SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – CD FAS is brimming with belief as it gets ready to take on Arabe Unido in the 2018 Scotiabank Concacaf League quarterfinals.
The Salvadoran club reached the last eight in dramatic fashion with a last-second goal to defeat Perez Zeledon of Costa Rica 3-2 on aggregate.
Now, FAS takes on a Panamanian side that has been a stalwart in Concacaf competition in recent season, including a semifinal appearance in last season’s SCL.
Still, FAS Assistant Coach Erick Dowson Prado feels the squad is adequately prepared to go toe-to-toe with the Canaleros.
“We know Arabe Unido pretty well, I think we have had sufficient time to be able to analyze them,” said Prado in a pre-match press conference on Monday.
“We are very clear on what type of team it is. It is a solid team with a good set-up, a well-established 4-4-2 system, with experienced players from the national team like [Roberto] Chen and Blas Perez. A Colombian coach [Carlos Ruiz] who works well. We know their virtues,” added Prado.
When asked about Arabe Unido’s advantage in the aerial game, Prado was quick to remind that FAS has strong, physical players that can counter the Panamanian’ strength.
It could well be the key in Tuesday’s hosts achieving a result that can serve it well in next week’s second leg.
“Obviously we have confidence in our capabilities, in our football and hopefully [Tuesday] we can get a result that allows us to go to Panama with the advantage. We will try to counter the height of the Panamanian team by controlling the ball and trying to have the large majority of possession,” said Prado.
CD FAS hosts Arabe Unido I the first leg on Tuesday nigh at the Estadio Custcatlan in San Salvador, El Salvador, before traveling to Panama City, Panama next Tuesday for the second leg at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez.