Two draws in first leg of Costa Rica soccer semifinals

Alajuelense and Saprissa each earned a draw in their respective visits to San Carlos and Herediano in the first-leg semifinal games of the 2019 Apertura Championship of Costa Rica soccer.

With its coach, Argentine Andrés Carevic, watching from the stands, Alajuelenses battled to a scoreless result against the defending champion Sancarleños at Carlos Ugalde Stadium in Ciudad Quesada.

For their part, the Saprissistas took a point from the Eladio Rosabal Cordero Stadium in Heredia. Saprissa’s goal was the work of defender Alexander Robinson (38); Heredia tied through Berny Burke (90 + 1).

The return matches will be played this weekend. However, prior to their duel, Saprissa will travel to Tegucigalpa to battle on Tuesday in the return leg of the Central American final of the CONCACAF League against Motagua.

In the event that the semifinal series are matched in points and goals, the highest number of goals obtained as a visitor will be applied as a tiebreaker criterion.

The teams that prevail in these duels will play the second-round final. If the Alajuelense wins, it will automatically earn the Apertura title, since it finished atop the regular season phase.

If another team wins the second-round final, it will advance to a “Gran Final” against Alajuelense, which has the advantage of closing any series at home for being the best in the qualifying phase.