A week of firsts in Mexican and Costa Rican leagues

MIAMI – It was a week of firsts for some teams in the women’s professional leagues in Concacaf, as the teams that are fighting to rise up the table gave their fans a weekend full of surprises.

The weekend saw the conclusión of Matchday 5 in the Liga MX Femenil.

On Sunday afternoon, Puebla won their first three points by downing Necaxa 2-0. The first goal for La Franja this season came from the boots of Maria Elena Sainz, when in the 20’ she kicked the ball from outside the área to put her team ahead. Puebla then closed the match in the 54’ thanks to the services of Marisol Luna, who took advantage of a mistake from the Necaxa GK and finished from inside the area.

Mazatlan FC was also one of the protagonists of the day on Sunday, clinching their first win against Tijuana, defeating the Perrisimas 1-0. Yuliana Mora was alert and ready in the 14’  to receive a stolen ball in the midfield, shooting past the Tijuana GK and scoring the first goal of the season for Las Canoneras. Mazatlan GK Fer Tarango then came up big by stopping a penalty kick in the 15’, helping her team stay ahead. After conceding 21 goals this season, Mazatlan celebrated their first three points with a clean sheet.

After four weeks without earning points, Toluca got their first one of the season by drawing against two-time champions Guadalajara on Friday evening. Chivas tried with all their might to send the ball to the back of the net, but new Toluca GK Kayla Thompson stopped everything that came her way, earning MVP honors for the match.

The teams that are part of the Torneo de Apertura in Costa Rica also gave their fans surprises this past week on Matchday 2, adding even more excitement to the tournament.

It was a day of firsts for Municipal Pococi, as they won their first game of the season on Sunday afternoon, 1-0 against COFUTPA. The only goal of the match came from a penalty kick that the referee called in the 15’ after a foul was committed from a corner kick in favor of Pococi. Judith Rocha converted, giving her team their first points of the season.

Saprissa took the top spot in the table after defeating former leaders Dimas Escazu 4-1 on Friday evening. Las Moradas claimed first place with the help of three different players. First it was Katherine Alvarado scoring in the 3’ and again in the 37’. Gloriana Villalobos tallied the third one for her team before the first half ended in the 44’.

But Saprissa didn’t stop there, as soon as the game resumed in the second half, Yessenia Flores scored the fourth one of the night in the 47’. However, Dimas Escazu didn’t stop trying, getting a goal back in the 65’ from the boots of Hilary Porras.

CS Herediano suffered their first loss of the season when defending champions LD Alajuelense won as visitors 4-0 on Monday afternoon. Fabiola Villalobos scored the first one of the day early in the match, sending the ball to the net with a header in the 16’. Kenia Rangel was just behind her, doubling the lead in the 24’.

The current title holders didn’t slow down, with Sheika Scott scoring the third goal of the match in the 34’. This goal was also the first one for Scott with the Rojinegra jersey. With nine minutes left on the clock, in the 81’, Marian Solano showed up, giving Las Leonas the fourth and last goal of the evening.