MIAMI, Florida – CD Platense of El Salvador and Belize’s Verdes FC will each have their sights set on the Round of 16 when they face off in the second leg of the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League Preliminary Round on Wednesday night at the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador, El Salvador.
The first leg in Belize was a classic Concacaf chess match in which neither side was willing to give in. Platense enjoyed the stronger first half, but Verdes proved a more attacking threat in the second 45 minutes.
Now the return leg in Belize will have to produce a winner, so the onus will be on both teams to find that decisive goal.
Platense were bolstered by top performances from MF Juan Aimar, who completed 73 passes during the first leg, and the tireless Carlos Anzora, who led his side with four shots, on top of 68 completed passes and two clearances.
One of the great luxuries for Verdes is veteran GK Woodrow West, who has ample Concacaf experience in both the SCL and Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League. West had three saves in the first leg to register his second career clean sheet in Concacaf play.
Up front, Camilo Fajardo is one of the dangermen for Verdes, leading the team in shots (2) in the first leg while being the lone goalscorer for Verdes in the history of the tournament.
The Estadio Custcatlan stands to be a factor as well. While Platense have never played a home Concacaf match in that stadium, Salvadoran teams have 10 wins and four draws in 19 previous SCL matches in the historic San Salvador stadium.
No matter what, history will be made as one of these two teams will win their first ever SCL series.
CD Platense vs. Verdes FC
⚽️ They tied 0-0 in the first leg on July 27, 2022, at FFB Stadium in Belmopan, Belize.
⚽️ San Salvador's Cuscatlán stadium has hosted 19 matches in SCL history.
⚽️ The home teams achieved 10 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses.
⚽️ In 2020, Managua defeated FAS 5-4 on penalties and Motagua 4-3 Alianza FC after drawing 1-1 in regulation time in a single match.
⚽️ Águila, Alianza, FAS, Santa Tecla, Municipal Limeño and Once Deportivo (SLV) and Forge (CAN) played at home in this stadium.
⚽️ It will be the 2nd game between a team from Belize and another from El Salvador in Scotiabank Concacaf League history.
⚽️ CD Platense will debut as a local team in the SCL.