by Rod Hughes

Saprissa regained the lead in its group of First Division soccer Wednesday in a 2-1 defeat of Puntarenas. Ironically, one of its goals was by veteran Ronald Gomez (with an assist by Michael Barrantes) who is scheduled to leave the club when his contract runs out next month. Moreover, he also made the pass to Jairo Arrieta who scored the second, winning marker.

The big purple “S” is weeding out some of its veterans to make way for new blood, not without some misgiving of its fans. Gomez substituted for Alejandro Alpizar at minute 17 after the latter was injured. But Gomez, nicknamed “La Bala,” (the bullet) has been around for a long time and, for the past year, it has been mainly warming the bench. And he isn’t the only veteran being shown the door.

Try Bennett is already gone and goalie Jose Francisco Porras will go early next year at the expiration of his contract. As for Gomez, he will be 34 in January and may not be picked up by any top-level club. But he looked stylish Wednesday as he evaded the expert guard of Kurt Bernard to make his goal against Puntarenas.

Saprissa has a strong Second Division team, which the club uses as a “farm team” to develop talent for the big time–indeed, it was one of the first clubs in Costa Rican soccer to do so.

by Rod Hughes

The First Division soccer standings tell it all–No one has a clear shot at the title in the first half of the 2008-9 season. Group B is tighter than a frozen muscle with Alajuela in the lead over Perez Zeledon by two points and Alajuela barely advancing due to its desperation 1-1 tie Sunday with an astounding University of Costa Rica. Of all people!

Meanwhile, Saprissa is in second place in Group A by a point under Brujas, despite Saprissa’s giving a convincing imitation of a machine gun in a 5-0 massacre of Liberia Sunday. Brujas is leading but the first three clubs are separated by three points. Group B is even tougher with the first four divided by four points.

Blood on the Turf: Saprissa 5, Liberia 0

Still smarting at being knocked out of the regional Concacaf “Champions’ League” tourney by Marathon of Honduras, the big purple “S” took it out on Guanacaste province’s capital. Liberia club owner Mario Sotela is probably wondering why his fat checkbook hasn’t bought him at least the group leadership after he bought the contracts of so many veterans during the off season. Jairo Arrieta scored first after only three minutes of play, follwed by Celso Borges.

But it was Armando Alonso who did the most damage, blasting in three big ones past stylish veteran goalie Alvaro Mesen. Al Dia sportswriters are wondering what steps entrepreneur Sotela, not the most patient of owners, will take to remedy the ailing club.

Alajuela 1, University of Costa Rica 1

Playing on its own home turf, Alajuela had to scramble for a desperation 1-1 tie with a resurgent UCR. Marvin Chinchilla scored for UCR after a bare two minutes and it was not until the mid-second half that Jean Carlos Solorzano managed to tie it up. And that was only on a penalty that fooled UCR goalie Alfonso Quesada, the only time that a ball got past him in an otherwise brilliant afternoon.

Heredia Edges Cartago 1-0 in a Ho-hummer

Slipping Heredia caught itself with a 1-0 victory over Cartago in a bright morning of yawn-provoking soccer that showed why neither side is a hot contender for the Champions’ League. Omar Brisceno finally scored at minute 41. Enough said.

Puntarenas Upsets San Ramon, 2-0

Puntarenas’s much-injured veteran Kurt Bernard celebrated his 100th First Division career goal late in the first half to give the home club’s fans something to cheer about. Ricardo Garcia added the insurance on Bernard’s pass.

Brujas in Group Lead with 4-2 Win over Carmelita

Brujas tromped Carmelita, everyone’s favorite to descend into the Second Division next year, in a match that revealed some problems in defense on the Brujas club. (While the leaders in both groups are up in the 20+ point area, Carmelita has but seven. That they managed two goals against Brujas is either a miracle or a lax defense.) Scoring for Brujas were Brenes, Gomez, Soto and Mora’s autogoal. For Carmelita, Cunningham and Vargas.

Perez Zeledon 2, San Carlos 1

Perez Zeledon has been having a marvelous early season and gives one hope that two clubs that are not Saprissa and Alajuela will play each other for the national championship. That’s what makes soccer the world’s number one sport. Maybe one of these years, Brazil will be knocked out of the first round of the World Cup. (It costs nothing to dream and in soccer, all things are possible.)

The southern club increased its prestige Sunday at the expense of San Ramon in a well-earned 2-1 victory. After 20 minutes of sparring, P-Z’s Colombian Luis Lara opened scoring at minute 20 and Juan Gabriel Guzman put victory out of reach in the second half with 2-0. Carlos Clark contributed a narrowing of the gap for the 2-1 count but the ‘Bulls of the North” were able to do no more against P-Z’s defense.

by Rod Hughes

Marathon of Honduras Wednesday knocked Costa Rica’s Saprissa club out of the regional Concacaf version of the champions’ league with a 2-0 shutout in San Pedro Sula. Every club in Group A had at least one defeat and the big purple “S” could have gone forth to the next round as Group A leader. Instead, they’ll be watching the festivities on the sidelines.

After only 10 minutes if play, Marathon’s Marvin Chavez scored with an assist by Milton Nunez. Saprissa’s highly feared attack did not develop and in the mid-second half, the Hondurans struck again when Nunez took a pass from Carlos Mejia and scored.

All four of Mexico’s clubs in the tourney qualified for the next round, including erstwhile Saprissa rival in Group A, Cruz Azul.

In other soccer news (all bad for Ticolandia) on the international front, the women’s under 17-year-old side returned home after being knocked out of the first round of the World Cup in that category. They lost their first match with Germany 5-0, their second to North Korea 2-1 and the last one to Ghana, 1-0. Costa Rica’s FEDEFUT officials are now considering a replacement for women’s coach Juan Diego Quesada.

In Costa Rica’s First Division play on Tuesday, Cartago, No. 5 in Group B, upset No. 2 ranked San Ramon, 3-1. This further tightens the race in that group and gives 15 points to Cartago, tying for last place with the University of Costa Rica.

Scoring did not begin until the second half when Cartago’s Bill Gonzalez scored with an assist from Esteban Granados. Seven minutes later Carlos Rodrigues scored for the old capital on a pass from Leonardo Madrigal. The Gonzalez repeated his earlier goal, this time on a Madrigal pass for 3-0. San Ramon’s Kenneth Solano saved a bit of honor for his side with an assist brom Eddy Salas.

by Rod Hughes

Remember Saprissa head coach Jeaustin Campos saying last week that he would not put all his stars into Sunday’s encounter with Brujas, but save some for the do or die joust with Cruz Azul next Wednesday in the Concacaf champions’ league tourney? Well, the first half of the strategy worked like a charm in Desamparados with with the big Purple “S” winning 2-1.

Brujas is leader of Group A and was tough, dominating play for long periods. But the marksmanship at the goal was all Saprissa’s. At minute 24, Cesar Elizondo scored to put Saprissa up but four minutes later Brujas evened it on Jorge Varbosa’s goal. It was not until five minutes before the regulation finish that Andres Nunez put the pruple ribbon on the match.

Yes, the Brujas club is leading Group A but at the expense of the pack. Against leaders like Saprissa, Alajuela and Heredia, they have not even managed a tie so far. They are tied with Liberia with 21 points each and Saprissa is breathing down their necks with 20. Puntarenas, San Ramon and Carmelita trail in Group A in that order.

In Group B, Alajuela leads with a comfortable 23 points, followed by San Carlos with 20, Perez Zeledon with 19, and Heredia with 17. Cartago and San Carlos are tied at 12.

Other results from Saturday and Sunday were Alajuela 3, Perez Zeledon 2, Carmelita and Puntarenas tied at 2-2 and Liberia triumphing over San Ramon 2-1.

by Rod Hughes

Saprissa head coach Jeaustin Campos told the daily paper La Nacion that all effforts will be dedicated to beating Marathon of Honduras in San Pedro Sula to advance in the regional Concacaf champion´s league tourney. By pulling out all stops, the Tibas club hopes to advance in the tourney while reducing to lesser importance the Costa Rican First Division match Sunday against Brujas. If Saprissa beats Marathon or ties, they are assured entry to the next round. If they lose, it’s goodbye.

Fresh from a victory over Mexico’s Cruz Azul club Wednesday, 1-0, Saprissa has to win over the tough Marathon to advance into the next round of the tourney. But Campos is banking on the figures: Saprissa is only in third place in Group A of the Costa Rican championship season with 17 points against 21 for Brujas and 18 for Liberia. But both the latter clubs have played two more matches, so things may even up this early in the season.

Saprissa managed a 1-0 victory over Mexico’s Cruz Azul club in the Concacaf tournament of national soccer champions in this region Wednesday. That match was also a win or get left behind situation for the Tibas club and why Costa Rican soccer always seems to be coming from behind is beyond me. It isn’t good for the heart or blood pressure!

Saprissa, Marathon and Cruz Azul have left poor D.C. United twisting in the wind in Group A. Saprissa wound up leader Wednesday with 13 points and Cruz Azul and Marathon tied with 10 points. United had miserable single marker. But the situation was in doubt Wednesday until 2/3 of the match was over, when Alejandro Alpizar headed in a masterful pass from the other Double A of the club, Armando Alonso.

That Saprissa did not attain a wider margin Wednesday against Cruz Azul was not due to a lack of offensive spirit or active ball control but because of an understandable anxiety to score. That led them into some silly miscues. This is what happens, fellas, when you leave things til the last minute.

Women´s Under’17 Side Trounced by Germany

Meanwhile, the under-17-year-old girls’ soccer team was stunned Tuesday in a 5-0 drubbing by Germany in the World Cup of youthful girl soccer players. It was a sad opening in Christchurch, New Zeeland, with Germany’s speed catching the Ticas flatfooted. Any illusion that the European club would be made up of hefty Valkyries inflated by too many potatos in their diet was dispelled quickly. The Germans were lithe, long legged and ran circles around the Ticas.

And the Central American lasses still have to meet North Korea and Ghana to try to salvage something. Good luck.

by Rod Hughes

The plight of Alajuela was eloquently summarized by the headline in La Nacion’s sportspages today, “Sometimes Not Losing is Good Business.” La Liga (Alajuela) could barely hold its own against a resurgent Heredia that played the entire second half with only 10 men on the pitch and still threatened constantly. (The headline probably was directed at Heredia about having the disadvantage but they really didn’t need sympathy.)

The 1-1 score does not do justice to what former international soccer star Paolo Cesar Wanchope has done with this previously troubled club as head coach. When Mauricio Solis was expelled in injury overtime of the first half, it was as if it had never happened. Wanchope obviously is not only a strategist but a good psychologist as well.

Alajuela’s Windell Gabriel scored at minute 29 on Marco Urena’s pass. But Heredia was back 10 minutes later with Kenny Cunningham’s reply on Robert Arias’s pass. Who won with the score tied 1-1 most of the match? The fans, who saw a first class example of soccer played by two strong sides, that’s who! And Heredia striker Oscar Briceno, who got weel-deserved praise for keeping the Alajuela defense both occupied and preoccupied.

Perez Zeledon Upset by Cartago 1-0

Perez Zeledon failed to advance its fortunes against Alajuela in Group B Sunday, being topple by the group’s last place club, Cartago. The match’s only goal was scored by Bill Gonzalez after the encounter had been played only four minutes. It was a stunning loss for the southern warriors.

The role of Cartago goalie Donny Grant so outstandingly contributed to the victory that frustrated P-Z striker Diego Pais twice congratualed him on a circus stop of a sure goal. With the loss went P-Z’s golden opportunity to take clear possession of the Group B lead and remains in third place in that tightly packed race.

Brujas Takes Lead Back, Blasting Liberia 3-0

Brujas regained the lead in Group A with its 3-0 pasting of a bewildered Liberia Mia club Sunday. This was bad news for Saprissa as last year’s champions slid back into second spot. This broke a streak of four matches where Brujas had been unable to win. What went wrong for Liberia? Nearly everything, although they played well for the first 30 minutes

But at minute 31, Jorge Barbosa headed in a pass from Yosimar Arias. Early in the second half, Lucas Gomez was assisted by Barbosa for the second marker. At 73 Arias scored again. To make things worse for Liberia, Pablo Salazar had been sent off for a rough foul of desperation in staving off a Brujas attack. Although this was later evened up when Kraesher Mooke of the Brujas was expelled for an accumulation of yellow cards, it was a psychological blow.

University of Costa Rica Downs San Carlos 2-0 in 20 Minutes

The University of Costa Rica did not believe in waiting until the iron had grown cold Sunday, beating San Carlos with two goals in the first 20 minutes of play. Esteban Armijo blasted in a pass by Marvin Chinchilla after only seven minutes followed 12 minutes later by Diego Madrigal’s scoring shot on a pass by Armijo.

UCR’s head coach Johnny Chavez told La Nacion’s sportswriters that his club’s recent improvement has been the result of slow, steady hard improvement and no brilliant strategy. Whatever. It’s working.

Carmelita Blows Lead, Tying 2-2 with San Ramon

When you’re as accustomed to losing as Carmelita is, it’s hard to break the habit, even while leading. The hapless side from Tibas tied with San Ramon 2-2 after having been up 2-0 at the end of the first stanza. It should have been an exciting match but play was lackluster. Carmelita picked up a point in the standings with its goals but remains solidly in last place in overall standings.

People sat up and took notice when Carmelita’s David Diach scored after 11 minutes with Maruicio Mora’s help. Then they stood up at minute 23 when the visiter’s Wilmer Lopez scored with Rigo Ramirez’s assistance. But San Ramon got back into the match at minute 75 with Bryan Solorzano’s goal with the assistance of Rodrigo Cordero. And, in the last minute of regulation time, the veteran Cordero tied it with the aid of Solorzano. The stands gave a sigh of relief.

Standings: Group A, Brujas is on top with 21 points, ahead of Saprissa with 18 and closed trailed by Liberia, Puntarenas, San Ramon and Carmelita (with only six points.) Group B finds Alajuela and San Carlos tied at 20 points but with the lattrer having played a match more. They are followed by Perez Zeledon with 19 and by Heredia, University of Costa Rica and Cartago.

by Rod Hughes

If all goes as planned, the construction company to build the new 35,000-seat National Stadium in the heart of San Jose will be chosen this week. Last week the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Chamber (Sala IV) rejected an appeal from a group of intellectuals led by former Minister of Culture Guido Saenz that would have stopped the project cold until another site was obtained.

The Sala IV took a near-record ll days to reject the appeal. (The English-language weekly Tico Times, reporting on the appeal on Oct. 10 and taking into account the normal pace of the chamber, noted that “it could take months” but that was not the case.) The court speedily rejected the three main claims that the site was inappropriate because a law barred new construction not leagued with existing facilities, that inadequate space existed for parking and that the traffic conjestion after sports events would overwhelm the neighboring streets.

The $73 million stadium is financed by the Chinese government in an arrangement between President Oscar Arias and the Chinese to open relations between the two nations and to sever long-standing diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Its unauguration is projected to be in the first quarter of 2010. Currently the national all star soccer team plays its home matches on the artificial turf of Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in Tibas.

President Arias was not pleased about the appeal (to put it mildly) and its attendant delay, since relations with China had been already been darkened by his being forced by Sala IV to reveal the terms of the $300 million purchase of Costa Rican government bonds. Revealing those details went against the wishes of the Chinese government which wanted to keep everything secret. “I’m fed up,” Arias griped when the appeal was filed, “I’m bored with the obstacles that spring up around everything.”

The old stadium, opened in 1924, had originally an official capacity of 35,000 spectators but, on the recommendation of the National Emergency Commission, this was reduced to 13,000 in case of an earthquake. Demonstrating the effect of inflation in the just over 80 years since its construction, the old stadium cost 35,000 colones (those were the days!) as contrasted with the 40.3 billion projected today for the new one. (Overseas readers must appreciate that today, 35,000 colones is a moderate purchase at a supermarket.)

The old structure has already been leveled to make way for the new. It was equipped with lights only as late as 1953, the same time as the athletic track was laid down, notes La Nacion. Like the new structure, it had artificial turf, installed only seven years ago, but the new will have much more modern lighting. The design includes wheelchair access for 351 persons and nearly 2,000 seats for the handicapped.

During the controversy surrounding the appeal, the press covered the sniping between Arias and Saenz with some glee. Saenz, who belongs to Arias’s National Liberation Party, has been referred to in The Tico Times as “Mr. Good Taste,” a polyfacetic intellectual well respected in academic circles and the designer not only of the Sabana Park facilities but of the Culture Plaza beside the National theater. Arias is an avid soccer fan.

The Tico Times quoted Arias as jibing, “Only he who does not like sports, has never played sports, has never even donned a jersey to wash a car, could possibily oppose this construction.” The diminuitive Saenz replied, “It’s sad because Ticos are passionately in love with soccer and Costa Rican soccer is very mediocre,” a statement that probably did not help his case in this soccer-mad nation…

Parking will be similar to the current 4,000 vehicle capacity. The chief of the National Sports Council, Osvaldo Pandolfo, said he hoped that 200 more spaces might be rented from the nearby ICE (phone company) heaquarters. Despite Saenz’s fears, the new stadium will actually take up less room on the ground because it consists of three tiers of seats.

by Rod Hughes

Who says that Costa Rica is a one sport country? Tell that to the surfing competitors of France after Costa Rica’s four person contingent finished a bare point behind the Europeans and nearly gained the fourth place medal in World Surfing Games on the coast of Portugal. And with more than 11,000 points for each, that was a paper-thin margin.

Australia was first again this year in a sport they nearly dominate, followed by the United States and then Brazil out of the 29 countries competing. They were followed by the near-tie of France and Costa Rica. Jason Torres was fifth place in individual standings and the top Hispanic. But his fellow Tico, Luis Vindas, was not far behind.

Jairo Perez at 22nd and Gilberrt Brown at 29th out of the top 100 surfers also added glory to the Tico cause. In women’s competition Nataly Bertold finished sixth and Lisbet Vindas finished 25th. All in all, a magnificent showing by a tiny country and the team deserves warmest congratulations.

By Rod Hughes

Saprissa clipped the broom of high-flying Brujas (witches) in only 11 minutes but it was a cliff-hanger of a match Sunday at Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in Tibas. Brujas led twice during the action-packed interchange and threatened to prove that its domination over the big purple “S” in Group A is no fluke. It was no match for those with chronic peart trouble.

At 17 minutes, Pablo Brenes blasted in a goal to give Brujas the advantage. Saprissa’s Alejandro Alpizar tied it at minute 28 and there it sayed for the rest of the half and the beginning of the second. But Jorge Barbosa, who had come in midway through the first half, put Brujas up again. But only three minutes later, Cesar Elizondo, who had substituted for Walter Centeno, tied it again at minute 80. It appeared that might be the final but during the first minute of injury overtime, Armando Alonso pounded in the final goal for the home side.

Alajuela 2, Perez Zeledon 2, as Solorzano Saves Alajuela

Perez Zeledon is proving a tough club to beat on its home turf in San Isidro de El General and, indeed, it took great effort for Alajuela to pull a tie out of the wreckage Sunday. It would seem that the First Division is not the sole possession of Saprissa and Alajuela any longer. Indeed, each match has all the uncertainty of playing tag in a minefield.

Jean Carlos Solozano opened scoring at minute 31 for Alajuela on a pass from Cristian Oviedo. P-Z countered seven minutes later with Jean Gabriel Guzman’s goal on Athrim Roper’s pass. Only minutes later, Diego Pais converted Roper’s pass for the go-ahead to end the half. It was not until minute 74 that Solorazano took Pablo Herrera’s pass into the net to tie it all up.

Gonzalez Shines in Heredia 2-0 Victory over Cartago

Leo Gonzalez shone like a brillian light even in the lackluster second half of play Sunday in Heredia’s Rosabal Cordero Stadium. In the first half, Mauricio Solis booted in a penalty kick after Cartago veteran Richard Mahoney had fouled Gonzalez in the box. Gonzalez proved to be as troublesome for the rest of the match and at minute 44 fed a pass in to Oscar Briceno for insurance.

by Rod Hughes

We recently wrote that fans of Costa Rica’s national soccer team (la Sele as it is called here) are not happy with narrow victories. Neither are the fans, obviously. Late in the second half of the match with Haiti Wednesday, they began to whistle with impatience. Ticos seldom “boo,” but express their displeasure in sports events that way. Wednesday, they sounded as if they were calling a particularly stubborn dog.

It is not important to the fans or sportswriters that Costa Rica is the only all-star side to be undefeated in the Concacaf tournament eliminations, that will conduct winners to World Cup play at South Afica in 2010. They are aware that Group C was perhaps the weakest of the four elimination groups and Al Dia sportswriter Antonio Alfaro speculated on what will happen when Costa Rica comes up against real competition like Honduras, the United States or Mexico.

Still, scoring 17 goals in five matches against only two goals scored against the Ticos isn’t exactly bad, since soccer is oftimes full of upsets. And Wednesday at Ricardo Saprissa Stadium here, the Sele was obviously finding some tough going, despite Junior Diaz’s goal (assisted by the ever-reliable Walter Centeno) after only 16 minutes of play.

In the first half, the Ticos tried to go toe-to-toe in maneauvering the ball on the ground but this proved to be indecisive. In the second half, head coach Rodrigo Kenton changed to the old tried and true direct attack. That unveiled another defect–the ball was going everywhere but into the goal mouth. The only one to recover a bit of marksmanship was Victor Nunez in the last gasp of injury overtime, assisted by shrewd play by Bryan Ruiz.

After the match, Kenton graciously (and perhaps a bit defensively) described Haiti as a “difficult rival.” Neither fans nor the sporting press was having any of that.