Alajuelense claimed a 2-1 victory over Escorpiones Belén in the second round of the Apertura campaign on Saturday night. The result leaves the hosts fifth in the table with 11 points from seven games, while the visitors remain ninth on four points.
The opening half offered little excitement until the 16th minute when C. Borges stepped up for a penalty and missed. By then the match had settled into a cautious rhythm, neither side willing to commit too many men forward. To be fair, both sides knew the stakes of an early-season fixture.
The second half brought a different tempo. A. Hernandez came on at 72 minutes and immediately made his mark, finding the net to put Alajuelense ahead. R. Lopez doubled the lead just three minutes later with a well-taken effort. And here's the thing about football — you never know when the game will turn.
But Escorpiones refused to go quietly. A. Gamboa struck in the 90th minute plus five to set up a tense finale. The visitors pushed for an equaliser, but Alajuelense's defence held firm through the closing stages.
The statistics tell a familiar story. Alajuelense enjoyed 60 per cent possession and registered 127 attacks compared to 70 for the away side. Four shots on target yielded two goals for the hosts, while Escorpiones managed just one shot on target from their efforts.
The result extends Alajuelense's unbeaten run to three matches, following victories against Jelaux and Sporting San José alongside a draw with Herediano. Escorpiones' poor form continues with five defeats in seven outings, a run that suggests they have work to do before the winter break.