Four Questions: El Salvadorian writer Karsten Rivas

Concacaf Champions League fever has reached the Philadelphia Union, with the team’s first CCL match coming soon on Tuesday night against Alianza F.C.

We reached out to El Salvadorian soccer reporter Karsten Rivas for the inside scoop on Alianza to see what fans can expect from the club out of San Salvador.

This interview was conducted in Spanish over email. The English translation is presented at the top of this email, but those who want to fact-check my Spanish can scroll down for the original Q&A.

Philadelphia Soccer Now: For Philadelphia fans that aren’t familiar with Alianza, tell me about the club. What’s their history in the El Salvadorian league, have they had success domestically and internationally?

Karsten Rivas: Alianza has been the best team in El Salvador for the past seven years, where they have won seven titles and played in 11 consecutive finals. They are tied for the second-most titles in El Salvadorian soccer history with 17. In the closing tournament of 2023, the Elephants are the undefeated leaders with 19 points, five wins and four draws; they have scored 13 goals and allowed two.

At the international level, in 2019, Alianza was the semifinalist of the Concacaf League and was eliminated by Olimpia of Honduras in the last minute. In 2020, in the round of 16 in CCL, they were one point from eliminating Tigres of Mexico, Alianza won 2-1 in Estadio Cuscatlán, but was eliminated 4-2 in Estadio BBVA at the last moment.

PSN: What is Alianza’s style of play? Describe their tactics.

KR: Alianza is managed by Eduardo Lara, who plays with a 4-2-2 or a 4-4-1-1, he likes to overrun the wings and play into the center; defenseman Alex Larin and winger Juan Carlos Portillo overflow well on the left wing.

PSN: Who are Alianza’s most important players? Who should Philadelphia fans be watching?

KR: Alianza has important players on all lines, but the brain is midfielder Marvis Monterrosa next to Narcios Orellana. Colombian Michel Mercado plays forward in place of Rodolfo Zelaya, who has a six-game suspension. Unfortunately, Monterrosa is injured and cannot play in CCL. Recently, Alianza defeated C.F. FAS 2-0, though Juan Carlos Portillo and Alex Larin picked up injuries.

PSN: What are your lineup and score predictions for Alianza?

KR: A possible lineup for Alianza:

                                                    25. Mario González

12. William Canales      16. Henry Romero  4. Iván Mancía     13. Alexis Renderos

8. Oscar Rodríguez  21. Marvin Monterrosa   6. Narciso Orellana  5.Isaac Portillo

                         9. Miguel Murillo    22. Rodolfo Zelaya

My prediction is that Alianza wants to play a perfect game, or that the team hopes Philadelphia will have some bad luck as with the MLS Cup Finals and the Super Bowl, but I think the most Alianza can do on Tuesday is tie. There are many differences between the North American leagues and the Cuscatlecan league in economy, structure, development, and technology.

Philadelphia Soccer Now: Para aficionados de Filadelfia que no están familiar con Alianza, dime sobre el club. ¿Como es su historia en la liga de El Salvador, y tiene éxito en competición domestica y internacional?