SAN JOSE—Three different players scored to help lift Costa Rican champions Deportivo Saprissa to a 4-0 win over visiting DirecTV W Connection in their 2015/16 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Group A encounter at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa on Thursday night.
Deyver Vega, David Guzman and David Ramirez struck for the host, which is now level on points and goal difference atop the Group A table with Santos Laguna (1W-0D-0L, 3 points), which also defeated W Connection, 4-0, in the group opener on August 4.
The final goal was an own goal by W Connection defender Maurice Ford in second-half stoppage time.
Vega was a threat throughout the first half and was rewarded for his efforts in the 35th minute. After touching a low cross in stride into the right side of the box, the Costa Rica international maneuvered to the outside of W Connection’s Kurt Frederick, before putting a shot inside the left post past a frozen Julani Archibald.
Five minutes ahead of halftime, the Monstruo Morado doubled its lead. An initial Nestor Monge shot was blocked by a defender at the edge of the six-yard box, but Guzman pounced on the rebound and bounced it past a helpless Archibald from ten yards out.
In the 70th minute, Archibald extended fully to get a piece of Mynor Escoe’s shot toward the left post, but was only able to get one hand on the ball.
The rebound spilled out and moments after stepping onto the field as a substitute, Ramirez made it 3-0, sliding it home from close range.
Twenty minutes later, Canadian referee Drew Fischer pointed to the spot after Alvin Jones was ruled to have tripped up Dylan Flores on a challenge. Ariel Rodriguez, who scored five goals in last year’s SCCL, took the kick only for Archibald parry it with a dive to his left.
Flores was influential shortly afterwards, when he played a dangerous ball in front that Ford inadvertently kicked into his own net in an attempt to clear.
Saprissa, now 7W-1D-1L in its last nine home matches in the SCCL, hosts Santos Laguna on August 25.
W Connection will next host Saprissa on September 16 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo before wrapping up their group fixtures on September 22 at the same venue against Santos.
Meanwhile, T&T Pro League champions and CCL debutants Central FC, who were defeated 5-1 at LA Galaxy on August 6, will return to Group D action on August 27 when they travel to Guatemala to face powerhouse CSD Comunicaciones. Central FC will host the Guatemalans on September 17 in the return-leg in Trinidad before welcoming LA Galaxy on September 23, both at Mucurapo.