Saprissaone of the representatives of Costa Rica in the Concacaf Champions Cuptournament previously called Champions League, He was removed of the competition this Tuesday by falling 6-5 on aggregate against the Philadelphia Union of the MLS.
It was a difficult match for the Americans, as they had to go to extra time, where they were able to score the goal that gave them a place in the round of 16; although in the 120 minutes there were several moments in which they were close to being eliminated.
The second leg arrived at Subaru Park with a 3-2 in favor of the team that would be home, which pointed to a comfortable game for those from North America, but it was not like that, it was just that the genius of the Argentine Julián Carranza, who scored a hat trick for Union in the first leg, once again made a difference.
The game started with emotions and the goals fell quickly. Barely in the 14th minute a goal from Cuban Luis Paradela made the Ticos dream of qualifying, but Three minutes later a goal from Carranza equalized the scores.
At minute 26 another goal from Union, through the boots of Quinn Sullivan, made the game uphill for the Ticossince now they had to score 2 more goals to force extra time, because one was of no use to them.
And the Monster’s claw appeared, because two minutes later the Costa Rican Warren Madrigal made it 2-2 on the board and restored the spirit of the purple fans.
And the joy of the Saprissa fans exploded at 62when Argentine Mariano Torres took a free kick and scored the goal that equalized the scorely gave them hope again.
After this, both teams looked for the goal that could give them victory, but none of their attempts came to fruition, although the emotions for the public intensified due to the efforts of their protagonists.
In stoppage time, in the last play, Saprissa could have scored the winning goal, in a counterattack that seemed like it would be lethal, but the defender Jack Elliott committed a foul to stop the rival offensive and he ended up expelled.
Extra time arrived and Saprissa had an extra man, but did not know how to capitalize on it, since from the minute 4 of the first extra time The locals found the winning goal in a set piece, when Mikael Uhre finished at the far post after a corner kick in which the ball traveled throughout the Central American area.
The rest of the match Union closed and Saprissa attacked again and again, but His shots ended up in the goalkeeper’s hands. German Oliver Semmle, who ended up being a hero for the locals, or on the posts, as two headers from the visitors shook the woodwork.
The score did not move and Philadelphia advanced to the next round, while Saprissa will have to wait for the next edition of the competition to compete again.
Philadelphia Union will face Pachuca
The Pachuca Tuzos of the Liga MX They were waiting for their rival in the round of 16, who would emerge from this match, so they will have to face the American squad on Tuesday, March 5 in Philadelphia and on the 12th of the same month at the Hidalgo Stadium.
It is worth remembering that Pachuca did not play in the first round, since it qualified directly for the round of 16 by being the Liga MX champion that added the most points in the two tournaments (beating Tigres), so this will be its first match of the tournament.
Other results of the Concacaf Champions Cup
In other results of the tournament, Orlando City, another MLS squad, also earned its ticket to the round of 16 with a 3-1 victory against the Canadian Cavalry (6-1 aggregate).
The set of orlando will face another Mexican team, since they will face each other Tigers in the next round.
Dynamo also surpassed the first round, defeating St. Louis City SC, so in the round of 16 they will face the Columbus Crew.
Keep reading:
· Painful failure of Toluca to be eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup by Herediano
· “They said they were going to score us 7”: Real Estelí leaves Mexico satisfied, despite the defeat against América
· Chivas defeats Canadian Forge with a goal from Cade Cowell