It is true that the series is not over, only 90 minutes have passed and football can give anything. However, if we move from that impartial point to be more analytical, El Salvador can now go calmly towards the Final Octagonal. In a duel that seemed one of the closest in the second round, Hugo Pérez’s men found no rival.
In the first minute of the game we were already thinking about that intensity of encounter with what looked like a goal for St. Kitts and Nevis. What we had not perceived was the standard bearer marking an out of place and, while we were getting back into the seat, David Rugamas was already celebrating the first goal for the visitors. The blow was so sudden that the Central Americans decided the match with maximum comfort.
Moment later, Joshua Pérez gave the second and Rugamas repeated to re-establish himself as the top scorer of the Playoffs with 8 annotations. He even stayed very close to the third, but football forgave the host squad. Just as Guatemala did against San Vicente, the Salvadorans never backed down, they pressed at all times and did not let their opponent settle; Outside of that arrival in the first minute, the Caribbeans did not appear again in the entire first half.
In fact, the second half counted much less than the previous part was. El Salvador did not stop looking, but the aim was no longer on their side and the best thing for them was a non-existent penalty that was marked in favor of Joshua Pérez. The act was culminated by Darwin Cerén with a good definition against Julian Archibald and nothing else could be done by Leonardo Neiva’s group; well, not to detract from them, Harrison Panakyioutu had a shot outside the box and Tiquanny Williams had it in front of the goal (alone) and preferred to send it out of the complex.
The victory only means the first goal achieved by Hugo Pérez’s group, since now they will have to return to Cuscatlán to finish the task on June 15. This should not have any problem, as history marks when the last time, in the same instances and headquarters, they beat their similar by a result of 4 to 1. Luck and football are on their side.
Who would be El Salvador’s next rival?
In the event of a successful completion of the series against St. Kitts and Nevis, El Salvador will finally achieve the much desired pass – and Hugo Pérez’s first goal – towards the Octagonal Final. In this space, his first rival will be the United States in September 2021.
