MIAMI, Florida – The semifinals of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup wrapped up last week with some great moments over the course of the four games. Here are the moments that stood out the most.

First Concacaf Final for Real Esteli

For the first time in their history, Real Esteli will play in a Concacaf Final. It is an extraordinary achievement for the Nicaraguan club, who have played a dynamic brand of football since the very start of the tournament.

Real Esteli have been a mainstay in Concacaf Champions Cup and Concacaf League play in recent years, but they had never advanced past the group stage of the Concacaf Champions Cup and only once did they advance a round in their five Concacaf League appearances. But that all changed in this Central American Cup and it has yielded history-making results, including a first Concacaf final for the club.

Campbell’s dramatic late equalizer

Veteran striker Joel Campbell of Alajuelense has been in some pressure-packed moments before in his career, and one could easily say that his penalty in second half stoppage of Alajuelense’s second leg semifinal against Herediano with his side trailing 4-3 on aggregate ranks near the top.

The 31-year-old never wavered and calmly stroked home the spot kick to bring his team level on aggregate to force a penalty shootout. Campbell was just as good in the penalty shootout by scoring the winning penalty to send Alajuelense to the Final.

Real Esteli undefeated at home

The secret ingredient to Real Esteli’s success in this Central American Cup has been their impeccable form in front of their home fans. The Pinoleros have played four matches at home in the Central American Cup and all four yielded 1-0 victories, including against Honduran giants and two-time Concacaf champions Olimpia in the group stage and then against three-time Concacaf champions Saprissa of Costa Rica in the quarterfinals.

Real Esteli did it again in the semifinals, this time absorbing the early pressure from CA Independiente of Panama and then mounting the pressure on late. It reaped great rewards with Abel Mendez finding the winning goal in second half stoppage time to give Real Esteli another clean sheet victory.

Goal-fest in all-Costa Rican series

Fireworks were expected in the semifinal between Alajuelense and Herediano, and there is no doubt that the two domestic rivals delivered. A total of eight goals were scored over the two games, the first coming from Carlos Mora of Alajuelense in the seventh minute of the first leg, ending with Joel Campbell’s equalizer in the fifth minute of second half stoppage time of the second leg.

In between, there was a span of three goals in five minutes in the first leg and in the second leg alone, each side held the advantage in the series. It was as riveting of a Concacaf series as fans will ever see.