Alajuelense needs goals, patience in SCCL

Alajuelense players (pictured) gathered together prior to the start of training on April 6, 2015, at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto. (Photo: Imagenes en Costa Rica) ALAJUELA, Costa Rica – In slightly more than one year, Alajuelense’s Jhonny Acosta has played in numerous big international games. With Costa Rica, the defender made two appearances during an historic run to the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals and, a few months later, won the Central American Cup title. Now, he is expected to be on the field for the fourth time in a Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) semifinal since April 1, 2014, when Alajuelense hosts the Impact de Montreal on Tuesday at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto. If the Manudos want to maintain pursuit of their third CONCACAF club crown, they have some work to do.  Reversing a 2-0 loss in last month’s opening leg will not be easy.  Montreal is unbeaten in eight straight SCCL games, while Alajuelense has only two wins in its last nine competition outings. “We have seen the video [of the first game] and I think the goals that they scored were more of a lack of attention from us because, on the first goal, if I’m not mistaken, we lost a ball in midfield and the second was a corner kick,” said Acosta.  “After that, the team [Montreal] did more counterattacking.  We know that the match here is going to be similar, a team waiting for our runs in order to break out quickly.  They have fast players, but I think we’ve worked on it a lot this week to control those attacks.” Since Alajuelense did not score an away goal at the Stade Olympique, Montreal can advance through multiple scenarios.  A win, a draw and even a 1-0 loss will see the 2014 Canadian champion through to the final. “We know that if we score quickly, perhaps we can manage the game a little more calmly in order to go searching for the second goal,” Acosta expressed.  “But we know that the first 20-25 minutes are going to be as important for us as they are for the other team.  We have to be very careful for a quick break, a counterattack, but the midfielders and forward have it very clear that the first 25 minutes are more for attacking than defending.” That’s easier said than done.  Alajuelense has scored more than two goals in a SCCL match only twice in 27 outings.  The last time, however, came against another Major League Soccer side, D.C. United, in a 5-2 quarterfinal win at home on February 26. “We have a very offensive system and tomorrow the team is going out to threaten,” remarked Acosta.  “We know that the first 25 minutes are very important for us, above all for the fans.  We know that they push a lot.” Undoubtedly, those same fans will attend the match in large numbers and a sell-out is expected. “It is a huge motivation,” Acosta finished. “We know that the stadium is full.  The team feels that positive vibe and the opponent feels that pressure.” Motivation and pressure, it wouldn’t be a key SCCL match without those considerable elements.