Alajuelense Outclasses Herediano in Commanding Derby Victory, Tightening Grip on Top Four
On a night when the lights of Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero burned bright under a full Heredian moon, LD Alajuelense delivered a statement performance against city rivals CS Herediano, romping to a 3-1 victory that not only avenged a narrow defeat from August but also underscored the widening gap between Costa Rica’s traditional powers and a Herediano side mired in crisis.
The match crackled to life from the opening whistle, with Alajuelense’s high press and direct verticality immediately unsettling Herediano’s backline. Just eight minutes in, Ronaldo Cisneros—Alajuelense’s lanky Venezuelan forward—found himself unmarked at the edge of the box, collecting a clever layoff and rifling a low drive past the outstretched Herediano keeper. The early goal quieted the home crowd and set the tone for a first half defined by Alajuelense’s control. Herediano, for all their effort, struggled to connect midfield to attack; their best chance of the half, a speculative long-range effort, hardly troubled Alajuelense’s keeper.
Yet derbies often defy logic, and Herediano emerged from the interval with renewed urgency. In the 47th minute, a rare defensive lapse from Alajuelense allowed a Herediano attacker—whose identity remains unclear in the chaos of the moment—to bundle the ball over the line, restoring parity and igniting the stands. For a fleeting moment, it seemed Herediano’s beleaguered campaign might find redemption.
But hope was short-lived. Alajuelense’s response was swift and clinical. In the 59th minute, a probing run down the right flank ended with a pinpoint cross, and Cisneros, ghosting between defenders, powered a header into the net for his second of the night. The double marked a return to form for the Venezuelan, who had been quiet in recent weeks but chose this stage to remind everyone of his predatory instincts.
The final blow came deep into the second half. With Herediano pressing for an equalizer, Alajuelense’s counterattack sliced through the hosts’ backline, forcing a clumsy challenge in the box. Veteran striker Joel Campbell—no stranger to pressure—stepped up and buried the penalty with the coolness of a man who has seen it all, sealing a comprehensive 3-1 win in the 86th minute.
The result was as much a reflection of form as it was of pedigree. Alajuelense, now fourth with 18 points from 10 matches, have lost just twice in the league this season and remain within striking distance of the summit. Their recent run—a victory in the Central American Cup, a pair of league draws, and this emphatic derby win—suggests a team finding its rhythm at the right time. By contrast, Herediano’s misery deepens: winless in five, with just a single point from their last four outings, they languish in seventh, seven points adrift of tonight’s conquerors. For a club with such a proud history, the current campaign is fast becoming an exercise in damage control.
Head-to-head, tonight’s result flips the script from their previous meeting, when Herediano eked out a 1-0 win in August. But that victory now feels like a distant memory. Alajuelense, with their clinical finishing and defensive solidity, looked every bit the team capable of contending for silverware, while Herediano’s leaky defense and blunt attack point to a long road ahead.
For Alajuelense, the path forward is clear: maintain momentum, keep pace with the league leaders, and push for a Concacaf Champions Cup spot. The emergence of Cisneros as a reliable goal threat, coupled with Campbell’s veteran leadership, gives manager Andrés Carevic reason for optimism. For Herediano, the questions are more urgent. Can they arrest their slide before the season slips away? Do they have the personnel—or the belief—to mount a resurgence?
Tonight, at least, the answers were written in the cold arithmetic of the scoreboard. Alajuelense’s faithful will savor this derby triumph, a performance as convincing as the margin suggests. Herediano’s supporters, meanwhile, must hope this is rock bottom—because from here, the only way is up.