đâ˝ - The simple joy of a fun final
The Concacaf League doesn't matter too much, but at least we had a good time at the end.
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The Concacaf League final took place Wednesday night, with Alajuelense winning the fourth-ever title in the history of the tournament. Itâs a competition that already had served its main function, qualifying teams from Central America and the Caribbean to the Concacaf Champions League, but a ClĂĄsico between Saprissa and Liga Deportiva Alajuelense meant we were sure to get a bit more than a match between two teams perhaps more focused on other pursuits than winning the regionâs second-most-prestigious club competition.
Instead, we got a blast of a game, the rare final that truly delivered something close to the ceremony it was given simply for being a game in which a trophy was on the line.
Most people who pay a passing amount of attention know the Saprissa name and are familiar with Los Morados as one of the top teams in the region. The balance of power may be shifting, though. LDA is the reigning champion, now five behind Saprissaâs league-best 35 titles, and made strong moves in the offseason (including wooing Concacaf League top scorer Johan Venegas from Saprissa). Because of that and the home-field factor, LDA went into Wednesdayâs final as slight favorites.
It was, however, Saprissa that scored first, with Cristian BolaĂąos finding a save deflected right to him and letting his chest do the rest in the 18th minute.
LDA hit back and was level at halftime after Jurgens Montenegro found Alfonso Martinez with a diagonal ball and Martinez was able to square for Barlon Sequeira.
The match hinged on a sequence just after an hour in, with LDA fullback Yurguin RomĂĄn beating Saprissa goalkeeper Aaron Cruz with a left-footed free kick inside his near post.
âThe manager worked for a long time on set pieces,â RomĂĄn said after the match. âWe waited until the last minute because of how they set up the wall. (Saprissa defender Kendall) Waston was on the other side. In fact, Marcel (Hernandez) was going to hit it, but then it was up to me because of how the wall was set up. I felt confident and thank God it went in.â
LDA kept the pressure up and extended its lead shortly after with Alexander Lopez able to finish off a move through the middle after Saprissa lost possession mere moments after the restart.
Saprissa wasnât done, with Marvin Anguloâs long-range effort finding the inside of the post and then the back of the net, but Saprissa couldnât muster anything in the final three minutes of the contest.
âAnyone who thought Liga would win easily doesnât know Deportivo Saprissa, the players they have. Theyâre a really good team too. I think it was what we expected.â said LDA midfielder Bryan Ruiz, who won the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 2004 with LDA, beating Saprissa before embarking on his long career in Europe.
Maybe itâs a lack of soccer in the region at the moment, but the final was good, old-fashioned fun - a back and forth game that not only featured familiar faces like Waston, Ruiz, Angulo and BolaĂąos, but also players who will be part of Costa Ricaâs future.
Montenegro, who recently turned 20, was snapped in Atlanta this winter, and while it turned out to be a misunderstanding about reupping with a Georgia-based agency, it doesnât seem far-fetched to think heâll be in MLS or Europe soon. LDA center back Fernan FaerrĂłn, also 20, is another prospect, and Bernald Alfaro also could be a savvy pick-up though he came off the bench Wednesday and isnât a surefire starter at the moment for manager Andres Carevic.
Saprissa selling the crown jewel of its academy, Manfred Ugalde, to the City Football Group in the summer may be the difference right now, but they too have plenty of talent in the pipeline that should give fans hope LDAâs reign atop Costa Rican soccer wonât last long.
Ultimately, it was a beautiful blend of experienced and upcoming talent that matched with two managers looking to win the game with their style and gave those of us nerdy to make it appointment viewing a feeling of satisfaction.
Honestly, it was a shame it had to end. On that note, there is good news. The teams meet again Sunday in league play.