It was a nail-biter until the very end. For the third time in a row, Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (LDA) came away victorious in the final game of the Winter Tournament of the First Division, the highest honor for professional football in Costa Rica. The victory marked the 27th time that Alajuela’s favorite team has claimed the coveted First Division title.

It was not an easy feat for La Liga. The team traveled to the Eladio Rosabal Cordero stadium in downtown Heredia, where they were confronted by a vociferous crowd of Club Sport Herediano (CSH) fans. Every seat in the stadium was taken, as tickets had been completely sold out days before the game. As predicted by many fans, CSH conducted an aggressive first half, leading most of the attacks. At least this was the strategy by CSH coach Jafet Soto, who felt comfortable that his team could earn an early scoring advantage. This wasn’t the case, as LDA played an overtly cautious game, augmenting their defense with 5 men for most of the first half.

The pace of the game intensified on the second half. Brazilian Marcelo Fazzio Sarvas, a talented midfielder who played his last game with LDA, scored the first goal of the night on a pass from Kevin Sancho. It did not take long for CSH to even the score. Eighteen minutes later the game was once again tied thanks to a point-blank shot by José Luis Cordero.

The first 90 minutes expired with a 1-1 score which did not define the winner of the 2011 Winter Tournament. After a short break, the teams came back out into the field to play two 15-minute extra periods. Once again CSH came out strong on the offense, forcing LDA’s goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton Bernard to really earn his keep. Since the extra periods finished scoreless, the teams prepared to decide the game on penalty kicks. After the regulation 5 penalty kicks failed to produce a winner, the game was decided on a sudden death shootout. In the end, LDA came out victorious 6-5.

Now that the Winter Tournament has finished and La Liga retains its status as the reigning champion, some players are leaving the country for teams abroad. José Martinez from Deportivo Saprissa is leaving for the Philadelphia Union in the MLS. LDA’s own striker Jonathan McDonald is also leaving to play in Sweden. Heiner Mora, a Saprissa defender, may leave for the greener pastures of the MLS with the Seattle Sounders. Club scouts are increasingly paying interest to Tico players after their strong international performance in 2011.