🏆⚽ - 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.
Welcome back to GETTING CONCACAFED! I’ve been quiet the last few weeks as we launched a Texas soccer-focused media outlet to which you should subscribe, plus tackling other freelance projects like a story on the secret world of big-money ‘amateur’ soccer. If you’re not subscribed, you can put your email here to get on the list. I really appreciate it!
The Concacaf League final took place Wednesday night, with Alajuelense winning the fourth-ever title in the history of the tournament. It’s a competition that already had served its main function, qualifying teams from Central America and the Caribbean to the Concacaf Champions League, but a Clásico 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 region’s 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 Saprissa’s 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 Wednesday’s final as slight favorites.
It was, however, Saprissa that scored first, with Cristian Bolaños 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 Román beating Saprissa goalkeeper Aaron Cruz with a left-footed free kick inside his near post.
“The manager worked for a long time on set pieces,” Román said after the match. “We 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.”
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 wasn’t done, with Marvin Angulo’s long-range effort finding the inside of the post and then the back of the net, but Saprissa couldn’t muster anything in the final three minutes of the contest.
“Anyone who thought Liga would win easily doesn’t know Deportivo Saprissa, the players they have. They’re a really good team too. I think it was what we expected.” 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 it’s 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 Bolaños, but also players who will be part of Costa Rica’s 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 doesn’t seem far-fetched to think he’ll be in MLS or Europe soon. LDA center back Fernan Faerrón, also 20, is another prospect, and Bernald Alfaro also could be a savvy pick-up though he came off the bench Wednesday and isn’t 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 LDA’s reign atop Costa Rican soccer won’t 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.