El Salvador Finds Finishing Touch Against Costa Rica

CARSON, Calif. - Friday's Gold Cup openers at Home Depot Center were played before a sellout crowd of 27,000 fans who were mostly dressed in blue. El Salvador supporters turned out in droves to see their beloved selecta, and Osael Romero ensured that the throngs went home happy.

Romero scored two goals, including the match-winner four minutes from time, as El Salvador beat Costa Rica 2-1 to open the tournament with what players and coaches called an important victory.

"It was important to get this victory. We needed it," El Salvador manager Carlos De Los Cobos said after the match. "We knew this was a game that we had to win - for pride, for what it means in terms of World Cup qualifying."

El Salvador executed their game plan perfectly, De Los Cobos said. The team was well-organized throughout, kept Costa Rica mostly in check and took advantage of their scoring chances. Facing a tough Costa Rican squad, a team that sits atop the Hexagonal table midway through World Cup qualifying, De Los Cobos said his players had their work cut out for them.

"The idea was to understand that we had a national team against us that is going through a real good spell, with players who are playing in some strong leagues, in Europe, so we had to be organized," he said. "We knew with the experience the team had, the dynamic state of their team that this would be a difficult game. But all games are difficult so the most important thing is that this team has shown maturity and growth and this reflects on the field."

Romero scored his first goal midway through the first half on a quick counterattack. He darted down the left side of the field, raced into the area and shook off a Costa Rican defender. He tucked the ball into the back of the net to open the scoring.

But Costa Rica's Warren Granados equalized in the 64th minute and the tide seemed to have turned against El Salvador. But Romero had other thoughts as he bagged an 86th-minute match-winner.

"The mentality is to always do things well and for some reason things have gone well," Romero said of his ability to find the back of the net. "I felt the same as everyone, very happy for the result and to have scored so late in the game. It's a positive result. We're a team that is united and that's the most important thing."

Meanwhile, Costa Rica manager Rodrigo Kenton said his side was unfortunate to have gone up against such well-organized and opportunistic squad. Both of his opponents' goals, after all, came off counterattacks.

"It was an intense game, where we played to win, played to look to always attack our rival," he said. "We found a team that was very organized defensively and one that took advantage of their counterattacks. Costa Rica tried to attack and on the second goal it was a similar situation. Again a counterattack beat us."

Entering the game, Costa Rica and El Salvador had met four times in the previous year and the Ticos had taken all four meetings. The law of averages, however, seemed to have also played a role in the outcome.

"Possibly having played against them so many times that they are familiar with us and knew how to play against us," Kenton said. "The truth is that they had to win sooner or later."

Helping out El Salvador's cause was their ability to finish their scoring chances, which in the end allowed El Salvador to come away with three points.

"The last times we've played against Costa Rica we've done well," De Los Cobos said. "The only difference was that Costa Rica had done well to finish and we had not taken advantage of our scoring chances. We talked to the players today and this national team has gone forward in a new direction. This is a team that plays to win."

El Salvador will play Canada on Tuesday in a matchup of opening-day winners. Los Cuscatlecos are faced with the possibility of sealing up a spot in the second round and taking a step closer to winning the group should they find more success against Canada. Such was the impact of Friday's win.

"It's a great step," Romero said. "We've come a long way and hope things continue this way. God willing, they will."

Luis Bueno, Goal.com