LD Alajuelense

Match report

Saprissa Cruise Past Alajuelense in Apertura Seven Clash

Saprissa secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Alajuelense in the seventh round of the Primera División's Apertura tournament on Saturday evening. The league leaders showed no signs of vulnerability against the fifth-placed hosts, controlling proceedings from start to finish. To be fair, the result reflected the gulf in quality between the two sides this season. The visitors opened the scoring just before the break when O. Sinclair found the net at the 45+2 minute mark. It was a moment that shifted momentum decisively in Saprissa's favour. The goal came from sustained pressure rather than a single opportunity, which is how these things often work. Saprissa doubled their advantage shortly after the restart. S. Acuna made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute, capitalising on Alajuelense's inability to settle into a rhythm. Three minutes later, S. Taylor received a yellow card as the home side tried to respond. The game was effectively over by then. The match took a dramatic turn toward the end when K. McDonald was sent off in the 86th minute. The red card came after he had already picked up a booking in the 81st minute, and it left Alajuelense with ten men for the final four minutes. By then, Saprissa had long since secured their three points. The statistics told a story of complete domination. Alajuelense enjoyed 65 per cent possession but managed only seven shots on target compared to Saprissa's five. The visitors were far more clinical, converting two chances from five shots on target while the hosts wasted most of theirs. And here's the thing about possession without penetration — it means little without purpose. The victory moves Saprissa further clear at the top of the table with 18 points from seven games. Alajuelense remain in fifth place on 11 points, a seven-point gap that feels significant this early in the campaign. The home side's recent form — two losses in their last four matches — makes this defeat even harder to swallow.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 65 – 35

Shots on target 7 – 5

Shots off target 4 – 5

Attacks 123 – 104

⚽ 45+2' O. Sinclair — Goal ⚽ 52' S. Acuna — Goal 🟨 53' S. Taylor — Yellow card ⇄ 56' R. Parkins — Substitution ⇄ 56' J. Ruiz — Substitution ⇄ 56' C. Perez — Substitution 🟨 58' R. Matarrita — Yellow card ⇄ 59' S. Taylor — Substitution 🟨 60' G. Torres — Yellow card 🟨 63' J. M. Azofeifa Rivas — Yellow card ⇄ 72' G. Torres — Substitution ⇄ 72' D. Guzman — Substitution ⇄ 79' K. Michel — Substitution ⇄ 79' A. Salazar — Substitution 🟨 81' K. McDonald — Yellow card ⇄ 83' O. Sinclair — Substitution ⇄ 83' L. Paradela — Substitution 🟨 86' K. McDonald — Yellow card 🟥 86' K. McDonald — Red card

Match events

45+2' 0:1 Deportivo Saprissa Goal O. Sinclair
52' 0:2 Deportivo Saprissa Goal S. Acuna
53' 0:2 Deportivo Saprissa Yellow card S. Taylor
56' 0:2 LD Alajuelense Substitution R. Parkins off: E. Cruz
56' 0:2 LD Alajuelense Substitution J. Ruiz off: F. Pinar
56' 0:2 LD Alajuelense Substitution C. Perez off: A. Hernandez
58' 0:2 LD Alajuelense Yellow card R. Matarrita
59' 0:2 Deportivo Saprissa Substitution S. Taylor off: G. G. Taylor Dosman
60' 0:2 Deportivo Saprissa Yellow card G. Torres
63' 0:2 Deportivo Saprissa Yellow card J. M. Azofeifa Rivas
72' 0:2 Deportivo Saprissa Substitution G. Torres off: K. Arboine
72' 0:2 Deportivo Saprissa Substitution D. Guzman off: S. Padilla
79' 0:2 LD Alajuelense Substitution K. Michel off: K. McDonald
79' 0:2 LD Alajuelense Substitution A. Salazar off: D. Aguilar
81' 0:2 LD Alajuelense Yellow card K. McDonald
83' 0:2 Deportivo Saprissa Substitution O. Sinclair off: A. Rodriguez
83' 0:2 Deportivo Saprissa Substitution L. Paradela off: J. Carvajal
86' 0:2 LD Alajuelense Yellow card K. McDonald
86' 0:2 LD Alajuelense Red card K. McDonald

Statistics

65 Possession, % 35

7 Shots on target 5

4 Shots off target 5

123 Attacks 104

11 Corners 4

19 Free kicks 12

1 Offsides 0

2 Yellow cards 3

1 Red cards 0

8 Goal kicks 8

23 Throw-ins 16

All statistics

6 Blocked shots 3

0.41 Shot accuracy 0.38

Recent form

DLDLWW

Recent matches

All team matches

Deportivo Saprissa

WWDLLW