Ventura Alvarado (pictured) is making a name for himself with Mexico's Club America and the USA. (Photo: Mexsport)
MONTREAL, Canada – The life and career of Club America’s Ventura Alvarado have been an absolute whirlwind over the last few weeks.
Since March 25, the 22-year-old has appeared in three matches for the United States on two continents, making his international debut at Denmark. With the Aguilas, he is in the midst of a battle for a place in the Liga MX Clausura playoffs and has reached the final of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL).
Due to a suspension, the defender missed last week’s final opener against the Impact de Montreal, a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Azteca. Thanks to the resiliency of youth and energetic enthusiasm, though, Alvarado is looking forward to the future, but first comes the away leg on Wednesday at to decide the next SCCL champion.
“[Winning the CCL] would keep building my career up,” he said. “It hasn’t been that long since I started my career, it would be building it up more. Personally I feel motivated. I’m feeling good and ready to take the field.”
Born in Arizona, Alvarado is eligible to represent the country of his birth or Mexico. On April 15, he was part of the U.S. side that posted a 2-0 win over the Tricolor in a friendly, going the entire 90 minutes.
“I think that I got some confidence from that, but here at America it is different,” Alvarado continued. “But mainly I’m focused on doing the same thing that I have been doing.”
A crucial aspect of solidifying his position at America would be helping it capture the CONCACAF title. That task will not be easy, especially since the Impact is unbeaten in 11 all-time SCCL games at home.
“The Impact play well,” Alvarado expressed. “They did a lot of damage in Mexico and we’re going to work hard and look to win the match. We have to be focused every minute. We want to pressure them on their side of the field. At home, the Impact will probably be confident with their fans, but we are going to try to take it.”
Should Club America prevail, it will also qualify for the next FIFA Club World Cup, a prospect that Alvarado relishes.
“Playing in a Club World Cup, you play against big teams,” he concluded. “You can make history. That is somewhere where you want to be.”
