GUATEMALA – Costa Rican club Herediano rallied from a second half deficit to defeat Comunicaciones of Guatemala 2-1 and capture Group C of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup on Wednesday night at the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
With the victory, Herediano win the group with 10 points, while Comunicaciones finish in second place with nine points.
It was hardly the start that Comunicaciones were looking for, as just five minutes into the encounter they found themselves down a man when Rodrigo Saravia was sent off with a straight red card.
But the Cremas responded to that bit of adversity with aplomb and pulled ahead 1-0 in the 22’ when Anderson Ortiz slipped in a pass to Jorman Aguilar, who ran onto it perfectly and fired in a left-footed shot at the near post.
Herediano still had the man advantage though, and started pegging Comunicaciones back with chances. Elias Aguilar came closest to scoring for the visiting Ticos with the last kick of the first half, as his free kick hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out.
Herediano kept pushing to start the second half and the 1-1 equalizer arrived in the 55’ off the right-foot of 17-year-old Andy Rojas, who received a short pass and one-timed a shot into net.
The goal gave Herediano a spark and they would kick on to grab a 2-1 lead in the 74’ when Ronaldo Araya polished off a one-two combination with a shot that deflected off the hand of Comunicaciones GK Arnold Barrios and into net for the score.
Comunicaciones committed numbers forward in the final minutes in search of a draw and substitute Andres Lezcano looked set to bring his side level in the final minute with a header from point-blank range, only for Herediano GK Aaron Cruz to deliver, arguably, the best saves of the tournament to secure the three points.
