Saprissa Battles Archrival to 1-0 Win
by Rod Hughes
The Alajuela defense left the door open just a mere crack and that was enough to let one of the slipperiest strikers around, Alonso El Mariachi Solis, through late in the first half to a winning goal at Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in Tibas. That was enough in this fast-moving match for Saprissa to face the second game in the regional toyurney’s semi-final. with a one-goal advantage
For dyed-in-the-wool fans of both teams (and that is the mahority of the country’s population it seems) just winning a “classic” as the matches between these two teams are term—just that is enough. That victories will lead to Cup finals at the end of the rainbow is just frosting.
Sometimes it is hard during a game of all movement to distinguish between constant attack and counterattack, the ball changing owners every few seconds, misdirected shots at the goal, to tell whether all this sturm und drang is the product or just an inability of either team to get it together for a cohesive attack or if it’s because of excellent defense. But, like last night, it makes for a match that has one on the edge of his seat. Is it our imagination or have we seen Alajuela’s midfield maneauvering much better than it was last night?
In the first half, both gtoalies had their work cut out for them. Midfielder Walter Centeno, for example, sent a shot zinging in from the near left that Alajuela’s Wardy Alfaro would not have had a prayer to stop by Centeno was a bit to the right and the ball bounced off for a heart-stopping miss. It was not until later that Andres Nunez sent in his fateful pass to Solis.
Despite Alajuela head coach Carlos Restrepo using three forwards, Saprissa’s defense held against the tactic well. Saprissa goalie Kaylor Navas was able to, if not coast, do the minimal competent job to wall off Alajuela’s attack.