LD Alajuelense clinches Central American Cup Semifinals Berth 

The Costa Rican club qualifies for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.

ALAJUELA – The 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup continued on Thursday with LD Alajuelense earning a 3-1 victory over CD Marathón in the Second Leg of their Quarterfinals at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Alajuelense took the lead in the 27’ when Jeison Lucumí received a ball from Juanpi Añor on the left wing, before cutting in and finding the back of the net with a right-footed hit to the bottom-left corner.

The defending champion doubled its advantage in the 32’ when Yerlan Sosa received a ball space down the right flank and delivered a precise grounded pass for Ronaldo Cisneros to strike at the near post.

Marathón got back into the match in the 68’, with a finish from close range from Nicolás Messiniti on a corner kick opportunity.

Alajuelense reclaimed its two-goal lead in the 71’ when Ronald Matarrita converted a penalty.

With the win, Alajuelense advanced to the Semifinals and clinched a spot in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Alajuelense will continue its title defense in search of lifting a fourth Central American Cup crown facing FC Motagua in the Semifinals in October.

Post-Match Data: LD Alajuelense vs CD Marathón

• LD Alajuelense have scored three goals in a Concacaf Central American Cup knockout match for the fourth time in their history, and it is only the second time they have achieved this at home; the previous occasion was in 2023 against CS Cartaginés in the quarter-finals of that edition (3-0).
• LD Alajuelense's Ronald Matarrita scored his first Concacaf Central American Cup goal in this match, aged 32 years and 70 days, making him the second-oldest player in the league to score in the current edition of the tournament so far, behind Ángel Zaldívar in the first leg of this tie (32 years, 214 days).
• LD Alajuelense have won five of their eight Concacaf Central American Cup quarter-final matches (D2 L1). Three of these victories have come in the second leg of the ties (3-0 vs CS Cartaginés in 2023, 2-1 vs FC Motagua in 2025 and 3-1 today).
• CD Marathón's Brian Farioli created five chances against LD Alajuelense, the most of any player for his side in this Concacaf Central American Cup match. He finishes the current Concacaf Central American Cup as the Honduran team's player with the most chances created, with a total of 20.
• Despite having less possession than CD Marathón in this Concacaf Central American Cup match (45% to 55%), LD Alajuelense were superior in total shots (19 to 13), shots from inside the box (12 to 9), touches in the opposition box (22 to14) and accumulated expected goals (2.5xG to 0.8xG).
• CD Marathón attempted 31 crosses in total against LD Alajuelense in this match, the third-most in the knockout stages of the current Concacaf Central American Cup, only behind Saprissa's 40 against CS Cartaginés and Alianza FC's (SLV) 43 against FC Motagua.