SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Alejandro Bran scored a pair of goals to help lead Costa Rican side Herediano to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Real Espana of Honduras in Group C of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup on Wednesday night at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica.
With the win, Herediano sit atop the group with seven points, one ahead of Comunicaciones, while Real Espana are still searching for their first result after two matches.
The goal-scoring fireworks did not start until after the first half-hour, with the visiting Hondurans striking first in the 35’ through Darixon Vuelto, whose left-footed laser from well outside the area handed Real Espana a 1-0 lead.
The response from Herediano was almost immediate, and it was a one-two punch. The equalizer came in the 43’ courtesy of Bran, who produced a spectacular goal of his own by taking a knocked down corner kick off his chest and volleying home a shot to even the score at 1-1.
Less than two minutes later it was 2-1 to Herediano when Ronaldo Araya snuck in behind the Real Espana defense and headed home a cross from the right wing inside the near post.
Real Espana were unfazed by Herediano’s two-goal burst and answered in the 62’ from Daniel Carter, who muscled through a pair of Herediano defenders to head into net for a 2-2 game.
But back came Herediano and Bran would find the winning goal in the 70’ when he received a pass from Araya with the ball slightly behind him, managed to control it and fired into net to deliver the 3-2 victory for the home side.
