SAN JOSE, Costa Rica– Saprissa FW Johan Venegas enjoyed a record night with four goals to pace the Costa Rican side to a 4-1 win over Municipal of Guatemala in the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf League Round of 16 on Thursday night at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Venegas set a record for the most goals scored in a single SCL game and padded his lead in the all-time SCL scoring table with an astounding 11 goals in just 10 matches.
With the win, the defending champions advance to the quarterfinals where they will face Honduran side Marathon.
Municipal started the stronger of the two and had two clear scoring chances inside the first 20 minutes through Ramiro Rocca, who was denied on both by Saprissa GK Aaron Cruz. But the third time was a charm for the Municipal man, as he followed up a blocked shot from a few yards out for a 1-0 Municipal lead.
Saprissa looked to answer and in the 32’ an effort from long-distance from Esteban Espindola saw Municipal GK Rafael Garcia make a block, with Venegas reacting first to turn the rebound into net to even the score, 1-1.
The striker then tallied his second of the night in the 38’ for a 2-1 Saprissa lead with a powerful header off a cross from Michael Barrantes.
Venegas notched his hat trick just five minutes into the second half when he headed in another cross to increase the Saprissa lead to 3-1.
Venegas’ appetite for goal was insatiable and four minutes later in the 54’ he had his fourth goal of the night for a 4-1 Saprissa advantage with a tidy finish after Espindola’s header had bounced off the crossbar.
Municipal tried to react, but were kept at bay by Cruz and the Saprissa defense until the final whistle.