Dragon (pictured) will face Isidro Metapan in the 2014 Salvadoran Clausura final on May 24, 2014, at the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador. (Photo: Carlos Roberto Mejía Amaya)
SAN MIGUEL, El Salvador – Dragon will attempt to capture its first Salvadoran title since 1953 on Sunday, when it meets defending champion Isidro Metapan in the 2014 Clausura’s championship match.
Rather than be plagued by nerves ahead of the occasion, the San Miguel-based side is unruffled.
And why shouldn’t it be calm? After all, the Monstruo Verde successfully navigated a single-game playoff against Santa Tecla just to qualify for post-season play. Then, once there, it upset top-seeded FAS in the semifinals to earn a date at the Estadio Cuscatlan.
As a result of that recent success, head coach Nelson Ancheta claims that there is no stress ahead of the curtain closer.
“The team should take things in with tranquility,” said Ancheta, whose side is unbeaten in five straight matches. “I have told the players that they have no pressure.”
Dragon will be the ninth team to make its debut in a Primera Division final. Of the previous eight, only two were able to hoist the trophy.
Regardless of past history, Dragon’s Colombian defender Jhonny Rios believes that character can overcome any obstacle.
“The key in getting here has been perseverance,” said Rios. “We never gave in to the things that happened against us during the season.
“It’s more history. We are dreaming big. We are not stars, but we want to be and we are achieving it.”
