HEREDIA, Costa Rica– Scotiabank Concacaf League finalist Herediano has carried its hot streak in Concacaf play into the Costa Rican Apertura.
This week the Florenses collected a pair of wins to improve to an 8W-4D-2L record and surged into third-place in the table, just five points behind league leaders Alajuelense.
The club is now unbeaten in its last five league matches under the guidance of new Head Coach Paulo Wanchope, accumulating a 4W-1D record in the process.
Last Wednesday Herediano traveled to Guapiles to take on 2017 SCL finalist Santos de Guapiles and picked up a 1-0 win thanks to Omar Arellano’s goal in the fifth minute.
The Mexican attacker received a pass from Jose Leiton and fired a rocket goalward for what turned out to be the game’s lone goal.
Three days later on Saturday, Herediano clashed with long-time rivals Deportivo Saprissa and emerged with an emphatic 2-0 victory.
It was a typical meeting between two of Costa Rica’s most decorated teams: Hard-fought, feisty and high-quality.
The two sides traded a number of chances before Herediano finally struck in the 75thminute when Saprissa DF Heiner Mora turned a deep Herediano cross into the Saprissa net to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
A red card to Johan Venegas nine minutes later gave an extra boost to Herediano, and from there Allan Cruz put the finishing touch on the win with a goal in the 90thminute to complete the 2-0 scoreline.
As for fellow SCL finalist Motagua of Honduras, its match versus Vida was postponed due to heavy rains.