Carlos Vilarete converted a fifth minute penalty kick and and Temistocles Perez added a late clincher to lift San Francisco FC over San Juan Jabloteh 2-0 on Wednesday, putting it in position to return to the Group Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.
San Francisco, which defeated Jalapa of Guatemala last year in the Preliminary Round, will head to Trinidad on August 6 with the winner on aggregate goals advancing to join Group B with Toluca, Marathon and either D.C. United or Firpo.
Vilarete, who joined San Francisco from Deportivo Pereira in Colombia, scored after Alberto Blanco was fouled by Anton Hutchinson as the blonde Panamanian worked his way into the area.
Perez was the beneficiary of a shot from Boris Alfaro that Jabloeth goalkeeper was able to make an initial save. But the ball bounded across the six-yard box and Perez converted into an empty net in the 83rd.
San Francisco had the better of play for most of the first half. San Juan created two corners within the first 1½ minutes of the second half, but a driving tropical rain for about 15 minutes early in the second half made for a ragged game.
Neither side tested the opposing goalkeeper much, with the game mired in midfield. San Juan Jabloteh's best chance came in the 77th minute when Marvin Oliver sprinted from a deep position to head a cross just over the bar.
Jabloteh entered the match having won its last two in the the T&T Pro League, and in second place. San Francisco still has another week and a half before the Panamanian season begins.
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Teams
San Juan Jabloteh: - 22-C. John, 28-R. Primus (Yellow 4th), 5-A. Hutchinson, 6-N. Williams, 12-E. John, 4-K. Murray (Yellow 52nd) (29-J. Russell 81st), 10-M. Oliver (capt), 17-D. Jamerson, 30-L. Peltier, 11-A. Guerra (7-E. Manners 65th), 16-K. Connell (13-J. Marcano 46th) (Yellow 75).
Coach: E. Jean.
San Francisco FC: - 1-W. Negrete, 3-R. Algandona, 10-W. Torres (7-T. Perez 67th), 23-V. Suárez, 8-A. Manotas, 29-J. Solanillo, 9-A. Blanco (Yellow 60th) (4-J. Solis 71st), 18-R. Phillips, 5-M. Torres, 17-C. Vilarete, 25-A. White (21-B. Alfaro 56th).
Coach: R. Guevara.