Goal thriller in Quarterfinals First Leg between Marathon and Alajuelense

All to be decided in the Second Leg in Costa Rica.

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras – The 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup continued on Thursday with CD Marathón and LD Alajuelense playing out a 2-2 draw in the First Leg of their Quarterfinals series at Estadio Francisco Morazán in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Alajuelense took an early lead in the 2’, with an effort from Anthony Hernández from the right end of the box taking a deflection before finding the back of the net.

Marathón found an equalizer in the 10’ when Yairo Moreno buried a free kick in the top left corner.

The hosts turned the score around in the 50’ through a header from Damin Ramírez, Moreno showing up once again, this time by providing the assist on the play with a pinpoint cross from the left flank.

Substitute Ángel Zaldívar found a late equalizer for Alajuelense in the 86’, the Mexican forward struck from inside the penalty area following an individual run and delivery from Ryad Wilson down the left wing.

The Quarterfinals Second Leg between these teams is set to be played next Thursday, September 17 at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Post-Match Data: CD Marathón vs LD Alajuelense

• This marked the first time CD Marathón earned a point in a Concacaf Central American Cup match after conceding the opening goal, having lost on the previous two occasions.
• Anthony Hernández's goal after just one minute and 30 seconds was LD Alajuelense's earliest-ever goal in the Concacaf Central American Cup and the fastest goal scored by any team in the 2026 edition.
• CD Marathón's Yairo Moreno has scored three goals in five matches in the 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup from just 0.91 expected goals (xG). His +2.09 differential between goals scored and xG is the third-best mark in the competition.
• Yairo Moreno became the third CD Marathón player to both score and provide an assist in the same match during the 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup, joining Brian Farioli and Nicolás Messiniti. No other team has had more than two different players accomplish the feat in this edition.
• LD Alajuelense generated nearly the same expected goals from just five shots (0.86 xG) as CD Marathón did from 17 attempts (0.95 xG), highlighting the quality of the Costa Rican side's chances despite their considerably lower shot volume.