Alajuelense settle it in half an hour and fly into the semis

Alajuelense went into the second leg with the tie level at 2-2 after the first leg in San Pedro Sula, and with a change in the dugout: Ismael Rescalvo had left the club and Bryan Ruiz had taken over on an interim basis. The team's response was immediate.

Jeison Lucumí opened the scoring just past the half-hour mark and barely five minutes later Ronaldo Cisneros doubled the lead. The Morera Soto, with more than eleven thousand fans according to the Honduran press, was celebrating before the break.

Marathón did not give in. Nicolás Messiniti pulled one back in the second half and Silvio Rudman's side pushed for an equaliser, but ran into Washington Ortega, who denied Messiniti and Carlos Argueta in two decisive moments. Shortly afterwards, Ronald Matarrita converted a penalty to close out the tie.

Alajuelense will face Motagua in the semifinals. Marathón will contest the play-in for a place in the 2027 Champions Cup against Alianza of El Salvador.