Santa Ana and Usulután seal their ticket and there are now six classified in the National Soccer League – – 2024-04-18 21:36:17

Santa Ana and Usulután secured their qualification, in advance, to the quarterfinals by beating Morazán and Ahuachapán, respectively, at the beginning of matchday 36 in the National Football League Copa Lotería 2023-24.

With the Santanecos and Usulutecos there are now six teams with guaranteed places for the next phase in the league organized by the National Sports Institute of El Salvador (INDES).

In the case of Santa Ana, they beat Morazán 1-3 at the Correcaminos Stadium with a hat trick from Diego Ramos in a match that the Westerners started uphill.

With this result, the Santaneco team reached 62 points and is now unattainable for Sonsonate, which is in ninth place with 43 and with six games to play it could only add 61 points, if it wins all its duels.

The other teams that have already reserved space are: Cabañas, leader with 83 units; San Salvador, second with 82; San Miguel, which is positioned in third place with 76, and Santa Tecla ITD, which is fifth with 64.

Morazán took advantage through a penalty that Walter López took with a powerful shot to the left side to beat goalkeeper Diego Eduardo López and make it 1-0, in the 31st minute.

The maximum penalty resulted from a foul on Josué Orella that the referee pointed out without any doubt.

The joy did not last long for the Torogoces and Diego Ramos equalized the score with a header that one of the defenders took when the ball had already crossed the goal line, but in case there were any doubts, the same forward sent the ball to the back of the Morazan cabin with a powerful shot, at minute 32.

Santa Ana turned the score around before going into the break with another goal from Ramos, who this time appeared in the small area to drive the ball into the net in the 42nd minute. The precise pass into the area was placed by Carlos Ramírez from the left after a rehearsed play on a free kick.

Ramos scored the third in the 60th minute after a great individual maneuver on the edge of the area from where he headed towards the goal and inflated the net with a strong shot.

Morazán had another clear opportunity to score a goal, at minute 64, after Jonathan Umaña knocked down Silas Argueta, but this time Walter could not convert it into a goal, who opted for a low shot into the low corner, but he guessed the trajectory goalkeeper Diego Eduardo López.

For its part, Usulután imposed its home team by securing a 3-2 victory against Ahuachapán at the Topiltzín Stadium in Jiquilisco, results with which the eastern team reached 66 points and reserved a place for the quarterfinals.

The ocelots put themselves out of reach of Sonsonate, which is in ninth place and although it will win all its games it could only reach 61.

The first half left it 0-0, but Usulután took control of the game with Josielson Moraes’ scores at 48′ and 50′. Six minutes later Anthony Águila scored the third goal for his 36th goal in the LNF, which keeps him as the second highest scorer.

The game had a difficult ending for the hosts who went from a comfortable 3-0 to 3-2. The border team worried the rival with a goal from Jonathan Lemus, at minute 79, plus an own goal by David Méndez, at 81′, to get within striking distance of a tie, but the scoreboard no longer moved and the Usulutecan team was in fourth place. box with 66 units and obtained a place in the quarterfinals.

San Miguel came back 1-2 against Alacranes at the Gregorio Martínez Stadium and denied the northern team the possibility of reaching eighth place.

The Migueleños, who have already secured their ticket to the next stage of the LNF, remain immovable in third place in the National Football League with 79 points.

For its part, Alacranes remains in tenth place with 42 units, although it still has a chance to qualify for one of the last spots up for grabs.

The northern team did its best and took the lead with José Rauda’s goal in the 8th minute, but was unable to maintain the result.

The garrobero team managed to go into the break with a 1-1 lead after José Eduardo Hernández’s goal, at 44′, and sealed their victory with Erick Orellana’s score, at 82′.