MIAMI, Florida – The first week of action in the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League is in the books. Here are the 11 players who stood tallest over the course of the last week.
GK Sebastian Breza, CF Montreal
The CF Montreal shot-stopper registered nine saves, tops among all GKs, and three clearances in the narrow 1-0 defeat to Santos Laguna. Breza’s highlight-heavy night included back-to-back saves on Eduardo Aguirre in the first half.
DF Karel Espino, Comunicaciones
Espino may have only played nine minutes, but he definitely made his presence felt by scoring a wondergoal to earn Comunicaciones the 1-0 victory against the Colorado Rapids. From well outside the Rapids penalty area, Espino hammered a shot from distance that took a slight deflection and found the back of the net.
DF Maxime Chanot, New York City FC
The longest tenured member of New York City FC, Chanot was a calm presence on the back line, putting out a couple fires after some nervy NYCFC giveaways to help his side nail down a 2-0 win at Santos de Guapiles. Chanot also completed 95 percent of his passes.
DF Andres Mosquera, Club Leon
Tasked with helping put the clamps down on Guastatoya FW Luis Landin, Mosquera came through every time, while also making one ball recovery and completing 59 of 62 passes in Club Leon’s 2-0 win.
DF Matheus Doria, Santos Laguna
CF Montreal certainly had their chances against Santos Laguna, especially with proven SCCL goalscorer Romell Quioto, but Doria spearheaded a defensive effort that kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 win. Doria had two ball recoveries and also was a force going forward, registering three shots.
MF Jose Manuel Contreras, Comunicaciones
The 36-year-old Contreras always seems to thrive in big Concacaf matches and did so again in the 1-0 win over Colorado. Contreras picked up the assist on the Espino goal and was pinpoint in his passing in midfield, completing 36 of 40 attempts.
MF Christian Bolanos, Deportivo Saprissa
Bolanos was simply sensational in scoring both Saprissa goals in the 2-2 draw against Pumas, while almost scoring what would have been one of the greatest SCCL goals of all-time with a scorpion-like back-heel flick that hit the crossbar. He never stopped being a headache for the Pumas defense.
MF Romulo Otero, Cruz Azul
The old saying is that with every dangerous free kick, the objective should always be to get the ball on frame, and Otero took those words to heart to help Cruz Azul down Forge FC, 1-0. Otero’s free kick fooled Forge FK Triston Henry and earned La Maquina a big away win.
MF Elias Hernandez, Club Leon
The 33-year-old Hernandez made a textbook run to score Club Leon’s second goal of the night in the 2-0 win over Comunicaciones. Latching onto a perfectly weighted pass from Luis Montes, Hernandez split a pair of defenders and then delivered a composed finish for the goal. He also had a steal and completed 84 percent of his passes.
FW Valentin Castellanos, New York City FC
New York City FC are going to fancy their chances of a deep run thanks to the goal-scoring acumen of Castellanos, who had both goals in NYCFC’s 2-0 win at Santos de Guapiles. All told, the Argentine had four shots and was the best player on the field.
FW Juan Dinenno, Pumas
The Pumas FW has a nose for goal and showed that in the 2-2 draw at Saprissa, scoring the second Pumas goal with a well-timed header. He also took three shots and completed six passes.
