By Jason Lind (@JasonKLind)

Andrés Flores and El Salvador left little to chance on Tuesday night in the return leg of a World Cup qualifier against Curaçao at Estadio Cuscatlán. Nine minutes in Salvadorian fullback Alex Larín drilled a free kick from 35 yards out towards the left edge of the box, where Jonathan Barrios used his head to redirect the ball into the lower left corner of the net for the game’s lone goal.

The series finished 2-0 on aggregate for La Selecta ; they beat Curaçao in Willemstad, the Caribbean island nation’s capital, by a 1-0 scoreline on September 4. Flores started and went the full 90 minutes in each contest, guiding his team into Round 4 of qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. El Salvador bowed out in Round 3 of CONCACAF’s 2014 World Cup qualification, drawn into a difficult group that included Mexico and Costa Rica.

An integral part of his country’s soccer success on the international stage, “El Ruso” often serves as captain for his national team. Tuesday’s breakthrough was the latest in a fine run of form for the Cosmos’ agile central midfielder. New York is 5-2-0 (WDL) in its last seven NASL matches with Flores in the starting lineup.

He netted his second goal of the season on August 30, a day before his 25^th birthday, linking up with Raúl and Ayoze on a seamless set piece against the Carolina RailHawks in the match’s second minute. The Cosmos would go on to win 3-2.

“I’ve been working since the beginning of the year to get a starting spot,” Flores told NYCosmos.com. “Now I’ve got the chance, and I’ve had a few good games. I’m happy for that.

“I’d like to be able to help the team in many ways, so that’s what I’m going to keep doing. And I hope the results can be positive for us.”

Cosmos head coach Giovanni Savarese has a bevy of quality selections he can make in his central midfield when all are healthy. Flores has run alongside Marcos Senna, Danny Szetela, Adam Moffat and even Raúl in the heart of the pitch.

“This is a good problem for us to have,” Savarese said to the media after the victory against the RailHawks. “We start with the view that everyone on the roster can be a starter. I think every single player can perform at that level.”

The Cosmos dropped only their second match of this NASL Season on Saturday – 2-0 in Florida against the Tampa Bay Rowdies – while Flores was away on international duty. He is scheduled to return to New York today. The Cosmos take on Jacksonville Armada FC this Saturday, September 12 at Shuart Stadium.

Meanwhile El Salvador continues its quest for its first World Cup berth since 1982. The Salvadorians enter Round 4 grouped with Mexico again plus Honduras and Canada, needing to finish in the top two to make the fifth and final round of qualifying.

CONCACAF World Cup qualifying play resumes in November, the same month in which the Cosmos will begin their postseason run for a seventh NASL Championship. Flores may have even more to be thankful for come Thanksgiving.