Torres leads Saprissa past UMECIT in Central American Cup

UMECIT FC made its Central American Cup debut, falling to Costa Rican giants Deportivo Saprissa.

PENONOMÉ, Panama – The 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup continued with Deportivo Saprissa earning a 2-1 victory over UMECIT FC in Group C on Wednesday at Estadio Universidad Latina in Penonomé, Panama.

Mariano Torres put Deportivo Saprissa in the lead in the 45’+1’ when his free kick deflected past the goalkeeper.

The Costa Rican side doubled its lead in the 49’ as Torres’ corner kick found Kendall Waston, who headed it across the box for Orlando Sinclair to nod it home.

Deportivo Saprissa was reduced to 10 players in the 62’ when Luis Paradela was shown a straight red card.

UMECIT FC capitalized on the advantage in the 76’ when Alberto Saldaña met a cross at the back post and scored the club's first-ever Central American Cup goal.

Group C action resumes next Wednesday when UMECIT FC hosts Club Olimpia. Deportivo Saprissa hosts Alianza FC later that night.

Match Stats

• Saprissa is the first team in this edition of the CONCACAF Central American Cup towin a match despite receiving a red card. In the 2025 edition of the tournament, thisdidn’t happen until the third matchday of the group stage, when Municipal defeatedReal España 2-1.
• Saprissa has won all of its opening away matches in a Concacaf Central AmericanCup tournament. However, it has managed to keep a clean sheet in only one ofthose matches: a 4-0 victory over Jocoro in 2023.
• Alberto Saldaña (UMECIT) scored from a pass from Erick Rodríguez, with both comingon as substitutes. The last time this combination of scorer and assist provider whereboth entered the game as substitutes in a CONCACAF Central American Cup matchoccurred was in Sporting SM’s 3-2 win over Plaza Amador in 2025, when Joseph Coxassisted Jordan Girón.
• Kendall Waston (Saprissa) was directly involved in a goal in the Central AmericanCup for the first time since November 2023, when he scored against Motagua in a4-0 victory. Today against UMECIT, he assisted on Orlando Sinclair’s goal.
• At 39 years and 71 days old, Mariano Torres (Saprissa) is the oldest player to score inthis CONCACAF Central American Cup so far.
• UMECIT’s Jesús Delgado is the first player in this CONCACAF Central American Cup tocontest at least five aerial duels and have a 100% success rate in those duels (5/5).