Veterans Bolanos, Waston help Saprissa soar to victory

MIAMI, Florida – Veterans Christian Bolanos and Kendall Waston each scored to help Costa Rica’s Deportivo Saprissa soar past Santa Lucia of Guatemala 2-0 in the first leg of the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf League Round of 16 on Thursday night at the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Saprissa got off to a very good start and carved out the opener in the 19’ thanks to a falling header from Jimmy Marin that met the swinging boot of Bolanos for a 1-0 lead.

The visiting Ticos then got another big lift right before the halftime break, as defender Waston got loose in the Santa Lucia penalty area on a free kick and stabbed home the service from Mariano Torres to make it 2-0.

Santa Lucia looked to turn the tide and they nearly pulled a goal back in the 55’ when Isaac Acuna’s shot bounced wide of the post.

Saprissa wrestled back control and almost notched their third of the night in the 66’ from Orlando Sinclair, who collected a pass from Bolanos and fired toward goal, only to be denied on a fine save from Santa Lucia GK Luis Moran.

From there, the Saprissa defense saw things out to nail down the big away win and edge themselves closer to the quarterfinals.