Deserved triumph. Plaza Amador from Panama won 2-1 against Luis Ángel Firpo from El Salvador and remains in the fight for classification in Group “A” of the Concacaf Central American Cup, in a match that they controlled and that they concluded with goals from Jimar Sánchez and Julio Rodríguez.
The Salvadoran Firpo took the initiative from the opening whistle and sought to disturb the rival goal against a Panamanian rival who, in the first minutes, seemed uncomfortable defending near their goal.
The first clear chance came in the 4th minute, when Styven Vásquez had two consecutive opportunities to open the scoring, although he failed to finish both times. Five minutes later, the “canalero” goalkeeper Marcos Allen left a rebound in the area that Rafael Águila connected with a header, but the ball went over the crossbar.
“Los Leones” from Plaza Amador reacted in the 20th minute with a shot by Everardo Rose that was contained by visiting goalkeeper Felipe Amaya.
Those led by Mario Méndez maintained the offensive momentum and, in the 39th minute, Amaya avoided the goal with a great intervention against a powerful shot by Ángel Valencia. Three minutes later, the Cuscatleco goalkeeper responded again with another save against a shot from Rose.
The insistence of the three-time Panamanian champion was rewarded in the 42nd minute, when Eric Davis executed a corner kick from the right that Jimar Sánchez connected with a header to deflect the ball into the back of the net from the opposite post and establish the 1-0.
In the second half, Plaza Amador assumed control, monopolized possession of the ball and generated the clearest chances against a Firpo who lost prominence.
The first big opportunity came in the 52nd minute, when Omar Córdoba took a shot that hit the crossbar and was close to extending the lead.
Three minutes later, Héctor Ríos overtook the right wing and took a shot that hit the post.
Firpo did not clearly cause concern again until the 81st minute, when Styven Vásquez tried with a shot that was well controlled by Marcos Allen, who kept Plaza Amador’s advantage intact.
The local team’s superiority was rewarded in the 87th minute. Alberto “Chiquitín” Quintero filtered a pass for Julio Rodríguez, who entered the area and defined with a subtle touch over Amaya to make it 2-0.
Already in added time, Firpo’s “Los Toros” closed the gap, in the 94th minute, with a powerful mid-range shot from Mauricio Cerritos that beat goalkeeper Allen and declared the final 2-1 but could not avoid defeat.
With this result, Plaza Amador has 3 points in the Group “A” table, after the second day of the Copa Sudamericana, while Firpo has no points with one match played.
This sector is led by the Liga Deportiva Alajuelense of Costa Rica with 6 units after beating Diriangén Fútbol Club of Nicaragua 3-1 as a visitor, which was left with 3 digits. The group is completed by Xelajú from Guatemala, which has 0 points after a match.
This is how they aligned
– Amador Square (2): Mark Allen; Omar Córdoba, Jimar Sánchez, Héctor Ríos (m.79, Jorlian Sánchez), Eric Davis; Daivis Murillo (m.81, Yoameth Murillo), Abdul Knight, Rudy Yearwood, Ángel Valencia (m.67, Joel Lara); Ricardo Phillips (m.67, Alberto Quintero) and Everardo Rose (m.79, Julio Rodríguez).
– Coach: Mario Mendez.
– Luis Ángel Firpo (1): Felipe Amaya; Wilber Arizala, Lizandro Claros, Mauricio Cerritos, Jonathan Jiménez (m.80, Elmer Rodriguez); Marlon Cornejo, Víctor García (m.46, Bryan Landaverde), Rafael Águila (m.74, Mauro Gonzalez); Nelson Díaz (m.60, Diego Ortez), Styven Vásquez and Michell Mercado (m.60, Óscar Cerén).
– Coach: Marvin Solano.
– Goals: 1-0, m.44: Jimar Sánchez. 2-0, m.87: Julio Rodríguez. 2-1, m.94: Mauricio Cerritos.
– Referee: Jonathan Leiton, from Costa Rica, admonished Jimar Sánchez, Rudy Yearwood, Julio Rodríguez and Lizandro Claros.
– Incidents: Group “A” match of the Central American Cup played at the Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez stadium, east of the capital of Panama.
