SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Javon East scored in the second half to secure a 1-0 victory for Deportivo Saprissa against fellow Costa Rican club Cartagines in Group A of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup on Thursday night at the Estadio Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The first chance went Saprissa’s way in the 10’ when a Cartagines turnover led to a quick Saprissa break and a good look at goal for East, who narrowly missed the target.
Eight minutes later it was Cartagines almost breaking the deadlock, as a Jossimar Pemberton shot took a deflection off a Saprissa defender and spun wide.
Saprissa closed the half in dominant fashion, only without a goal. East had a pair of looks, once when he was unable to settle a ball and get off a clean shot, and the second on a buzzing attempt that forced Cartagines GK Darryl Parker into a reaction save. David Guzman was just as dangerous, with two heavy cracks at goal, each skirting wide of the post on both sides.
Cartagines still posed a threat as play drifted into the second half and just after the hour mark the visitors looked set to open the scoring when Aubrey David played a cross to an open Pemberton, but the shot was snuffed out by Saprissa GK Esteban Alvarado.
Saprissa were more than happy to take advantage of Cartagines’ spoiled chance, as East finally connected with a header off a cross from Ulises Segura from the right flank, with the ball taking a slight deflection off Cartagines defender Jose Vargas and beating Parker for a 1-0 lead.
Saprissa weren’t satisfied with just a single goal and stayed on the hunt for a second. If not for a quartet of heady saves from Parker, it could have easily been a two-goal or three-goal lead for the Monstruo Morado.
In the end, the spoils belonged to Saprissa, who are now level on points with Guatemalan side Coban Imperial atop the group.
