ESTELI, Nicaragua – Plaza Amador forward Jose Murillo knows there will be no room for respite against host Walter Ferretti in Thursday’s Scotiabank CONCACAF League quarterfinal, first leg at the Estadio Independencia.

“We are the visitor and I expect an intense match because they are going to pressure us,” Murillo said.  “We are going to try to withstand it as much as we can and if we can score first and defend well, it will be better for us to go to Panama with an advantage.”

The Leones have done their homework on a Walter Ferretti side that progressed by getting past the Belmopan Bandits in the Round of 16 (agg: 5-1).

“We’ve seen videos of Ferretti and they have good ball management,” remarked Murrillo, the joint-top scorer in the 2017 Panamanian Apertura with Chorrillo FC’s Alfredo Stephens on three goals each.  “They play down the wings and we are going to try to counteract their attack and play our game.”

Plaza Amador head coach Jair Palacios was full of praise for Ferretti, a three-time Nicaraguan champion.

“Ferretti is one of the best teams of this phase,” he said.  “I think they have good, experienced players.  They just made it through the Round of 16.  We clearly know that we are not going to play against any other team other than one of the best at this moment.