Half a dozen at La Cueva: Saprissa run riot against Sporting

It was billed as a meeting of neighbours in the table. Sporting arrived in Tibás in third place on 20 points, just one behind the leaders, hoping to go to bed top of the league. They left having conceded six and with the feeling it could have been more. Saprissa, coming off a 1-0 slip against Escorpiones, answered in the best possible way: with a rout that leaves no room for debate.

The first came on 17 minutes. Sebastián Acuña opened the scoring and half the team piled on top of him. Andrés Carevic's Sporting could not find a way out of their own half, and every loose pass in build-up was an invitation for the hosts.

The second, on 26, came exactly that way: a ball won back near the visitors' box fell to Andrey Soto, who finished past a defence that was too late to close. On 37, Jorkaeff Azofeifa struck from outside the area and Leo Moreira had no chance. Three-nil at the break, and La Cueva was singing as if it were a final.

Far from sitting on the lead, Hernán Medford sent his side in search of more. On 54, Gerson Torres added the fourth and was mobbed by his teammates in front of the stand. Sporting, who had come in as contenders, were by then just waiting for the clock to run down.

Set pieces did the rest. On 68, Kendall Waston rose highest at a corner to head in the fifth. On 78, substitute Orlando Sinclair bundled in a rebound from another corner to complete the half-dozen. Medford kept making attacking changes even with the game long settled.

The result takes Saprissa to 24 points, three clear of nearest challengers Cartaginés. Sporting stay on 20 with plenty to review. Next up is no ordinary fixture: on Sunday at 11 a.m. Saprissa visit the Fello Meza to face Cartaginés head to head for first place.