ALAJUELA – Throughout the decorated history of Costa Rican side Alajuelense, their home stadium of the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto has witnessed many great title conquests, especially within the Concacaf region.
Alajuelense’s two Concacaf Champions Cup titles in 1986 and 2004 were secured in front of their home fans, while their 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf League crown also took place on home soil.
Another opportunity has come calling on Wednesday night against Olimpia of Honduras, with Alajuelense facing a 3-2 deficit on aggregate in their 2022 SCL Final.
Alajuelense players Bryan Ruiz, Leonel Moreira and Erick Cabalceta spoke with Concacaf.com on Tuesday about how crucial the support will be from their loyal fans.
“It’s a good luck spot for us. We won those titles here. It is a special place to play these kinds of finals and we are going to do everything possible to win this title as well. We earned ourselves the possibility to play the deciding game in front of our fans and that is important. It provides extra help in these types of matches in which we are playing for everything,” said Ruiz.
If Alajuelense can grab an early goal to make the series level at 3-3, Cabalceta feels like Alajuelense will be well-positioned to secure the necessary result to win the crown.
“From our standpoint, we are going to come with everything. We are going to come out attacking and looking to score, first to even the series and then take the lead. But the most important thing is that we have our fans here. The stadium is going to be full and you will be able to feel it, so the support of the fans will be very important,” said Cabalceta.
"This means much more because you are playing a final and everyone here trusts in magical nights and the importance of being in our house", he added.
Even for a player like Moreira, who was a SCL champion in 2018 with Herediano and then again in 2020 with Alajuelense, the experience and feeling of a big Concacaf night is like no other, especially while representing one of Costa Rica’s biggest clubs on such a grand stage.
“It’s beautiful playing these games. It’s like when you make your debut. You have to approach it the same way, with the same energy, same desire and same professionalism. These are games that mark you and help you for the future,” said Moreira.
“This shield, this institution is very big here in Costa Rica and to represent it is an honor. We as footballers have to demonstrate it on the field, give to the club that valor that has been earned over the years and give it the greatness that it possesses,” added Moreira.
A victory for Alajuelense would also make for a fairy tale ending for one of the club’s favorite sons in Ruiz. The 37-year-old plans to retire at the end of the year following Costa Rica’s participation in the World Cup. To win the SCL Final in his final Alajuelense match and then have a successful tournament with the Ticos in Qatar would be a dream ending.
“It is more special to play this final at this stage of my career. To finish my career in my boyhood club with the possibility of winning a trophy is special. We know that it’s not going to be easy, but we are going to do everything possible to try to accomplish it.
“What better way to say goodbye than to play a World Cup at the end of the year, so we have the chance to achieve both. We are going to try to achieve the first one in this game and then focus 100 percent on the national team to have a good World Cup,” concluded Ruiz.