MIAMI, Florida – Comunicaciones topped Costa Rica’s Cartagines 5-4 in a penalty shootout to qualify for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup after playing to a 1-1 second leg draw in the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup Play-In on Tuesday night at the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
The 1-1 draw resulted in a 2-2 draw on aggregate, and ultimately it was the Cremas who emerged with the Champions Cup ticket via spot kicks.
It was a good start for Comunicaciones, who when they lost possession, quickly won the ball back and had Cartagines pegged back in their own area.
The pressure bore fruit in the 27’ and it yielded a 1-0 lead to Comunicaciones when Jorman Aguilar collected a ball on the right flank, cut back to his left and unfurled a buzzing left-footed shot that beat Cartagines GK Kevin Briceno for the goal.
Cartagines came out with a purpose to start the second half and good work from Marcel Hernandez led to a foul in the area and a penalty. Hernandez stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly stroked it home to even the match at 1-1 and the aggregate at 2-2.
The momentum was with Cartagines and a goal-bound header from Jostin Daly off a corner kick in the 62’ had to cleared off the line by Juan Anangono.
Each team had a golden opportunity to win it late, with Comunicaciones coming close on a Karel Espino long-range shot that hit the crossbar in the 86’ and then Hernandez spoiling a one-on-one with Comunicaciones GK Fredy Perez in the 89’.
The 1-1 draw forced the two sides to extra time where Comunicaciones had the best cracks at goal, both through Anangono; first off the crossbar and then a header saved by Briceno.
Matters had to be settled in penalties, and Perez proved decisive with two saves to help Comunicaciones win 5-4.
