The Alajuelensefrom Costa Rica, caresses the pass to the final of the CONCACAF LEAGUE after winning a visit this Tuesday by 0-3 to Real Spain, from Honduras, in the first leg of the semifinals.
A double by Johan Venegas and another goal by Celso Borges gave Alajuelense a resounding victory against a rival who controlled the ball in the first few minutes, arrived clearly and controlled the time of the match.
Real España, led by Argentinean Héctor Vargas, began the game in a better position on the field and had a couple of clear scoring chances at the feet of Argentinean Ramiro Rocca and nationalist Jhow Benavídez, which ended in nothing.
Alajuelense began to settle on the pitch and opened the scoring in the 11th minute through Venegas, after poor coordination by Getsel Montes and goalkeeper Luis “Buba” López.
After a first half in which the yellow cards were the keynote and which ended with a 1-0 win over Alajuelense, both teams messed up their hair in the second half of the game, played at the Francisco Morazán Stadium, in San Pedro Sula, home of the Royal Spain.
In the second half, Uruguayan Fabián Coito’s team was superior to its rival and scored the second goal at minute 59 in a play that concluded Venegas with a shot in the area. Two minutes later, Borges scored for Alajuelense and established the final 3-0 for the Costa Rican team.
With this result, Alajuelense got one foot in the final, but first they must certify their pass on the 11th at home against a Real España that will seek to turn the score around.
The other semi-final will begin on Wednesday when Motagua, led by Argentine coach Hernán ‘Tota’ Medina, hosts Olimpia led by his compatriot Pedro Troglio.
DATA SHEET
0 – Royal Spain: Luis Lopez; Kevin Álvarez (m.68, José Reyes), Heyreel Saravia (m.84, Anfronit Tatúm), Getsel Montes, Franklin Flores, Junior Lacayo (m.46, Yeison Mejía), Mayron Flores, Luis Garrido (m.35, Carlos Mejía), Jhow Benavídez, Carlos Bernárdez (m.35, Pedro Báez) and Ramiro Rocca
3 – Alajuelense: Leonel Moreira; Ian Smith, Giancarlo González, Alexis Gamboa, Aubrey David, Carlos Mora (m.68, Bernald Alfaro), Alexander López, Celso Borges, José Cubero (m.83, Erick Cabalceta), Freddy Góndola (m.83, Brayan Félix) and Johan Venegas (m.84, Rolando Blackburn)
Goals: 0-1, Johan Venegas (m. 11); 0-2, Venegas (m. 59); 0-3, Celso Borges (d. 61)
Referee: Cesar Ramos, from Mexico. He showed yellow card to Kevin Álvarez, Junior Lacayo, Jhow Benavídez and Carlos Bernárdez, from Real España, and Aubrey David, from Alajuelense
Incidents: First leg of the Concacaf League semifinals, played at the Francisco Morazán Stadium, in San Pedro Sula
