Arturo Alvarez isn’t the only member of El Salvador to play in MLS. Alvarez’s teammate on the San Jose Earthquakes, Ramon Sanchez, also plays for El Salvador. So does New York Red Bulls defender Alfredo Pacheco. These players know that the unlikely odds of a result in the USA. But they are not setting their sights low for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier in Utah (ESPN Classic & Telefutura, 8 pm ET)
“We don’t see it as a one-point thing,” Pacheco said. “We understand that the U.S. is one of the top teams in Concacaf. We don’t want to get a point. We want three points.” In March, El Salvador led the USA deep into the match but gave up a late goal to settle for 2-2 tie.
El Salvador has had a tough string of results so far in the qualifying round. It has lost three one-goal matches to Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica and Honduras. It currently sits in fifth place in CONCACAF with five points. Four days following the match with the United States, El Salvador welcomes group leader Costa Rica.