FAS forced to settle for 1-1 draw with Xelaju
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - CD FAS failed to capitalize on a extra man advantage for most of the second half and had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Xelaju Thursday in the first leg of their Preliminary Round series in the CONCACAF Champions League.
VIDEO
Highlights: FAS vs Xelaju
Previews: 7/29 | 7/28 | 7/27
RELATED COVERAGE
Match summary | Latest news
Teams | Schedule | Results | More coverage
SHOP CONCACAF
Shop Champions League gear
The result finished a disappointing week for first-leg hosts. Only two of eight home teams managed to win, Toronto and the Seattle Sounders - both 1-0, while four lost and Costa Rica's Brujas also was held to a draw.
The result sends the two to next Thursday's second leg in Guatemala with the winner advancing to the Group Stage to face Mexico's Toluca, Olimpia of Honduras and either the Los Angeles Galaxy or the Puerto Rico Islanders.
FAS had the majority of possession but created little after Xelaju defender Carlos de Castro was ejected for a sweeping left leg tackle of Christian Alvarez in the 57th minute. The expulsion came only minutes after of the 31-year-old Uruguayan was whistled, but not carded, for a high leg near the touchline that caught Alvarez in the face.
Rain that started falling about the 65th minute didn't help FAS, but it had only a handful of chances in the final 30 minutes. Ramon Solis had two of them, a shot from just outside the arc that was deflected over the bar in the 75th and a free kick from 35 meters in the 89th that Xelaju goalkeeper Marvin Berrios had to punch away at his left post.
Xelaju had the better possession and chances until it lost De Castro, including Nelson Crossa's header in the 11th minute that FAS goalkeeper Luis Contreras had to leap to push off his post with his left hand.
Crossa finally put the Guatemalan side ahead in the 42nd minute, settling a high ball with his left thigh on the left side of the area, letting it bounce once and volleying it with the same foot into the far side netting.
Crossa was the first of 11 acquisitions by Xelaju since the conclusion of the Clausura in May, moving over from Municipal.
FAS , which was caught offside five times in the first half, responded a minute and a half later. Rodolfo Cordoba's corner kick was headed toward goal and into a crowd by Roberto Pena. It bounced around to Alejandro Bentos at the right post, who sent it high to the back post where William Reyes headed in to equalize.
Xelaju was making its first appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League and first in the continental club championship since reaching the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup in the 2007-2008 season.
FAS, the most titled club in El Salvador history with 17 league crowns, also was making its Champions League debut and first appearance in the regional event since the 2005-2006 Champions Cup.
