Mason, Mendez team up to lift Santos over Plaza Amador

MIAMI, Florida. – Santos de Guapiles of Costa Rica are on their way to the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf League quarterfinals after defeating Panama’s Plaza Amador 2-0 in the second leg of the 2021 SCL Round of 16 on Wednesday night at the Estadio Rod Carew in Panama City, Panama.

Goals from Denilson Mason and Erson Mendez earned the Ticos the win in the match and a 3-0 triumph on aggregate.

Santos looked to jump on their opponents early and they would grab a crucial away goal in the 19’, as Brayan Lopez’s dashing run ended with a cut-back pass for Mason, who swung in a right-footed shot for a 1-0 lead.

Down 2-0 on aggregate and needing three goals to advance, Plaza Amador committed more numbers forward and came achingly close to pulling a goal back in the 55’ when Ricardo Buitrago’s left-footed shot smacked the crossbar.

Plaza Amador kept the pressure on, but it played right into the hands of Santos, who took advantage of space and opportunity, with Mendez steering home a header in the 70’ after a flicked-on header by DF Pablo Arboine to double the advantage 2-0.

The Santos defense took over from there to nail down the victory and a place in the next round.