SAN PEDRO SULA – Ariel Rodriguez bagged a brace as three-time Concacaf champions Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica earned a commanding 4-0 win versus Jocoro of El Salvador in Group A of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup on Thursday night at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Saprissa now sit atop the group with six points from two matches, while Jocoro are still searching for their first point after two matches played.
Outside of a deflected Luis Acuna shot that almost snuck in for a goal for Jocoro in the 22’, it was all Saprissa from the outset and they were rewarded with their first goal in the 25’ from their fifth corner kick, as Ariel Rodriguez soared toward goal and smacked in a header for a 1-0 lead.
Saprissa wanted more and they doubled the margin to 2-0 in the 36’ in spectacular style, with Jefferson Brenes curling in a corner kick for a goal ‘olimpico’.
The Saprissa attack was rocking and rolling and the lead soon stretched to 3-0 when former Olimpia man and 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League Golden Ball winner Michaell Chirinos finished off a slick one-two combination with a right-footed finish in the 43’.
The halftime break served Jocoro well, as they came out strong to start the second half and came within an inch of pulling a goal back in the 56’ when Juan Argueta hammered a shot off the crossbar.
Saprissa held firm and sealed the three points in the 73’ on a powerful right-footed strike from Ariel Rodriguez for his second goal of the night, making it a 4-0 lead that they held until the final whistle
