At the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela in the CONCACAF Champions League, the home side, Alajuelense put one foot into the semi-finals of the competition with a resounding 5-2 victory over MLS outfit DC United.
In just the second minute of the match, Johan Venegas had a header skip off the surface as Andrew Dykstra did well to hold on to the ball. This would be an early warning sign for DC United, however, as the Costa Rican side would be pressuring the entirety of the first half. Alajuelense got rewarded for their hard work as Dykstra collided with Armando Alonso inside the area. Alonso stepped up to the spot, stuttered stepped his way towards the ball, and placed it perfectly into the back of the net.
The hosts would continue to go on the offensive as the visitors back four did not look in sync at all. And in the 25th minute of the match, they would be punished for that. Venegas was involved again as he played a ball over the top with Jose Ortiz running onto the ball. Ortiz pushed the ball passed Dykstra past as the DC goalkeeper came off of his line.
Just two minutes later, Alajuelense would score their third goal of the night before the half an hour mark through Johan Venegas. Jonathan McDonald whipped in a beautiful cross into the box, Dykstra spilt the ball and Venegas was in the right spot at the right time and tapped the ball into the back of the empty net. To DC’s credit, they continued to attack as best as they could and shortly after the half an hour mark Chris Pontius hit a header from inside the six yard box straight into the hands of the Costa Rican goalkeeper.
Fabian Espindola had another go in the 36th minute of play, his right footed shot from the right side of the box was saved excellently. It was more Alajuelense in the second half and just nine minutes in, Ortiz picked up the ball off a United turnover, tucked back inside towards the box and beat Dykstra near post as he was leaning the opposite way. Diego Calvo had a right footed effort from outside of the box just miss the target in the 59th minute of the match.
With nine minutes left in the second half, Bobby Boswell had a good opportunity to pull another one back but missed his header as the ball was hit over the frame of the goal. Steve Birnbaum did eventually get DC’s second away goal, but with two minutes left in the match. Espindola was involved once more as he delivered a wonderful ball into the middle of the box and Birnbaum did well to rise up and put enough power behind the ball to cut the lead in half.
However, in the last minute of normal time, Alajuelense would get their fifth goal of the night through Jonathan McDonald. He was influential all night long and finally got his reward for all of his effort. Birnbaum did not clear the initial cross and Hector Peralta raced onto the ball. Peralta hit the ball first time to McDonald who was waiting inside of the box. He trapped the ball, turned and fired it into the back of the net.