Unlike their North American counterparts, the Champions League sides still representing Central America in the tournament performed well domestically prior to the third week of the Group Phase with an overall record of 2-2-2.
The two losses were understandable, in the case of Olimpia, and not surprising, in respect to FAS. Olimpia was edged by Platense, who moved into the league lead in Honduras. FAS, however, has struggled mightily in El Salvador league play and dropped its match to one-win Universidad de El Salvador, remaining in last.
Costa Rica
Saturday, September 11
Barrio Mexico 1-0 Limon
Leaders of the group, the host side extended its unbeaten streak to four games with a third consecutive win on a 50th minute strike from Maykol Ortiz despite playing a man short since the send-off of William Phillips for slapping the face of an opponent in the 41st minute. Scoring – BM: Maykol Ortiz 50
Deportivo Saprissa 4-1 Perez Zeledon
A perfectly place shot from Walter Centeno outside the box gave the hosts the advantage after just six minutes, but found the match even at the break as Evera Alfaro headed in a corner on the half-hour mark. A foul in the area allowed Alejandro Sequeira to restore the lead in the 68th from the spot and Josue Martinez locked up the win with two goals four minutes apart, escaping the defense in the 75th and heading in his second with a looper. Scoring – SAP: Walter Centeno 6, Alejandro Sequeira pen 68, Josue Martinez 75, 79… PZ: Ever Alfaro 30
Herediano 1-1 Santos de Guapiles
The visitors took the initial lead 19 minute in on an excellent shot from Hercules Cardoso. The winless streak from Santos de Guapiles, however, hit four as Victor Nunez got his head on the ball two minutes into first half stoppage time to pull level, moving Herediano, whose Jose Cancela hit the post on a 90th minute free kick, into second in the group. Scoring – HER: Victor Nunez 47+… SG: Hercules Cardoso 19
Sunday, September 12
Universidad de Costa Rica 0-1 Alajuelense
Riding a five-game win streak, visiting Alajuelense squeaked out its sixth against the league’s last place side with a solitary strike from Argenis Fernandez 10 minutes in. Scoring – ALA: Argenis Fernandez 10
Cartagines 3-1 Puntarenas
Two unanswered goals kept Cartagines in pace with group leader Barrio Mexico, posting its fourth straight in an unbeaten run. Delayed by a pre-match storm, the hosts wasted little time taking the lead as an excellent team play resulted in the Diego Pais leader 11 minutes in. The visitors nearly tied it up from the spot in the 34th, but Luis Torres stopped the shot from Mario Viquez. The equalizer did come, however, three minutes before the break on a header from Emmanuel Gaytan. Pais got a second two minutes into the second half on a loose ball in the area and Randall Brenes added insurance from the spot in the 58th. Five minutes later Bryan Zamora made a penalty save of his own, denying Esteban Granados. Scoring – CAR: Diego Pais 11, 47, Randall Brenes pen 58… PUN: Emmanuel Gaytan 42
Brujas 0-0 San Carlos
With Herediano playing to a draw the day before, San Carlos missed out on an opportunity to move into second of their group, but had to settle for remaining level. The stalemate, plagued with poor play and errant shots, left Brujas three points back in fourth.
El Salvador
Saturday, September 11
Universidad de El Salvador 2-1 FAS
The struggles for FAS continued as the club suffered its fourth defeat in five games, falling to one-win UES, which is on a run of three games without a loss with the victory. Scoring – UES: Rafael Burgos 29, Harold Alas 44… FAS: Alejandro Bentos 62
Aguila 4-1 Isidro Metapan
Shaw Martin beat two defenders to give the hosts the advantage 22 minutes in and Patricio Gomez scored the first of three in the 36th with a soft tap. A poor tackle in the 50th saw Hector Mejia expelled for Isidro Metapan, which still managed to find a goal through Mark Blanco in the 61st. But that was match was put our of reach with Gomez adding two more in the final 10 minutes. Scoring – AGU: Shaw Martin 22, Patricio Gomez 36, 83, 93+… IM: Mark Blanco 61
Sunday, September 12
Atletico Balboa 2-0 Alianza
Alianza’s first loss of the year came at the hands of last-place Atletico Balboa, the league’s lone remaining winless side. The result allowed two clubs to move ahead in the table, dropping the club from second to fourth. Scoring – AB: Luis Torres 3, Juan Campos 88
Atletico Marte 0-2 Firpo
The visitors took the lead in the 17th minute when an initial effort from Erick Scott was denied but fell to Hermes Martinez for a subtle finish. Scott would find his own tally in the 56th to double the lead when he scored from inside the area. Scoring – FIR: Hermes Martinez 17, Erick Scott 56
Once Municipal 0-0 Vista Hermosa
A clash of mid-table sides with identical records resulted in a scoreless stalemate, extending the matching unbeaten runs to four games, both at 2-2-0.
Guatemala
Saturday, September 11
Municipal 1-0 Mictlan
A narrow victory enabled Municipal to take sole possession of first as the two other sides, Juventud Retalteca and Comunicaciones played to a stalemate. The winner came in controversial fashion as Juan Jose Castillo tricked the referee into awarding a penalty which Guillermo Ramirez converted on 65 minutes. Scoring – MUN: Guillermo Ramirez pen 65
Universidad San Carlos 1-1 Marquense
Last-place USC prevented Marquense from moving into a tie for second with a late Erwin Aguilar Elias strike 12 minutes from time for the draw. The goal cancelled out Jonny Brown’s great individual effort in the 25th minute. Scoring – USC: Erwin Aguilar Elias 78… MAR: Jonny Brown 25
Xinabajul 0-2 Heredia
The visitors cluttered the middle of the table even more with the surprise victory, scoring twice in the final half hour to become one of nine teams within a four-point span ranging from second to 10th in the league. Scoring – HER: Henry Hernandez 64, Johny Leonardo 74
Sunday, September 12
Juventud Retalteca 1-1 Comunicaciones
The two sides were part of a three-way tie for first entering the match, but the result left both level for second as Municipal posted a win. Deadlocked at the half, Edgar Chinchilla gave the visitors the lead on a mid-range effort eight minutes into the second half, but Raul Gonzalez answered in the 66th. Scoring – JR: Raul Gonzalez 66… COM: Edgar Chinchilla 53
Malacateco 0-0 Penarol La Mesilla
The visitors finished a third consecutive without a loss, but are still only two points out of being in last after earning the draw against Malacateco, which is unbeaten in the last five games.
Xelaju 0-1 Suchitepequez
A last-minute Julio Estacuy own goal off a corner clearance proved costly for Xelaju as it kept the club from moving into sole possession of second place as the three clubs between them and the leader played to draws. Scoring – SUC: Own goal 89
Honduras
Friday, September 10
Marathon 0-0 Necaxa
The promoted darlings played the powerhouse Marathon side to a surprising draw, leaving Necaxa without a win in three and allowing Platense to grab sole possession of first.
Saturday, September 11
Vida 2-2 Motagua
Both sitting just ahead of last, neither was able to make a significant jump as they exchanged goals. The visitors twice replied to level the match to extend their unbeaten run to three games. Scoring – VID: Milton Ruiz 12, Jorge Lozano 86… MOT: Shannon Welcome 66, Roger Mondragon 87
Sunday, September 12
Deportes Savio 1-0 Victoria
A foul in the 46th minute proved the difference as the restart resulted in Julian Rapalo beating the keeper for the winner. The result moved Deportes Savio, winless in the previous three, into the middle of the table and halted Victoria’s four-game unbeaten streak. Scoring – DS: Julian Rapalo 46
Olimpia 0-1 Platense
A 20th minute penalty kick converted by Michel Rivera propelled Platense into sole possession of first as Olimpia suffered its first loss of the year after playing to four consecutive draws in league play. Scoring – PLA: Michel Rivera pen 20
Hispano 1-3 Real Espana
Alfredo Mejia’s free kick opened the scoring after 70 minutes of deadlock and Luis Lobo doubled the advantage with a blasted effort five minutes later. Oscar Torlacoff answered, but it was not enough as Mejia raced into the area and scored with five minutes left. Scoring – HIS: Oscar Torlacoff 79… RE: Alfredo Mejia 70, 85, Luis Lobo 75
Panama
Friday, September 10
Chorrillo 1-0 Chepo
The home side used a penalty for a key win that put the club into a tie for first as leaders Arabe Unido were unable to earn maximum points the following day. Chorrillo is now unbeaten in five. The loss kept Chepo from securing second. Scoring – CHO: Engin Mitre pen 21
Atletico Veraguense 1-4 Alianza
Alianza ended a five-game winless stretch, posting a big victory over the ninth place side. Scoring – AV: Marcos Aparicio 37… ALI: Cesar Medina 31, Own goal 45, Wilmer Lopez 59, Yairo Yau 60
Saturday, September 11
Atletico Chiriqui 1-1 Arabe Unido
The league lead slipped away from Arabe Unido as Atletico Chiriqui, winless since the opener, earned its four draw in five games on a late goal that negated the early opener for the Champions League side. Scoring – AC: Gabriel de Los Rios 79… AU: Luis Jaramilo 5
Sporting San Miguelito 0-1 San Francisco
The visitors extended their unbeaten run to five games, leaping over their hosts to move into third by a point. Scoring – SF: Gabriel Torres 67
Sunday, September 12
Tauro 2-0 Plaza Amador
Tauro ended a three-game winless run with a victory over the last-place side, which dropped its fourth consecutive contest. Scoring – TAU: Luis Renteria 38, Temistocles Perez 86
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