Venegas, Suarez goals seal Alajuelense’s SF spot, SCCL bid

ALAJUELA – Johan Venegas and Aaron Suarez scored to lift Alajuelense of Costa Rica to a 2-0 victory versus El Salvador’s Alianza in the second leg of their 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League quarterfinal series on Tuesday night at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela.

The result earned Alajuelense a 3-0 win on aggregate and a spot in the 2022 SCL semifinals where they will face either fellow Costa Rican club Herediano or Real Espana of Honduras.

By virtue of their quarterfinal series win, Alajuelense have also qualified for the 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.

Alajuelense got off to a very good start and took a 1-0 lead in the match and 2-0 on aggregate when all-time SCL top scorer Venegas converted a penalty in the 7’ for his 15th career SCL goal.

Alianza looked to respond but it was tough sledding against a stout Alajuelense defense. The best chance for the visiting Salvadorans came on a parried shot in which Victor Landazuri was unable to find the target on the rebound.

The hosts remained in control and when a surgical pass from Celso Borges set up a free kick from just outside the Alianza penalty area, there was almost a second score in the 57’ but the effort from Aaron Suarez sailed wide.

Alajuelense stayed on the front foot and Alianza were spared in the 66’ when a rocket off the right foot of Alex Lopez left the crossbar quivering.

More set pieces came for Alajuelense and in the 79’ it was first leg goalscorer Bernald Alfaro getting a crack at goal from a dead ball but missing wide.

Alajuelense’s insistence finally paid off in the 88’, as Suarez finished off the tie with a solid finish off an excellent pass from Lopez to complete the 2-0 scoreline and lock up the club’s SCCL return.