U.S. squad faces Saprissa for spot in Concacaf Champions League final

A few days after securing first place in the Costa Rican First Division, Saprissa will have a chance Tuesday night to qualify for the Concacaf Champions League final. At 8 p.m. Tuesday night, Saprissa hosts Real Salt Lake of U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS) at Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in Tibás, west of San José.

To qualify for the Concacaf Champions League final, Saprissa faces an uphill battle. In the first game of the home-and-home series on March 15, Real Salt Lake beat Saprissa 2-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake City. For Saprissa to advance it must erase Real Salt Lake’s two-goal advantage, either with a 2-0 win to force extra-time, or by outscoring them by three goals. In Concacaf Champions League play, two-game series are determined by an aggregate score.

Saprissa is traditionally tough to beat in Tibás at the imposing“Monster’s Cave.” Still, it will take a mighty effort to beat a hot Real Salt Lake team. Real Salt Lake, the club team of Costa Rican forward Alvaro Saborio, is undefeated in five matches in 2011.

“We are still alive and excited to play,” said Saprissa player Alonso Solís. “If anything is clear about this team it is that we never concede until the referee blows the final whistle. We have achieved very important results at Ricardo Saprissa tadium and we know that we care capable of achieving another one on Tuesday. We are ready:”