The week started off roughly for the Central American club. Collectively, they only saw one victory out of six contests in the opening week of CONCACAF Champions League group play. Marathon of Honduras was the lone winner, edging visiting Seattle, 2-1, while the other five earned two draws and suffered three defeats against North American opposition. Olimpia rallied for a 1-1 draw in Puerto Rico and FAS registered a stunning scoreless draw against visiting Toluca. Saprissa fell in Mexico to Monterrey, 2-1, and MLS hosts Columbus and Real Salt Lake downed Municipal, 1-0, and Arabe Unido, 2-1, in their respective matches.
Costa Rica
8/21 – Barrio Mexico 0-0 Santos de Guapiles
The wet artificial turf made for a difficult contest as the two clubs squared off. Barrio Mexico’s Francisco Flores was sent off seven minutes into the second stanza, but 16 minutes later the situation was balanced as Fernando Sequeira was shown red just five minutes after entering the contest.
8/21 – Herediano 3-1 Deportivo Saprissa
An weak early shot from Jose Sanchez was easily knocked out of play by goalkeeper Fausto Gonzalez, but the subsequent corner found its way to Roberth Arias, whose header opened the scoring. Two penalty kick goals from Froylan Ledezma in the second half sealed the victory as Alejandro Sequeira’s strike came too late for Saprissa. Scoring – HER: Roberth Arias 6; HER: Froylan Ledezma (penalty) 71; HER: Froylan Ledezma (penalty) 80; SAP: Alejandro Sequeira 85
8/22 – Perez Zeledon 0-1 Alajuelense
The host side nearly got on the board in a match mired in the midfield much of the game, but Rafael Gayton’s penalty in the 65th minute was not good enough and left the match scoreless. Seven minutes later Pablo Gabas sent a long ball to Diego Estrada, who fed Marco Urena for what stood as the winner with a late headed corner going off the crossbar that could have tied the game in the final seconds. Scoring – ALA: Marco Urena 72
8/22 – Puntarenas 3-0 Universidad de Costa Rica
The home side got on the board first when Rafael Nunez headed a Rafael Viquez corner past the netminder. Viquez then took the scoring role upon himself with two late goals to wrap up the victory. Arial Santana connected with Viquez in the 73rd and beat Warner Hernandez again eight minutes later, chesting down a Pedro Leal pass and firing it home. Scoring – PUN: Rafael Nunez 18; PUN: Mario Viquez 73; PUN: Mario Viquez 81
8/22 – Brujas 3-3 Cartagines
Twelve minutes into the contest Andres Nunez stole the ball and beat back-up goalkeeper Luis Torres from a narrow angle for the opening strike for the home side. Torres came up big with a save, sending a Pablo Brenes shot off the crossbar, but in the 34th minute Bryan Vega went down the right before sending the ball to Cristian Lagos to double the lead. Moments later, though, at the other end Lagos handled the ball on a Franco Basso header, sending Randall Brenes to the spot and closing the gap. Another three minutes later Brenes equaled the first half score from the spot again. Josimer Arias put the hosts back on top in the 53rd on a free kick. Cartagines answered seven from time on a corner kick scramble with the loose ball coming to Eduardo Valverde for the equalizer. Scoring – BRU: Andres Nunez 12; BRU: Cristian Lagos 32; CAR: Randall Brenes (penalty) 34; CAR: Randall Brenes (penalty) 40; BRU: Jorge Arias 53; CAR: Eduardo Valverde 83
8/22 – Limon 2-0 San Carlos
Newcomer Evance Benwell made quite a splash in his debut, scoring off a cross from the left past Donny Grant 14 minutes into the contest. Dominated by the home side from the opening minute, Limon was unable to secure the win until the fourth minute of stoppage time when Kenny Mitchell took advantage of an error and blasted a shot past Grant. Scoring – LIM: Evance Benwell 14; LIM: Kenny Mitchell 94+
El Salvador
8/21 – Universidad de El Salvador 1-1 Firpo
After a scoreless first half, Rafael Burgos snapped the stalemate with a long-range effort in the 57th minute. The hosts escaped defeat two minutes from time when Eliseo Quintanilla collected a cross from the right and sent it inside the far post. Scoring – UES: Rafael Burgos 57; FIR: Eliseo Quintanilla 88
8/21 – FAS 1-2 Isidro Metapan
The visiting side did well to manage a rain-soaked pitch while the hosts were fresh off a stunning 1-1 draw against Toluca in Champions League action midweek. An error allowed the visitors to take an early lead as Emerson Umana sent a short corner to Paolo Suarez, who took a surprise shot from outside the box that slipped through the wet gloves of the keeper. FAS fought back in the 56th when Manuel Salazar was left open inside the box to tie the match. In the 66th, FAS defender Mordecai Henriquez was sent off for a second yellow on a foul in the box, but the ensuing penalty was sent high by Umana. He would get a second chance on a handball in stoppage time, this time finding the back of the net. Scoring – IM: Paolo Suarez 8; FAS: Manuel Salazar 56; IM: Emerson Umana 94+
8/21 – Aguila 0-2 Alianza
Defender Mauricio Quintanilla gave the visitors the lead 21 minutes into the contest, heading in a corner from Herbert Sosa. Alianza capped the victory on the road with a strike from Abraham Amaya four minutes into stoppage time. Scoring – ALI: Mauricio Quintanilla 21; ALI: Abraham Amaya 94+
8/22 – Atletico Balboa 2-2 Vista Hermosa
Looking for their first win, the hosts found themselves fighting to erase a deficit twice in the match, earning a third draw in four outings. Javier Hernandez put the visitors on the board first and looked to be headed to the win before Juan Campos finally found an equalizer with 10 minutes left. The celebration was short-lived though as Vista Hermosa’s John Castillo re-established the advantage within two minutes. Campos, though, came to the rescue again in the 90th minute. Scoring – VH: Javier Hernandez 30; AB: Juan Campos 80; VH: John Castillo 82; AB: Juan Campos 90
8/22 – Atletico Marte 0-1 Once Municipal
A match mired in mud was determined just three minutes into the contest as Ramon Flores surprised the hosts for an early lead that would stand as the winner. The score came on a fantastic play in which Carlos Asprilla played the ball back to Diego Chavarrio, who dummied as the ball came to Flores for the lone strike. The pitch affected the rest of the match, which saw a pair of Atletico Marte goals nullified as they tried to rally. Scoring – OM: Ramon Flores 3
Guatemala
8/21 – Comunicaciones 2-2 Marquense
Edgar Chinchilla’s header opened the scoring between the two rivals as his goal in the 35th was the lone strike of the half. In the 50th minute, Comunicactiones nearly went up two when Rolando Fonseca sent a shot off the crossbar only to see Marquense quickly drive down the pitch in a counter finishing with Francisco Aguilar flying down the right flank and sending a cross in to Jhony Ruiz, who headed in the equalizer. Four minutes later Fredy Thompson fired a rebound in from outside the area to retake the lead. Marquense would earn the road draw in the 66th when converted a penalty after a handball in the box. Scoring – COM: Edgar Chinchilla 35; MAR: Jhony Ruiz 51; COM: Fredy Thompson 55; MAR: Israel Donis (penalty) 66
8/21 – Xelaju 2-1 Juventud Retalteca
The hosts took the early advantage via Martin Crossa 16 minutes into the contest. The crowd was silenced by an immediate answer from Jorge Estrada to level terms. Eight minutes before the break Israel Silva put Xelaju back in front. A second half stalemate near finished with a dramatic tie only to see a stoppage time equalizer negated for offside. Scoring – XEL: Nelson Crossa 16; JR: Jorge Estrada 17; XEL: Israel Silva 37
8/22 – Mictlan 1-0 Universidad San Carlos
Knowing Marquense stood atop the table from the day before, Mictlan moved into a share for the lead 34 minutes into the contest on the work of Mario Pineyro. Scoring – MIC: Mario Pineyro 34
8/22 – Suchitepequez 2-0 Penarol La Mesilla
In a showdown of two of the league’s cellar dwellers, the hosts came out on top of the rain-damaged field. Josimer Nascimento gave Suchitepequez the lead 12 minutes in and Evandro Ferreira doubled it 13 minutes into the second frame. The visitors effort to rally was squelched in the 63rd when Santiago Morandi stopped a penalty kick by Moctezuma Serrato. Scoring – SUC: Josimer Nascimento 12; SUC: Evandro Ferreira 58
8/22 – Xinabajul 2-0 Municipal
Erick Priego gave the hosts the advantage in the 47th minute and Gustavo Betancour connected on a long range free kick in the 66th that left the goalkeeper Jaime Penedo standing and watching it go in. Scoring – XIN: Erick Priego 47; XIN: Gustavo Betancourt 66
8/22 – Heredia 0-0 Malacateco
Heredia dominated, in part, by Mario Castellanos, but were unable to find a way past Malacateco netminder Ricardo Alberto Trigueno Foster. The scoreless draw kept both clubs within three points of the leaders.
Honduras
8/21 – Vida 1-1 Victoria
Jerry Bengtson gave the hosts the lead, but the visitors answered when Samir Arzu’s shot from the right took advantage of a goalkeeping error. Scoring – VID: Jerry Bengtson 27; VIC: Samir Arzu 55
8/22 - Hispanio 1-2 Platense
After falling behind to the hosts in the first half, Platense rallied with a great play finished by Quiarol Arzu five minutes into the second half and grabbed the victory nine minutes later off the head of Juan Carcamo to move into second in the table. Scoring – HIS: Pompilio Cacho 37; PLA: Quiarol Arzu 50; Juan Carcamo 59
8/22 – Necaxa 3-1 Deportes Savio
The newly-promoted Necaxa remained perfect and sit atop the table as Ruben Licona’s goal, his league-leading fourth, in the 23rd minute led to a 2-1 halftime lead and held as the winner. Ruben Matamoros, who opened the scoring, added a second as they pushed their league-leading goal total to eight. Scoring – NEC: Ruben Matamoros 6; DS: Juan Mejia 7; NEC: Ruben Licona 23; NEC: Ruben Matamoros 67
8/22 – Marathon 1-0 Motagua
The two Champions League sides squared off without a win between them and as it appeared they would finish that way still, Randy Diamond took advantage of a poor clearance to give Marathon the win in the final seconds of the contest.Scoring – MAR: Randy Diamond 92+
8/22 – Olimpia 2-2 Real Espana
Olimpia, fresh off a midweek Champions League draw in Puerto Rico, led twice in their return home only to see errors allow Real Espana back into the match. Scoring – OLI: Andres Copete 16; RE: Christian Martinez 29; OLI: Roger Rojas 42; RE: Mario Martinez 71
Panama
Arabe Unido maintained their status as the league leaders with a 3-2 road victory over Plaza Amador Saturday while a battle of winless clubs also finished in favor of the visitors with San Francisco edging Alianza 2-1. The night before, Tauro remained the only other unbeaten with their third draw in four matches, playing 2-2 with Atletico Chiriqui while Chorrillo briefly moved into a tie with Arabe Unido by blanking Atletico Veraguense, 2-0. The weekend finished with a 1-1 draw between Chepo and Sporting San Miguelit
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