Second leg of Once Deportivo-Comunicaciones on knife’s edge

MIAMI, Florida – The final Preliminary Round series of the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf League will be decided on Thursday night as El Salvador’s Once Deportivo host Comunicaciones of Guatemala in the second leg at the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Things stand on a knife’s edge between the two sides going into the return leg after a hard-fought 1-1 draw two weeks ago in the first leg in Guatemala City.

A free kick goal from Alexander Larin had Comunicaciones in control at halftime, but the SCL debutants fought back valiantly in the second half and got a key away goal through Edgar Medrano.

Curiously for Comunicaciones, the first leg result marked their third straight draw in SCL play and gives the Chapines an overall record of 2W-5D-1L in the history of the tournament.

Comunicaciones will certainly be keen to turn things in their favor after feeling the sting of last year’s SCL Preliminary Round elimination when they lost in a Concacaf record-breaking penalty shootout, 15-14, to Honduran side Motagua after a 2-2 draw.

In addition to the dangerous Larin, Juan Luis Anangono and Rafael Morales have the firepower to lead Comunicaciones to victory. Anangono had two shots in the first leg, while Morales has an impressive 21 matches in all Concacaf club competitions under his belt.

While Medrano got the goal for Once Deportivo in the first leg, it was Jamaican FW Craig Foster who handled the playmaking duties and crafted the assist after coming on as a second half substitute.

Also in the mix is Melvin Cartagena, who had two shots, eight ball recoveries, received six fouls and completed 49 passes in the first meeting.

Game Notes Once Deportivo vs Comunicaciones FC