked until the second half, where the intensity spiked with four goals scored in a rapid succession of drama. Comunicaciones broke the silence in the 55th minute when Omar Duarte found the back of the net, giving the home side an early lead.
Xelajú MC, known as the “Superchivos,” didn’t stay down for long. In the 68th minute, Steven Cárdenas equalized, momentarily silencing the crowd at Cementos Progreso. The lead swung back to Comunicaciones in the 79th minute courtesy of a Karel Espino penalty, which seemed to put the Cremas in a commanding position to take a victory into the return match.
The 85th-Minute Heartbreak
Just as Comunicaciones appeared to have secured the win, disaster struck. In the 85th minute, defender José Carlos Pinto attempted to intercept a cross from Raúl Calderón. Instead of clearing the ball, Pinto inadvertently deflected it into his own goal. This own goal neutralized the advantage and settled the score at 2-2, leaving both teams tied on aggregate.
The Tiebreaker: Why Xelajú Holds the Edge
Although the aggregate score is tied at 2-2, Xelajú MC enters the second leg with a significant strategic advantage. Due to the tournament’s tiebreaker criteria, Xelajú holds the edge because they finished as the leaders of the Clausura 2026 regular season with 39 points.
This positioning creates a high-pressure scenario for Comunicaciones: they cannot afford a draw or a loss in the second leg. To advance to the grand final, the Cremas must win the return match outright.
Looking Ahead: The Battle in Quetzaltenango
The series now moves to the Estadio Mario Camposeco in Quetzaltenango for the decisive second leg. The match is scheduled for Sunday at 7:00 PM.
For Xelajú MC, the mission is simple: maintain the draw or secure a victory to advance. For Comunicaciones, the focus will be on overcoming the psychological blow of the own goal and finding a way to win on enemy territory.
Key Match Takeaways
- Final Score: 2-2 (Aggregate)
- Comunicaciones Scorers: Omar Duarte (55′), Karel Espino (79′ Penalty)
- Xelajú MC Scorer: Steven Cárdenas (68′)
- Deciding Moment: José Carlos Pinto’s own goal in the 85th minute.
- Tiebreaker Advantage: Xelajú MC (Regular season leaders with 39 points).
- Next Match: Sunday, 7:00 PM at Estadio Mario Camposeco.