SAN SALVADOR – Alianza of El Salvador will be aiming to continue their momentum when they face Verdes of Belize in the second leg of the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League Round of 16 on Wednesday night at the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador, El Salvador.
A solid performance in the first leg that ended with a 2-0 victory has Alianza in the driver’s seat to reach the last eight of the tournaments. Second half goals from Victor Landazuri and Rodolfo Zelaya made the difference and gives the Salvadoran side two key away goals going into Wednesday night.
Verdes showed a lot of fight, though, even playing down a man for the large majority of the second half and no doubt they will be attempting to find an early goal to make things interesting.
Alianza have gone out of the SCL in the last two editions, but they will feel good about snapping that streak this year, especially if Zelaya is on the field.
The veteran striker scored his fifth SCL goal last week and will be aided by MF Marvin Monterroza, who is poised to appear in his 16th SCL after completing 55 passes in the first leg.
In their quest for at least two away goals, just like they did in the Preliminary Round away leg against Platense (SLV), Verdes will turn to their main attacking threats, Edwin Villeda Bernal and Krisean Lopez.
Both players were unlucky not to have scored in the first leg, with Lopez taking four shots to lead the team. Meanwhile, Villeda Bernal has had a hand in both Verdes goals in the tournament, scoring and assisting against Platense. He also led his side in completed passes in the first leg with 28.
Another key figure for Verdes’ success will be veteran GK Woodrow West. If he can repeat the clean sheet, he produced in the Preliminary Round first leg, Verdes will have given themselves a chance of a comeback.
Match Officials:
Referee: Hector Said Martinez (Honduras)
AR1: Walter López (Honduras) AR2: Raymundo Feliz (Dominican Republic)
4th Officials: Nelson Salgado (Honduras)
Game Notes, Stats Alianza FC vs Verdes FC