Tuesday, September 7

Central America Round-Up

It was a good week for the leaders in Costa Rica, but an unfortunate one for those in Honduras and Panama, where Necaxa and Arabe Unido each suffered their first league losses of the season.

Costa Rica

Two of the top three in Costa Rica met with Alajuelense winning at home, 3-1, against Herediano to increase their lead in Group B. In Group A, Barrio Mexico’s 5-2 thrashing on the road led to the termination of Puntarenas coach Jorge Gonzalez. Puntarenas (2-1-4) had one win in its last five games, a 3-0 home win against Universidad de Costa Rica, and allowed 14 goals in seven games, second to UCR (15), who sit last in Group B at 1-0-6.

Saturday, September 4

San Carlos 2-0 Universidad de Costa Rica
The hosts were without two called up internationals and the suspended Felix Montoya, but still dominated the struggling UCR squad. The visitors did well, though, to keep San Carlos at bay until Juan Solis headed in a cross from Maikol in the 56th. Solis tallied his second to secure the win in the 64th. Mora Scoring – SC: Juan Solis 56, 64

Sunday, September 5

Alajuelense 3-1 Herediano
In a battle of Group B leaders, the hosts took the lead 12 minutes in when Kevin Sancho sent a deep ball behind the defense that Marco Urena ran onto and sent past the keeper. Ten minutes later Diego Garcia Estrada headed a Jose Salvatierra ball on goal that was stopped, but the rebound came to Pablo Gabas at the edge of box, where he blasted a shot that doubled the lead. Controversy began later in the half when the referee awarded Herediano a penalty for a handball. The first attempt from Froylan Ledezma was good, but the referee called for a retake, which was saved by Alfonso Quesada. Two minutes later, though, another penalty was whistled with Ledezma finally finding a goal for the visitors three minutes before the break. In their efforts to equalize, Herediano hit the woodwork twice only to see Johnny Acosta head in a corner four minutes from time. Scoring – ALA: Marco Urena 12, Pablo Gabas 22, Johnny Acosta 86; HER: Froylan Ledezma pen 42

Puntarenas 2-5 Barrio Mexico
The Group A leaders continued their domination in a match that was the last for Puntarenas head coach Jorge Gonzalez, who was dismissed Monday. The busy first half saw four goals in the first 15 minutes. Jorge Barbosa set up Maikol Ortiz seven minute in for the Barrio Mexico lead but Emmanuel Gaytan answered with a header two minutes later. Ortiz sent a corner in the 12th that headed in by William Phillips and then scored himself again three minutes later on a free kick for a two-goal advantage. Ortiz completed a hat-trick in the 39th and Phillips a brace in the 45th to put the match out of reach. Scoring – PUN: Emmanuel Gaytan 9, Joshua Diaz 90; BM: Maikol Ortiz 7, 15, 39, William Phillips 12, 45

Santos de Guapiles 0-2 Brujas
A Josimer Arias throw-in 14 minutes into the contest was headed in by Andres Nunez to give the visitors the lead. A defensive error allowed Jorge Arias to finish into an empty net just before the half-hour mark after beating goalkeeper Wardy Alfaro, who came out to challenge the striker. Scoring – BRU: Andres Nunez 14, Jorge Arias 29

Limon 0-0 Deportivo Saprissa
In a back-and-forth affair in which neither side could find the back of the net, a controversial call late in the contest prevented the hosts from registering the upset of Saprissa when Max Sanchez was ruled to have been offside on what would have been the lone goal of the meeting.

Monday, September 6

Perez Zeledon 1-2 Cartagines
Postponed from Saturday due to rain and field conditions, the home side found themselves at a disadvantage in the 32nd with the expulsion of Kenneth Garcia for a hard foul. It took another 30 minutes for Cartagines to capitalize through Eduardo Valverde in the 64th. Josue Salas doubled the lead in the 83rd with a left-footed effort. Perez Zeledon kept themselved in the game with a penalty just moments later converted by Ever Alfaro. Scoring – PZ: Ever Alfaro pen 85; CAR: Eduardo Valverde 64, Josue Salas 83

El Salvador

Saturday, September 4

Vista Hermosa 2-1 Atletico Marte
Originally postponed from last week due to field conditions, the two clubs took advantage of the international break to make up the fixture. Javier Hernandez gave the home side the lead with a header in the 25th minute only to see the visitors answer back a minute later when Alcides Bandera connected on an shot from outside the box. The contest remained deadlocked when Juan Jose Perez found the winner two minutes from time for Vista Hermosa, who moved within two points of the lead. Scoring – VH: Javier Hernandez 25, Juan Perez 88; AM: Alcides Bandera 26

Honduras

Promoted darlings Necaxa suffered their first loss of the campaign, falling to last-place Vida at home, marking a second consecutive game without victory. The result allowed Platense to move into a tie for first by blanking Deportes Savio on a brace from Michel Rivera. Marathon missed its opportunity to snare the top spot, falling on the road, 3-2, to mid-table Real Espana, which is now three points back of the lead. Rivals Olimpia and Motagua, meanwhile, battled to a 1-1 draw.

Saturday, September 4

Victoria 2-1 Hispano
Scoring – VIC: Saul Martinez 20, Elmer Zelaya 26; HIS: Pompilio Cacho 28

Sunday, September 5

Necaxa 1-2 Vida
Scoring – NEC: Luis Rodas 42; VID: Milton Ruiz 3, Luis Castro 44

Platense 2-0 Deportes Savio
Scoring – PLA: Michel Rivera 56, 68

Olimpia 1-1 Motagua
Scoring – OLI: Ramiro Bruschi 67; MOT: George Welcome 76

Real Espana 3-2 Marathon
Scoring – RE: Yobani Ayila 45, Luis Lobo 48, Douglas Caetano 92; MAR: Own goal 12, Nicolas Cardozo 35

Panama

Arabe Unido’s lead shrank in the sixth week of action with their 2-1 loss at San Francisco allowed their opposition to move within four points. It was the first loss of the campaign for the Champions League side and halted a four-game win streak. Moving within two was Chorrillo, Chepo and Sporting San Miguelito. Chorrillo posted a big victory at home and Chepo nipped visiting Tauro while Sporting won on the road.

Saturday, September 4

Plaza Amador 0-1 Atletico Veraguense
Alianza 2-3 Sporting San Miguelito
San Francisco 2-1 Arabe Unido

Sunday, September 5

Chorrillo 4-1 Atletico Chiriqui
Chepo 1-0 Tauro

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