Santos overcome early stumble to down Forge in first leg

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA. – Santos de Guapiles of Costa Rica overcame an early stumble to down Canada’s Forge FC, 3-1, in the first leg of the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf League quarterfinals on Wednesday night at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica.

The visitors from North America raced out to an early lead, but the 2017 SCL finalists responded with three straight goals to take a two-goal aggregate cushion into next week’s second leg.

Forge enjoyed a dream start by taking a 1-0 lead in the 6’ when Joshua Navarro’s cutback pass found the swinging right foot of Kyle Bekker, who deposited a shot into net.

But Santos would answer in style with two quick goals in just five minutes. A free kick in the 12’ was perfectly served up by Osvaldo Rodriguez and it connected with Javon East, who had the space to head in the 1-1 equalizer.

Santos would then take a 2-1 lead in the 17’ through Christopher Meneses, who fired in a majestic right-footed shot off an attempted clearance from the Forge defense.

The momentum stayed with the home side and they stretched their advantage to 3-1 in the 52’ when Brayan Lopez one-timed into net a square ball from the left.

Forge looked to pull a goal back and have a second away goal to their name going into next week’s second leg, but GK Kevin Ruiz and the Santos defense held firm to nail down the result.