MIAMI, Florida – Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica will be out to avoid any surprises when they take on Guatemala’s Santa Lucia in the second leg of the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf League on Thursday night at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The 2019 SCL champions pocketed a 2-0 win in the first leg in Guatemala thanks to goals from veteran players Christian Bolanos and Kendall Waston and now can book their spot in the next round with a win, draw or a one-goal defeat.
When it comes to Saprissa and the SCL, fans can expect goals. No team has a higher goals per game average than the Monstruo Morado (2.13).
At 37 years, four months and six days, Bolanos became the oldest player ever to score in an SCL Round of 16 when he tallied his side’s first goal in the first leg. Meanwhile, another player from that 2019 SCL title-winning team, Mariano Torres, contributed an assist, giving him two all-time SCL assists.
Santa Lucia will look to their dangerman, Isaac Acuna, to find an early score to try to work their way back into the series. The California-born Acuna has two goals and an assist in the tournament, along with seven shots.
Santa Lucia also have some strong talent on the bench, specifically Jonathan Velasquez, who has come off the bench in all three of Santa Lucia’s previous SCL contests and has the most substitute minutes of any player in the SCL (127).
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Match: |
Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica) vs FC Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa (Guatemala) |
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Referee: |
RUBIEL VAZQUEZ (USA) |
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Assistant Referee 1: |
LOGAN BROWN (USA) |
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Assistant Referee 2: |
FELISHA MARISCAL (USA) |
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Fourth Official: |
EKATERINA KOROLEVA (USA) |
Game Notes Saprissa vs Santa Lucia