SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Doryan Rodriguez scored a hat trick to power Costa Rican club Alajuelense to a 5-0 victory over Alianza of Panama in the first leg of the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League Round of 16 on Thursday night at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Alajuelense got right to work and Rodriguez got his first of the night by slamming in a shot from a few yards out after a mad scramble in front of goal in the 8’ for a 1-0 advantage.
Alajuelense kept the pressure on and Rodriguez was once again at the right place at the right time to punch in a shot in front of goal in the 31’ to make it 2-0.
Five minutes later in the 36’ it was Rodriguez completing his hat trick, this time with a glancing header that beat Alianza GK Kevin Melgar for a 3-0 lead.
The Costa Rican hosts were keen to add more before the break and 2020 SCL Golden Ball winner Alexander Lopez stretched the advantage to 4-0 in the 41’ with a strongly struck right-footed shot.
⚽⚽⚽ ¡Doryan Rodríguez! 🔥
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) August 19, 2022
⚫🔴 @ldacr 3-0. | #SCL22 pic.twitter.com/V2oTJg12Ru
Alianza attempted to pull a goal back and gain some momentum in the second half, but Alajuelense never relinquished control.
The commanding victory for Alajuelense was then capped off by Jose Cubero heading in past Melgar to round out the 5-0 victory.
