Central American Cup Group Stage Game Changers: Ronaldo Cisneros and Jorge Benguché

Cisneros leads the scoring charts and was key in helping LD Alajuelense advance past the Group Stage, Benguché helped CD Olimpia book a Knockout Stage berth and increased his all-time Central American Cup leading scoring tally.

MIAMI – The 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup saw Game Changers Ronaldo Cisneros and Jorge Benguché deliver key performances to help LD Alajuelense and Club Olimpia Deportivo, respectively, book Quarterfinals berths.

Cisneros has been in top form for three-time defending champions Alajuelense and currently leads the race for the 2026 Central American Cup Golden Boot with four goals in four appearances. The Mexican forward kicked off the campaign by netting the winner in the Costa Rican powerhouse’s Group A opener against CSD Xelajú MC. The second matchday then saw Cisneros bag his second goal of the campaign as Los Manudos secured a comeback victory on the road against Diriangén FC in Nicaragua.

Following a defeat in the team’s third Group Stage fixture, Alajuelense entered matchday five in need of a crucial result to advance to the Quarterfinals. Cisneros rose to the occasion and delivered a pivotal performance at home at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica, netting a second-half brace to seal qualification to the Knockout Stage and top Group A.

Benguché, meanwhile, has been the key figure in attack for Olimpia, contributing three goals in four appearances. Notably, the attacker’s strikes increased his tally to 15 as he continues to lead the all-time Central American Cup scoring charts.

Benguché scored in three out of four Group C encounters as the Honduran side finished first in Group C with a perfect 4W-0D-0L record to move on to the Quarterfinals. The striker opened the tournament with the team’s first goal of the campaign as Olimpia defeated Deportivo Mixco 2-0 on matchday one.

Matcday four then saw Benguché add another goal in the team’s 2-1 win on the road against Alianza FC in Panama, before scoring what ultimately was the winner in the 2-1 victory over Saprissa in the fourth and final Group C encounter for The Lions.

Alajuelense and Cisneros will now take on CD Marathón in the Quarterfinals, while Benguché and Olimpia continue the campaign with a series against L.A. Firpo.