First Division champion Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (LDA) has not enjoyed a good summer tournament thus far, but earlier today the reigning team looked like a champ for 90 minutes.

Playing at the fearsome “lair of the purple monster” (the Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in Tibas), the LDA “manudos” looked very solid, particularly in the second half when they scored the only two goals of the game. Christopher Meneses was first at the 65′ mark, followed by veteran star Froylan Ledezma in the final minutes of the game -just as Saprissa was scrambling to even the score and save the teams’ and fans’ honor.

Things are looking better for LDA, a team that is currently in a victory streak of four games. They are now within three points of advancing to the next qualification round, although some sports commentators think that both Saprissa and Club Sport Cartagines (CSC) stand in the way of the champs.

The first half was exciting for all fans, since both teams rushed to establish an early lead. Goalkeepers Pemberton (LDA) and Bolivar (Saprissa) had to fly on more than one occasion to keep their teams safe from a goal against. Pemberton definitely saw more action in the first half.

For the second half, the LDA players performed like champs and imposed themselves on Saprissa’s home pitch. Bolivar came under siege and could not stop the first rocket shot on goal from Meneses. A sepulchral silence descended on the lair, and then things got ugly in the seats as Saprissa fans demanded that Brazilian-born coach Alexander Guimaraes relinquish his position. Ledezma came in as a substitute for LDA in the final minutes and took advantage of a turnover to score the final goal of the game.

The champs are now sixth overall in the tournament with 24 points. They are now closer to advancing to the next round, and if they pull it off it will be a close call. The future of Guimaraes as Saprissa’s coach is uncertain.

Source: Everardo Herrera