Liga de Ascenso (Costa-Rica)

Liga de Ascenso (Costa Rica) - the country’s second-tier national club league competition, administered by the Liga de Ascenso association under the Costa Rican football federation framework. Regulations: the season is played through two tournaments - Apertura and Clausura - and, if required, a national promotion final, while the exact number of teams and group allocation are set by the season’s competition rules. In the group stage, teams play a double round robin within their groups, awarding 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss. If teams are level on points in a group table, the ranking is decided in order by goal difference, goals scored, away goals and then drawing of lots. The top four clubs from each group qualify for the playoffs, with quarterfinals, semifinals and the tournament final played over two legs. In knockout series, the winner is determined by points across the two matches, if tied then by goals scored in the series, and if still level extra time is played in the second leg followed by penalties if needed. The Apertura and Clausura champions contest a two-legged national promotion final if they are different clubs, and if the same club wins both tournaments it is declared champion and promoted to the top division (Primera División). Relegation is based on the aggregate table, with the last-placed team dropping to the National Amateur Football League (LINAFA), while the LINAFA champion has the right to move up to Liga de Ascenso subject to regulatory and licensing requirements.