LD Alajuelense, Real Estelí ready for decisive second leg: “We are going to leave everything on the pitch” | OneFootball

MIAMI – LD Alajuelense and Real Estelí await to claim glory as the two remaining sides face off in the second leg of the 2024 Concacaf Central American Cup Final on Wednesday at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

The two sides played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Estadio Independencia in Estelí, Nicaragua. Alajuelense will seek to rally behind its support and win its second consecutive title, while Real Estelí looks to avoid another runner-up finish.

“For the institution it would be something extraordinary to be able to achieve a second championship in the most important tournament in the Central American region,” said Alajuelense captain Celso Borges. “We have a great team in front of us, and I think it will be a great match.”

Borges scored from the penalty spot in the opening encounter of the series. He has been one of Alajuelense’s top performers in the 2024 edition, contributing a goal and an assist across eight matches, and is the all-time appearance leader in Central American Cup history with 18 games.

Another player that has starred throughout the tournament for the reigning champions is Diego Campos. The attacker currently leads the scoring charts this edition with six goals, while also tallying an assist along the way.

“What I want is to be champion,” said Campos. “I imagine the Morera full, with the fans completely involved. I imagine lifting the cup, that's what we want, it's the conviction we've had for a long time. We knew we had everything to reach the final, and we know we have everything to be champions.”

Real Estelí enters the match in search of winning the first international trophy for the club. Byron Bonilla is the team’s top contributor in attack, with three goals and two assists. Iván Ochoa, who orchestrated a heroic late comeback for Estelí with a brace in the final minutes of the semifinals against CS Herediano, will be another player to watch in the second leg.

“We do not want to end up in just two consecutive finals,” said Byron Bonilla. “We want to fight for a title and that is what we are here for. We know that we have a great rival in front of us, but I think we have already learned that we are also great and that we are ready for great things.

“We are going to leave everything on the pitch,” Bonilla added.

A winner in the match would win the series on aggregate due to the first leg ending in a 1-1 draw. Away goals will determine the winner if the series ends in a draw. A repeat result from the first leg would force the series into extra time, if necessary, and a penalty shootout.

“The most important thing is to be focused for the ninety minutes,” said Iván Ochoa. “We have full confidence in what we have been working on, what we continue to work on these days, fine-tuning the last details so that tomorrow we can go out and give everything and, God willing, take the cup back to Nicaragua.”