CCL Roundup: Sporting Kansas City survives Saprissa scare to cinch important home win
Sporting Kansas City 3 -- Deportivo Saprissa 1
Toni Dovale struck twice in the final half-hour to send Sporting to the top of Group 2 with a victory at Sporting Park. Dom Dwyer registered his 20th goal of the season in all competitions to open the scoring from the spot, but Juan Bustos equalized for the Costa Ricans just before the half-hour. Dovale capped his influential display with a fine half-volley for the eventual winner and a tidy finish at the back post to give the home side all three points. Sporting must now defeat Real Esteli at Sporting Park on Tuesday to maintain its perch and secure the inside track to the quarterfinals.
Isidro Metapan 2 -- CS Herediano 4
Herediano produced a second-half show against the nine-man home side to return to the summit in Group 7. Romeo Parkes and Victor Nunez exchanged goals to ensure parity by halftime in San Salvador, but the real intrigue came after the break. Christian Sanchez procured a red card just before the hour to reduce the home side to 10 men. Nunez punished Metapan two minutes later by poking home from close range. Yendrick Ruiz smashed the third off the underside of the crossbar just minutes before Jonathan Barrios received his marching orders to further impair Metapan. Ruiz completed his double for the visitors, but Marvin Monterroza snatched a consolation goal in second-half stoppage time to limit the margin of victory. The victory arranges a potential decisive meeting between Herediano and Club León in Costa Rica on Wednesday.
