This Sunday, Óscar Mejía lived a completely unprecedented experience in his football career. The Cobán Imperial striker had to put on the gloves and assume the role of emergency goalkeeper in the match against Achuapa on matchday 21 of Clausura 2026, after the consecutive injuries of the team’s two goalkeepers in just 23 minutes of the game, in an unprecedented situation in Guatemalan soccer.
It all started at minute 2 when Tomás Casas suffered a blow to the head when colliding with a rival. The goalkeeper managed to recover momentarily but at minute 10 he became dizzy and had to be removed due to concussion protocol. leaving in tears and being taken by ambulance. His substitute Víctor Ayala barely lasted ten more minutes before suffering an ankle injury that forced him to leave the field, leaving Cobán without available goalkeepers.
It was then when Óscar Mejía took the gloves in the 23rd minute in a moment full of uncertainty for the Cobanero team. “During training sometimes I put on gloves and the teacher tells me to put them on,” the player explained after the game, revealing that it was not the first time he practiced in that position. Despite receiving the tying goal from Didier Acosta in first-half stoppage time, Mejía responded solidly in the second half, helping Cobán come back to make it 3-1 thanks to Uri Amaral’s double.
an unexpected hero
Mejía was clear when talking about his commitment to the team. “Whatever position I play, I will always give my best”stated the forward, who also took the opportunity to thank the Coban fans for their support. “That they continue to support us, I think that all of Cobán is an important part for us,” he said.
The victory also had special meaning beyond the three points. With Mictlán’s victory and defeat against Xelajú on the same day, Cobán Imperial mathematically confirmed its permanence in the National League for next season, an achievement that comes at the best possible time before the Clausura 2026 league.
This is one of the most unusual events remembered in Guatemalan soccer. The only similar precedent occurred during the 2013 Apertura final between Comunicaciones and Heredia, when the Heredianos goalkeeper was sent off in extra time and field player Robin Betancourth had to take over the goal in the penalty shootout, where Heredia ended up losing the title.