**Alajuelense Advances while Herediano Is Eliminated in the Central American Cup**
*San José, Costa Rica – August 31, 2026* – The latest round of the Copa Centroamericana has produced the quarter‑finalists from the region’s three participating nations.
**Qualified teams**
– **Costa Rica:** Alajuelense, Saprissa and Cartaginés
– **Honduras:** Olimpia, Marathón and Motagua
– **El Salvador:** Alianza and Luis Ángel Firpo
The remaining entrants – Panama, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Belize’s Verdes – were eliminated in the group stage.
**Alajuelense’s match against Plaza Amador**
Alajuelense secured its place in the quarter‑finals after a 2–1 victory over Panama’s Plaza Amador. The match, described as “tense” by local reports, saw Alajuelense’s coach Ismael Rescalvo make several changes to his lineup due to injuries to regular starters such as Fernando Piñar, Santiago Van der Putten, Guillermo Villalobos, Alexis Gamboa, Daniel Chacón and Malcolm Pilone. Younger players, including Yerlan Sosa, Deylan Paz and Farbod Samadian, as well as recent signings Yeison Molina, Jean Paul Ruiz and Roan Wilson, were given playing time.
Plaza Amador took the lead in the 47th minute through a goal by Jean Paul Ruiz. Alajuelense equalised two minutes later, and the decisive goal came from Rolando Cisneros, who completed a double to give Alajuelense the win.
**Other group‑stage results**
– In Group B, Herediano defeated Antigua GFC 2–1 at the Estadio Nacional, but the result was insufficient for progression. Herediano’s earlier loss to Alianza in El Salvador contributed to its elimination.
– Honduras’ Marathón beat Real Estelí 3–0, finishing second in its group on goal difference (6‑1) behind Alianza, which topped the group.
– In Group C, Olimpia and Saprissa settled the group’s top spot, determining their quarter‑final match‑ups.
These outcomes set the stage for the upcoming quarter‑final fixtures of the Copa Centroamericana.
Article source: larepublica.net | Image credit: LaRepublica.net
