- February, 17 2007 -
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Friday, February 16, 2007 – Cuscatlán Stadium, El Salvador: Two goals in a tremendous 15 minute opening spell were enough for Costa Rica to defeat El Salvador in front of a capacity 38,500 crowd and progress to the Copa de Naciones Digicel Final. El Salvador battled bravely, urged on by a vocal crowd, but despite enjoying plenty of second half possession were unable to break down Hernan Medford’s well organized side.
Faced with an enormous “blue tide” of home fans and an electric atmosphere in the stadium, Costa Rica took the game to the hosts from the opening whistle. As early as the 1st minute Fonceca was clean through on goal until pulled back by a referee’s whistle for offside. Gomez saved a Fonceca header on 7 minutes before a series of corners led to Costa Rica taking the lead after only 10 minutes. Harold Wallace took one touch to collect a headed clearance on the edge of the area before firing home a volley that would have graced any game. Worse was to come for the home fans only 2 minutes later. Leonardo Gonzalez reached the by-line before pulling the ball back for Fonceca to slide the ball home for Costa Rica’s second.
Having taken control of the game with a devastating opening burst, the holders were content to sit on their lead with El Salvador enjoying more possession but unable to create any clear cut openings. Just before half-time, substitute Martinez finally forced Alfaro in the Costa Rican goal into a diving save but the hosts were still left with a mountain to climb at the break.
After a quiet opening to the second 45 minutes, Alonso Solis went close for Costa Rica on 56 minutes before the hosts finally had the home crowd on their feet with a period of prolonged pressure. The lively Martinez headed just over on 58 from a Merino cross before local hero Quintanilla forced a fine diving save from Alfaro after a well-worked short corner routine on 60 minutes. Quintanilla fed Martinez again to fire just over on 65 but when Quintanilla drove a free-kick from a promising position into the wall two minutes later, the home crowd began to sense the opportunity had passed for El Salvador to pull a goal back.
Carlos de los Cobos’ team continued to enjoy plenty of possession in the closing 20 minutes but could not break down a well-marshaled Costa Rica defence who hung on for a deserved victory and an appointment with Panama in the Copa de Naciones Digicel Final on Sunday. El Salvador will have gone home disappointed that a run of four games without defeat came to an end in front of a capacity crowd but will need to lift themselves for Sunday’s local derby in the Third Place Play-off against Guatemala.
El Salvador: Juan Gómez; Manuel Aslazar, Luis Amaya, Víctor Velásquez (C), Víctor Merino, Alex Erazo (Juan Diaz), Denis Alas (Jose Martinez), Gilverto Murgas, Alfredo Pacheco, William Torres, Eliseo Quintanilla.
Costa Rica: Jervis Drummond, Victor Cordero, Michael Umana, Michael Barrantes, Rolando Fonceca, Alonso Solis (Carlos Hernandez), Walter Centeno (Kurt Bernard), Leonardo Gonzalez, Rodolfo Rodriguez, Harold Wallace, Jose Porras (C).
