El Salvador women’s national team coach Eric Acuna just publicly blasted his own players and stripped them of privileges, throwing “La Selecta” into chaos a month before their critical Concacaf W Championship quarterfinal match against the USWNT. This isn’t just a tough talk; it’s a full-blown meltdown after a pair of disastrous friendly losses.
Two Losses, Two Red Cards, Total Meltdown
The controversy ignited after El Salvador dropped two friendly matches to Paraguay in the October international window. The first game was a brutal 5-1 defeat, and that’s when Acuna first started making some seriously “controversial comments” about his squad. But things went from bad to worse in the second match, a 3-2 loss that ended in absolute pandemonium.
El Salvador actually jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to goals from Brenda Ceren and Danya Gutierrez. You’d think they had it in the bag, right? WRONG. Paraguay pulled one back early in the second half, and then the wheels completely fell off. Nicolle Amaya got a second yellow and was sent off, giving Paraguay a player advantage. They capitalized immediately with an equalizer. And if that wasn’t enough drama, Gutierrez then got her own second yellow, reducing El Salvador to NINE players. With a two-player advantage, Paraguay’s Monserrat Ayala netted the game-winner in the 80th minute, leaving La Selecta unable to rally. It was an absolute gut punch, and the kind of collapse that screams trouble.
Acuna’s “Retaliation” And The Stripped Perks
After that second loss, Acuna didn’t hold back. He “doubled down on his comments” from the previous match, telling the press that his team’s effort was flat-out “poor” and they didn’t have a “clear enough focus” on the games ahead. And his immediate response? “Retaliation” against his own players. He revoked all “off-camp privileges” immediately, right there between the two matches. Imagine getting that news from your coach after a crushing defeat. It’s a stark sign of just how frustrated Acuna is with his team’s performance and discipline.
This whole mess sets a wild stage for the upcoming Concacaf W Championship in November. The tournament is huge; it’s a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and even for spots in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The USWNT, coming off their own mixed results against Spain (a 2-0 loss and a 2-2 draw), drew El Salvador in the quarterfinals. While Canada faces Panama, Mexico plays Haiti, and Jamaica takes on Costa Rica, all eyes will be on how El Salvador responds to their coach’s public dressing-down. This isn’t just about winning a game; it’s about whether “La Selecta” can pull it together under immense pressure and internal turmoil, or if Acuna’s drastic moves will backfire on the biggest stage.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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