MIAMI, Florida – Osvaldo Rodriguez notched a pair of goals to lead Costa Rica’s Santos de Guapiles of Costa Rica to a 5-1 victory over Verdes of Belize in the second leg of the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf League Preliminary Round on Wednesday night at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica.

The result gave the Ticos a 6-1 win on aggregate and a date in the next round with Plaza Amador of Panama.

Santos enjoyed a very good start and Luis Paradela gave his side a 1-0 lead in the match in the 12’ when he turned in the rebound of a free kick parried by Verdes GK Woodrow West.

Verdes looked to respond and a sizzling free kick from Camilo Fajardo in the 21’ nearly leveled the match, with Santos GK Kevin Ruiz forced into a fingertip save over the crossbar. That was then followed by a gilt-edged chance for Krisean Lopez in the 23’ that Ruiz did well to block.

Just when Verdes looked set to score, Santos turned the tables when Paradela drew a foul in the Verdes area and Rodriguez calmly slotted home the penalty to make it 2-0 in the 26’.

A minute later in the 27’ it was suddenly 3-0 after Denilson Mason slipped in a pass to Brayan Lopez, who fired home for the goal.

But the best was yet to come from Santos and it arrived in the 38’ via Rodriguez from just inside the center circle of the Verdes half by sending a shot over the head of West and into goal to make it 4-0.

 

 

The struggles continued for Verdes into the second half, as an own goal from Darrel Myvett in the 55’ gave Santos a 5-0 lead.

There would be some consolation for Verdes though, as Fajardo broke through in the 89’ with a left-footed strike to give Verdes their first ever SCL goal to complete the 5-1 scoreline.