GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Center back Ventura Alvarado scored his first league goal on Wednesday, heading in to hand Necaxa the lead in the Ascenso MX playoff quarterfinal first leg against Delfines del Carmen.
Alvarado rose highest to loop a header over Delfines ‘keeper Liborio Sánchez from a right wing free-kick in the 31st minute, but the home side came back, with the score finishing 2-2.
The 21-year-old Phoenix native – a regular this season for Necaxa – was taken off at halftime as coach Armando González shifted the team’s formation after Daniel Cervantes was sent off in the 45th.
Teammate and fellow American Sonny Guadarrama (pictured above) went 78 minutes for Los Rayos, who are aiming to make their second successive Ascenso MX final.
The return leg of the quarterfinal is on Saturday in Aguascalientes.
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
