CS Herediano and CD Marathón kicked off their Concacaf Central American Cup Group B campaign with a 0-0 stalemate on Thursday at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Herediano had to switch venues because the National Stadium was undergoing pitch maintenance.
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The Costa Rican Institute of Sports and Recreation (Icoder) said the grass work was 75 percent complete, including deep aeration and the application of 20 cubic meters of sand.
In the match, Herediano controlled 55 percent of possession and outshot Marathón 11 to 6, with an 83 percent pass completion rate.
Marathón still created danger, especially in the 54th minute when defender Javier Rivera headed wide, registering the game's highest expected goals value at 0.15 xG.
Both goalkeepers made key saves.
Marathón's Jonathan Rougier denied Ronaldo Araya in the 84th minute, while Herediano's Dany Carvajal stopped Yairo Moreno in the 64th.
Moreno was named Player of the Match.
Coach Giacone's Pre-Match Comments
Herediano head coach José Giacone spoke before the match about his team's ambition in the regional tournament.
"What I am clear about is that this group is going to give everything to achieve the goal we have, which is to win it," Giacone said.
"We have prepared well, we have worked a lot, and the group is very committed."
He also confirmed squad availability, noting that Aaron Suárez was cleared to play while Fernando Lesme was ruled out due to an administrative issue.
