MIAMI, Florida – Costa Rican club Herediano overcame a stubborn Robinhood of Suriname to take the first leg of their 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 series, 2-0, on Tuesday evening at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
The home side controlled things from the start and began putting pressure on the Robinhood defense, but GK Jonathan Fonkel did well to make the necessary saves in the early going.
Herediano would break the deadlock shortly after the half-hour mark in the 32’ when a ball that was pinballing around the Robinhood area was eventually turned into net by Getsel Montes for a 1-0 lead.
Robinhood did get a great chance at goal shortly after the Montes score, but Dimitrio Andro could not find a way past Herediano GK Alexandre Lezcano.
Fonkel’s fine form continued into the second half as he made a massive save to deny Keysher Fuller in the 50’. That was followed by a Francisco Rodriguez header from point-blank range that required a reaction save from Fonkel.
Herediano were pushing for a second to pad their lead, but they left themselves vulnerable in transition and Andro came within a whisker of scoring a crucial away goal in the 80’ with a shot that tailed just wide of the post.
The Costa Ricans would finally get a coveted second goal from another rebound off a save from Fonkel, as a well-struck shot off the post and in from Adrian Garza resulted in a 2-0 lead in the 84’ that held until the final whistle.
