The Clausura 2026 season opened with a high-octane battle at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto on Thursday night, as LD Alajuelense and AD Municipal Liberia played out a dramatic 2–2 draw. In a match defined by momentum shifts and stoppage-time heroics, the Loons’ former midfield engine, Alejandro Bran, helped control the tempo in his first official match since making his move to the Costa Rican giants permanent.
Match recap
Alajuelense looked poised for a perfect start when Ronaldo Cisneros opened the scoring in the 30th minute, finishing a well-worked team move to give the home side a 1–0 lead. However, Liberia proved to be a stubborn opponent, finding an equalizer just before the halftime whistle through Mauricio Villalobos (45′), punishing a rare lapse in the Alajuelense backline.
The second half was a tactical chess match that exploded in the final ten minutes. Guillermo Villalobos appeared to have snatched all three points for the Manudos in the 84th minute, rising highest to head home what many thought was the winner. But the drama wasn’t over. In the 90th minute, Erick Torres struck for Liberia, silencing the home crowd and ensuring the points were shared in a breathless season opener.
Bran’s performance
Now officially an Alajuelense player after the club exercised his purchase option, Alejandro Bran occupied his familiar role as the box-to-box anchor of the midfield.
- Midfield engine: Bran started the match and was the primary link between the defense and the attacking trio of Cisneros and Lucumí. His energy in the first half was vital in maintaining Alajuelense’s high press.
- Tactical substitution: Bran played a significant portion of the match before being substituted in the second half as manager Alexandre Guimarães looked to add more offensive depth to break the 1–1 deadlock.
- Defensive coverage: Before his withdrawal, Bran recorded two successful tackles and was instrumental in breaking up Liberia’s transitional play, preventing the visitors from building rhythm through the center of the park.
- Ball progression: He finished with a high pass completion rate, consistently finding the wingers in space and helping Alajuelense maintain 58% of the possession while he was on the pitch.
Stats
- Minutes played: 68
- Pass accuracy: 89%
- Tackles won: 2
- Interceptions: 1
- Result: 2–2 Draw
While a draw at home isn’t the ideal start for a title-contending side like Alajuelense, the performance of the midfield—led by the newly-permanent Bran—provides a strong foundation for the weeks ahead. The Manudos will look to secure their first three points of the campaign when they travel to face Santos de Guápiles on Sunday, Jan. 18.
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