Forge past FAS test to reach next round

MIAMI, Florida – For the third straight year Forge FC of Canada have won a Scotiabank Concacaf League Preliminary Round series after a 2-2 draw in their 2021 SCL Preliminary Round second leg with CD FAS of El Salvador on Tuesday night at the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador, El Salvador.

The result, coupled with their 3-1 triumph in the first leg, sends Forge to the Round of 16 with a 5-3 win on aggregate.

FAS got just the lift they needed in the early going with Kevin Reyes striking in the 13’ to make it 1-0 to the Salvadoran hosts. Wilma Torres flighted a cross over to Reyes, who took a couple touches and then fired in past Forge GK Triston Henry for the goal.

But Forge would rebound nicely to start the second half and came away with a big away goal in the 49’ through Joshua Navarro Sandi, who got on the end of an excellent cross from Jonathan Grant and slid home the 1-1 equalizer.

FAS were undeterred though, and the hosts struck right back in the 56’ to take a 2-1 lead in the match and cut Forge’s aggregate advantage to 4-3 on a perfectly executed free kick from Wilma Torres.

The second half fireworks would continue though in the 61’ and Forge would get a massive second away goal with Navarro Sandi this time setting up a cross for Grant, whose towering header made it 2-2 in the game and 5-3 on aggregate.

The Grant goal meant FAS needed three to advance and that cushion was enough for Forge to batten down the hatches the rest of the way to collect the result and punch their ticket to the Round of 16.