Alfaro strikes at right time for Alajuelense at Alianza

SAN SALVADOR – A first half goal from Bernald Alfaro earned Costa Rican side Alajuelense a 1-0 win over Alianza of El Salvador in the first leg of the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League quarterfinals on Wednesday night at the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Alianza enjoyed a strong start through the first half hour and had the Alajuelense defense on their heels on a number of occasions, but nothing that troubled visiting GK Miguel Aju.

It was Alajuelense who would break the deadlock in the 37’ thanks in part to some nifty footwork from Aubrey David to elude an Alianza defender, allowing him to slide a pass to Alfaro, who then hammered a shot into net for a 1-0 Alajuelense lead.

Alianza keep pushing for a goal and right on the cusp at halftime it looked like it would come from an Ivan Mancia header off an Aju block, but instead the ball was cleared off the goal-line.

The approach remained the same from Alianza in the second half and a Camilo Delgado header saved by Aju in the 57’ showed that Alianza were closing in on a goal.

Veteran FW Rodolfo Zelaya was brought in off the bench for a spark for Alianza and promptly had two cracks at goal, but was unable to find the target.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Alajuelense were starting to take advantage of the space left by Alianza, and Alfaro nearly tallied a second in the 65’ when a goal-bound shot required a last-ditch headed clearance.

In the end, the Alajuelense defense was able to shut the door on the Alianza attack and cement the 1-0 away victory, giving the visiting Ticos the advantage going into next week’s return leg.