SAN JOSE – Herediano GK Esteban Alvarado made two saves to lead his side to a 6-5 penalty shootout win against Canada’s Pacific FC following a 1-0 defeat in the second leg of the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League Round of 16 on Tuesday night at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The reigning Canadian Premier League champions got a goal just minutes from full-time to force the shootout, but Alvarado capped a superb performance in goal on the night with two stops in the spot kicks to secure Herediano’s first SCL quarterfinal since their 2018 title run.
Pacific GK Callum Irving had work to do in the first half, making a trio of saves, while at the other end it was a relatively calm first 45 minutes for Alvarado.
Things remained scoreless as the second half continued, but suddenly in the 55’ it took a turn when Pacific’s Jamar Dixon was sent off for a straight red card, leaving the Canadian visitors with 10 men.
Despite the man disadvantage, Pacific kept coming forward and Alvarado had to come up with a massive clearance in the 71’ to deny Bustos from levelling the series.
Fifteen minutes later in the 86’ it was the same story, as Alvarado’s stretch save kept Bustos from scoring on a left-footed shot.
⚽ GOAL! Gianni Dos Santos scores!
— Concacaf (@Concacaf) August 24, 2022
🔱 @Pacificfccpl scores the opener and ties the series: 1-1. | #SCL22 pic.twitter.com/BSALS0ipoz
Yet just when it looked like Alvarado’s heroics would see Herediano through, Pacific equalized in dramatic fashion in the 89’, as a stinging shot from Gianni Dos Santos beat the late-reacting Alvarado to make it 1-1.
The full-time whistle sounded shortly thereafter, so off to penalties the two teams went where Alvarado came up with the two big saves to ultimately help his team to the 6-5 shootout win.
