Alianza FC challenged the New York Red Bulls down in El Salvador on the first occasion these teams met in CONCACAF Champions League. It was a tough game for RBNY. They came home with a point and a better understanding of their opponent. The return leg, however, brought a fresh challenge: a new head coach for Alianza, Milton Melendez, and a team reinvigorated by the desire to impress him in only his third match in charge.
Alianza proved hard to subdue at Red Bull Arena, but RBNY finally pulled away with a last-minute goal to snatch the win, 1-0.