Soccer took center stage worldwide Sunday as the United States won the 2019 World Cup, Brazil won the Copa America and Mexico won the Gold Cup.
And in Costa Rica, the country’s biggest rivalry was hosted on friendlier terms as the Clásico Sin Colores pitted L.D. Alajuelense against Deportivo Saprissa for a good cause.
La Liga beat their rivals, 3-1, in front of about 15,000 people at the National Stadium in La Sabana. Proceeds from each ticket sold for the preseason friendly were donated to Erick Marín, a Costa Rican soccer player who learned earlier this year his cancer had returned for a third time.
Based on the Clásico‘s attendance figures, Marín will receive more than $25,770 as financial support during his cancer fight.
Marín had returned to professional soccer in late 2018 following his second bout with cancer. He left Guadalupe F.C. when he received the latest cancer diagnosis in May.
Marín has been receiving treatment at Hospital México.