Liga Deportiva Alajuelense defeated Puntarenas FC and extends the suspense until the endbetween anxiety and the hope that there truly is a miracle.
But against Puntarenas FC, the Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium presented an unusual image, one of those that hurts the pride of an institution that is currently the national champion.
With one of the lowest attendances in the stands, the silence of those absent screamed an uncomfortable truth: a large part of the fans already fear the worst. Of course, the goals were a slight joy, because there was little shouting.
However, on the grass, Óscar Ramírez and his men refuse to die. And this is reflected in the score: 5-2, even though it was not the best game for the red and black team.
Alajuelense found against Puntarenas the darts that it lacked so much in previous days; those goals that, if they had arrived in time, would have prevented him from living in a critical condition today, clinging to the faith of a Sunday miracle.
For the League there was no further afield, it was win or die, regardless of the forms. El Puerto arrived at the Cathedral without pressure, with nothing to gain or lose, but willing to complicate the champion’s existence.
After ten minutes of testing, the Mexican Ronaldo Cisneros gave the first warning. Rashir Parkins tried to surprise an advanced Adonis Pineda from long distance, while Ulises Segura responded for the visit with a deflected shot that kept the tension in the air.
The key to the game was found by Anthony Hernández. In an action of pure skill, Hernández took off three marks and, with lucidity, gave way to Kenneth Vargas. The winger’s shot was rejected by Pineda, but the ball was served for Cisneros, with a header, to make it 1-0.
Shortly after, the pressure took effect when Creichel Pérez stole a ball on the way out; The ball reached Kenneth Vargas, who after a failed first attempt, hunted down the rebound to score the second. El Puerto, however, took advantage of a flicker of the red and black defense for Doryan Rodríguez to close the gap just before the break.
There was no shortage of controversy in the first half. Cisneros sent the ball into the net again and, although center back David Gómez initially annulled the goal, the intervention of the VAR corrected the decision: the goal was legal and the League calmly went to the locker room.
The match began with a major scare when Anthony Hernández suffered a hard tackle from Krisler Villalobos. Although the weight of his body fell on his ankle, the winger managed to get back on his feet after being treated.
The final tranquility seemed to arrive when Ronaldo Cisneros sealed his hat-trick, after a great play by Alejandro Bran, giving the match a hint of a rout.
The match became eventful. Villalobos, who had already been playing at his limit, committed a spectacular foul on Isaac Badilla.
After a new review on the VAR monitor, David Gómez rectified the yellow card and showed the Buenos Aires player a direct red card.
With one more man, logic dictated a placid closing, but the DNA of this tournament for Alajuelense is suffering. Defender Farbod Samadian, a handy player on loan to Puerto, applied the former’s law with a mid-range shot that made it 4-2.
Something else was missing, a goal from Ángel Zaldívar that the entire League celebrated, embracing the Mexican so criticized because he has not made much of a difference.
Despite the victory, the face of the League is not one of complete satisfaction, but rather one of tense expectation.
The result was mandatory and was achieved, but the classification does not depend on their own hands.
Next Sunday, the red and black team will have to travel to Liberia – already classified – with the obligation to win and, simultaneously, cross their fingers so that Guadalupe says goodbye to the First Division by beating Cartaginés.
The above reflects that the suspense is served: the Lion He is still alive, but his fate is in other people’s hands.
The game is over
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Alajuelense won 5-2.
The goals
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5-2. It all started with the goals of Ronaldo Cisneros and Kenneth Vargas in the League, plus the discount of Doryan Rodríguez. Before the break, there was an action in which Ronaldo Cisneros scored again, David Gómez first annulled the goal, but the action was reviewed in the VAR and the decision was corrected, yes it was a goal. Already in the complement, Ronaldo Cisneros scored again. Farbod Samadian scored a great goal for Puerto. Already at the close, the League scored the same, with Ángel Zaldívar.
What happened in the snap
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At the beginning of the complement, the League got a scare with Anthony Hernández, because all the weight of Krisler Villalobos fell on the manudo’s ankle, in a clean tackle.
He was eventually treated by the Alajuelense medical department and rejoined the game.
Ronaldo Cisneros gave the game a victory after a play by Alejandro Bran.
After that, Krisler Villalobos, who entered at a fast pace, committed a spectacular foul on Isaac Badilla that was reviewed in the VAR and David Gómez chose to go to the monitor. After that, the referee took the yellow card away from the Buenos Aires player and sent him off.
Goal by Alajuelense (Minute 90’+1)
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Ángel Zaldívar scored.
Puntarenas goal (Minute 81)
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Farbod Samadián scored the second goal for Puntarenas.
Alajuelense goal (Minute 54)
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Ronaldo Cisneros scored Alajuelense’s fourth goal of the night and his third in the game.
The second half began (9:10 pm)
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The ball is in motion again.
What happened in the first part
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Ten minutes passed before the League generated the first dangerous play, with the Mexican Ronaldo Cisneros.
Rashir Parkins also tried to surprise from a distance when he saw Adonis Pineda come out, but his shot lacked power.
Puntarenas also looks for the surprise factor, with a strong but deflected shot by Ulises Segura.
Alajuelense needed a well-planned play and found it from the moment Anthony Hernández appeared, he took off three marks, he did not shoot on goal, but instead gave the ball to Kenneth Vargas, he controlled and finished, Adonis Pineda rejected and the ball was left to the Mexican Ronaldo Cisneros, who with a header put the team to victory. Lion.
Adonis Pineda prevented Cisneros’ second goal, showing his reflexes.
But the League did get another goal, this time with Kenneth Vargas, after a steal of the ball by Creichel Pérez. Vargas tried once, the rebound stayed with him and he scored.
Puntarenas also does its thing and Doryan Rodríguez achieved the discount, just when the red and black defense fell asleep.
The first part is over (8:52 pm)
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Alajuelense is winning 3-1.
Alajuelense goal
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A goal by Ronaldo Cisneros that David Gómez had not conceded was reviewed by the VAR and the decision was changed. It was a goal.
The replacement
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Five more minutes will be played.
Watch Doryan Rodríguez’s goal
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Puntarenas goal (Minute 36)
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Doryan Rodríguez defeated Washington Ortega.
Watch Kenneth Vargas’ goal
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Alajuelense goal (Minute 31)
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Kenneth Vargas increased the count.
Watch Ronaldo Cisneros’ goal
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Alajuelense goal (Minute 20)
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Ronaldo Cisneros scored.
The game started (8 pm)
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David Gómez blew his whistle and Alajuelense and Puntarenas are now playing.
Alajuelense lineup against Puntarenas
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Puntarenas lineup against Alajuelense
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The preview of the match Alajuelense vs. Puntarenas
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To avoid the outcome that many fear, the room for maneuver was reduced to few options. The red and black need to take over the six points they have left to play and they must start tonight, at the close of the penultimate date of the qualifying phase.
In addition, Óscar Ramírez’s League is obliged to beat José Saturnino Cardozo’s team in Liberia and cross its fingers so that the relegated Guadalupe will say goodbye to the top category with the three points against Cartaginés.
That is the only possibility that Alajuelense has, with the understanding that it defeats Puerto tonight at the Morera Soto, because a false step, whether a draw or a defeat, would leave the national champion eliminated today.
While Puntarenas arrives at the Cathedral without the option of anything, after an irregular tournament, in which it did not have the prominence of other times.
Where can you watch the Alajuelense vs. Puntarenas?
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The match between Alajuelense and Puntarenas will be broadcast by FUTV.
Please note that in this article nation.com You will find the preview, then the main incidents, and once the game is finished, you will find the update with the final story right here.
Radio lovers can tune in to the match between the red and black and the orange on their favorite station, because Columbia (98.7 FM), Teletica Radio (91.5 FM), Monumental (93.5 FM) and Current (107.1 FM) They have the transmission rights.
Follow the La Nación Alajuelense WhatsApp channel
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Óscar Ramírez has a dilemma to solve
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Injuries have accompanied Alajuelense from the beginning and until the end, so far in 2026.
At this moment, the red and black coach has to manage to rearrange his defense, given that Santiago van der Putten and Guillermo Villalobos suffered a serious injury and Alexis Gamboa is barely back, after overcoming a muscle ailment.
Alajuelense announces the match against Puntarenas
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The referees of the match Alajuelense vs. Puntarenas
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David Gómez in the center, assisted by William Chow and Paul Robles. Fourth referee: Brandon Ortega. VAR: Rigo Prendas. AVAR: Yazid Monge.
Tickets for the match Alajuelense vs. Puntarenas
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