Blackout, a purple clásico and crisis at Alajuelense

The Clásico Nacional had a scrappy first half and an unexpected image: two of the Morera Soto's floodlight towers went dark before the break and play was stopped for around a quarter of an hour. Before that, Ronald Matarrita had struck the post with a free kick.

When the lights came back on, Saprissa found the opener on the stroke of half-time through Orlando Sinclair. Early in the second half, a Washington Ortega error gifted Sebastián Acuña the Purples' second.

Ismael Rescalvo's Alajuelense never found a way to respond and finished with ten men after Kyan McDonald was sent off in the closing stages. Chants against the coach rang out from the stands.

Hernán Medford's Saprissa consolidated their lead at the top with a seven-point cushion over their eternal rivals, who dropped to fifth.