Union may advance on Saprissa’s misfortunes
From the first time the subject of CONCACAF Champions League qualification was broached last fall, Jim Curtin has maintained the same line. The Union manager wanted to be in the conversation, not for what it reflected of his team’s MLS standing or for the update to his coaching resume, but for a chance to play more games and test his squad.
In Costa Rica last week, the Union played like they wanted their continental debut to be no mere cameo. Wednesday, before home fans for the first time in nearly six months, they can prove it again.
The Union take on Deportivo Saprissa Wednesday (8 p.m., FS1) in the second leg of CCL Round of 16 at Subaru Park. Capacity will be around 5,000 people, according to the club.
The Union have the advantage, 1-0, from the first leg game in San Jose. The team with the higher aggregate score across the two legs will advance to the quarterfinals. Away goals are the tiebreaker, and the Union have a valuable one in the bag.
The margin in Leg 1 makes the math simple: If the Union keep Saprissa from scoring, they advance. For a team with more shutouts at home last year (five) than goals allowed (four), that’s not a bad place to be.
“We have our destiny in our hands on our home field,” Curtin said Tuesday. “We’ve gone through some unique times last year and some challenging environments where sometimes plans change going into games. But in terms of our group, we’ll be ready to go.”
The winner gets the survivor of Atlanta United vs. Costa Rican champion-in-waiting Alajuelense in a twoleg quarterfinal to be held in the final week of April or first week of May. Atlanta enters the second leg at home late Tuesday in the same situation as the Union, off a 1-0 win in Costa Rica.
MLS teams have advanced in six of seven two-leg, home-and-home ties with Costa Rican opposition since the tournament rebranded as the Champions League in 2008-09. Should the Union and Atlanta both take care of business, they’d set up the first knockout-stage meeting between American MLS sides since 2011. The Union could join the club of 13 MLS clubs that managed to win a two-leg CCL tie.
Saprissa entered the Round of 16 in a bad spot, and things have only gotten worse, playing its worst stretch of soccer in Liga FPD, winless in eight games (0-2-6). It could only manage a draw Saturday against Perez Zeledon, which entered in last place. Including the first leg, Saprissa has scored five goals in nine games, its last multiple-goal game coming Feb. 14.
The team’s motivation is an open question. Saprissa is clinging to third in the standings, a failure by its standards. Santos de Guapiles is nine points ahead, while five teams are queued within two points. The club has a match with Alajuelense this weekend. Advancing in Champions League at the expense of sliding out of the top three might not be deemed worthwhile.
Complicating things further is a wave of COVID-19. In addition to four injured players, Saprissa will reportedly be without captain Mariano Torres and defender Aubrey David for the trip, both of whom started Leg 1. Former MLSer Kendall Waston is unable to enter the U.S. after the defender traveled to Europe recently with the national team, a decision Curtin called “completely unfair.”
“Obviously it’s unfortunate,” said Curtin, who added that his team has a clean bill of health COVID-wise. “When you’re in this competition, you want to play them at their best. Having said that, it’ll be an opportunity for maybe some of their younger players to get on the field, which will be very dangerous because they’ll be looking to impress their coach.”
One issue that seems to have dissipated is the emotional carryover. Leg 1 ended with Ricardo Blanco’s twofooted tackle on Kai Wagner, which sparked a bench-clearing melee and several yellow cards. Wagner trained fully and is ready to go. Curtin said Blanco apologized via social media to clear the air, and Curtin has vehemently warned his team to be wary of Saprissa instigation in the return leg.
The Union get Sergio Santos back from a toe injury, and Curtin is ready to use him as a sub. But Ilsinho and Cory Burke remain shy of training until at least next week. Curtin says the Union is prepared for the meeting with Saprissa’s young squad.
“We know who is injured for them, who is maybe out for COVID, who is out for maybe some unfair reasons about getting into the country at this time, which is unfortunate,” Curtin said. “It’s a hard situation, but all we can do is prepare our best for the team we’re going to be playing tomorrow. We know it’s going to be a very difficult contest.”