Valentín Castellanos scored two first-half goals as New York City FC rolled to a 2-0 win over Santos de Guápiles in first-round action of the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The contest was the opener of a two-game, total-goal series. The second leg is scheduled for Feb. 23 at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
Castellanos put the visitors on top in the fifth minute when he fired a penalty kick into the left side of the net.
On target from the jump ❗️ @tatycaste11anos pic.twitter.com/zSn7gQ3TSG
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) February 16, 2022
In the 30th minute, NYCFC doubled the lead after two Santos defenders botched clearance attempts in the 18-yard box. The ball rolled to a wide-open Castellanos to the left of the penalty spot, and he blasted a shot into the top right corner.
Picking up right where he left off ☄️ @tatycaste11anos pic.twitter.com/2qbSBPh52W
— New York City FC (@NYCFC) February 16, 2022
The main downside for NYCFC was that midfielder Santiago Rodríguez received a red card in the 68th minute after a late challenge caught Santos' Erson Méndez on the ankle.
NYCFC is down to 10 men after this straight red pic.twitter.com/cEc2YLevko
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 16, 2022
Santos Laguna 1, CF Montréal 0
Disallowed Montréal Goal
After a VAR review Montreal's goal is taken away due to this foul at the beginning of the sequence
Do you agree with the call? pic.twitter.com/9K2sJu117Z— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) February 16, 2022
Alberto Ocejo's short-range header in the 88th minute gave the Liga MX team a victory over the Major League Soccer squad at Torreón, Mexico. Santos' Fernando Gorriarán dribbled into the penalty area and delivered a pass to Ocejo, who beat Montreal goalie Sebastian Breza at the near post.
⚽️ ¡GOOOOOOL de Alberto Ocejo!@ClubSantos logra romper el empate sobre la recta final del partido | #SCCL22 pic.twitter.com/b2eTMd746m
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) February 16, 2022
The teams will complete their two-game matchup on Feb. 22 in Montreal.
offside on a back pass CCL is glorious pic.twitter.com/fcRcEDvJd0
— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) February 16, 2022