MIAMI, Florida – Costa Rican giants Deportivo Saprissa have advanced to the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup after defeating Motagua of Honduras 4-0 in the second leg of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup Play-In on Wednesday night at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The result gives Saprissa a 6-2 victory on aggregate and a coveted place in next year’s Champions Cup.
Only 75 seconds had ticked off the clock before Saprissa held a 1-0 lead, as Mariano Torres put it on a plate for Ariel Rodriguez to whip in a header past Motagua GK Jonathan Rougier.
Saprissa were hungry for more and the margin was doubled to 2-0 in the 9’, as Fidel Escobar floated in a cross from the right wing into Kendall Waston, who thumped in a header himself past Rougier.
Motagua were starting to get back into the game and had a good look in the 32’ when Walter Martinez’s shot was saved by Saprissa GK Esteban Alvarado.
But Saprissa put a halt to any Motagua momentum with a goal in first half stoppage time, as Javon East found Orlando Sinclair, whose tidy finish stretched the lead to 3-0.
With the three-goal cushion, Saprissa could play to their liking in the second half, but Motagua were going not going to go down without a fight and nearly pulled a goal back in the 73’ through Edwin Maldonado.
Saprissa avoided any late trouble, though, and Luis Paradela put a bow on the victory by turning in a rebound right in front of the Motagua goal in the 86’ to complete the 4-0 scoreline.
