ALAJUELA – Joshua Navarro and Costa Rican side Alajuelense had a night to remember as they raced past Motagua of Honduras 5-1 to win Group D of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup on Thursday night at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Joshua Navarro had a pair of goals and an assist to lead the way for the Ticos, who won the group with 12 points from four matches, while Motagua finish second with nine points.
Alajuelense enjoyed a dream start and breached the Motagua goal just five minutes into the encounter on some exquisite playmaking from Carlos Mora, who split a pair of defenders and played in a perfect cross for Navarro to head into net from a few meters out for a 1-0 Alajuelense lead.
Motagua would answer and did so in magnificent fashion in the 15’ when Raul Santos did exceptionally well to control a long pass and cross to the onrushing Agustin Auzmendi, who one-timed a right-footed shot into net to make it 1-1.
The fireworks kept coming and Navarro made it look like New Year’s Eve in the 29’ with his second goal of the night, a sensational mid-air scissor-kick volley into net off a headed cross from Freddy Gondola, giving Alajuelense a 2-1 lead.
The Alajuelense attack was relentless and Navarro was in the middle of things again in the 34’, this time beating a defender before sending over a deep cross that was initially batted by Motagua GK Enrique Facusse, but right into the path of Dorian Rodriguez, the ball caroming off Rodriguez and into net for a 3-1 lead.
Motagua refused to hang their heads and Santos came within a whisker of making it a one-goal game right before halftime with a curling shot that pegged the crossbar.
Alajuelense wanted to make sure there would be no Motagua comeback in the second half, adding their fourth of the night in the 65’ courtesy of veteran Michael Barrantes, who had the easiest of strokes into net after another top play from Navarro, stretching the lead to 4-1.
The festivities then wrapped up in second half stoppage time, as all-time Concacaf League top scorer Johan Venegas scored in the waning minutes to seal the emphatic 5-1 victory.
