The playoffs in Central America are reaching the final phase. Two champions were decided yesterday, and the remaining two won't be decided until the last weekend of the year.
FAS are the new champions in El Salvador after defeating Águila 3-2 after extra time in a dramatic final. FAS took the lead in the first minute, before Nicholas Addlery (ex-DCU and Puerto Rico Islanders) scored the equalizer for the Eagles. In the extra time period, FAS settled the championship with two goals in a minute; first, an own goal by Arturo Albarrán off a free kick, and then a great finish by Juan Carlos Moscoso off an equally great pass by Gustavo López. Addlery scored a second goal minutes later but Águila could get no closer. FAS finish the 2000s with their sixth title of the decade and their 17th overall, both records in Salvadoran football.
The Torneo Invierno in Costa Rica will be decided between Brujas and Puntarenas. Brujas scored an impressive 2-1 win away to Pérez Zeledón to win the series 4-2 on aggregate and appear in their first ever league final. The win was the product of a good tactical plan and a PZ side that took too long to wake up. In the other semifinal, Puntarenas lost 2-1 at Herediano but went through 4-3 on aggregate. So the two teams in the playoff with the lowest point totals, who would not have even been in the playoff has a single table been utilized, will meet for the Verano title. The final will be played over two legs on the 23rd and 28th.
Municipal won their 27th league title after defeating Comunicaciones 1-0 over two legs in Guatemala's Apertura final. The first leg saw Municipal defeat Comunicaciones away by the minimum, and in the second leg Panamanian 'keeper Jaime Penedo was the leading figure with two critical saves late in the game.
In Nicaragua, Real Estelí weathered long periods with ten and later nine men to defeat Walter Ferreti 1-0 in the first leg of the Apertura final. It really wasn't a good final as neither team looked likely to score. Despite being up two men in the final 15 minutes, Ferreti could not muster any good chances on goal. The deciding match will be next Sunday.
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