by Rod Hughes

Well, now, the lion (emblem of la Liga Alajuelense) found it has claws, after all, yesterday. The powerful side that many pick to unseat Saprissa from its thrown has failed to win its last four matches.

At minute 36, forward Victor (Mambo) Nunez made what turned out to be the winning goal much to the obvious relief of coach Carlos Restrepo. With a minute left to go in the game Berny Solorzano added the belated insurance goal. As for Cartago, at least one sportswiter accused the team of timidity on attack, as if wearing a “kick me” sign for Alajuela’s benefit.

Brujas of Escazu battled a tough Perez Zeledon side to a 2-2 tie in an exciting, tight match. Danny Fonseca opened 13 minutes into the match with a deceptively soft touch. But PZ pushed out the lines to even it up at 1-1 on Diego Pais’s goal. In the second half Brujas went ahead again Leandro Gotabatto’s marker only to have Bill Gonzalez even it up nine minutes later. The winners: the fans.

In Santa Barbara, home team Carmelita downed Puntarenas 2-0 in a dirty game. No, we don’t mean full of red and yellow cards but the periodic rainstorms that left the field looking as if it had been plowed for planting.David Diach was the pivotal player for Carmelita, passing to Alejandro Viquez so he could score, then scoring himself. Carmelita finished with 10 men and the win.

Saturday’s Results

Saprissa kept a firm hold on the leadership of Group B by beating Liberia 1-0, Heredia was not giving up its number 1 position in group A, winning over Santos 2-1. University of Costa Rica beat San Carlos 2-1, giving the newcomers to the First Division a surpising second place tie with Alajuela in the Group A standings.