ANTIGUA, Guatemala – Independiente of Panama scored two second half goals to pull away from Guatemalan side Xelaju 3-1 in Group B action of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup on Wednesday night at the Estadio Pensativo in Antigua, Guatemala.
Independiente now have four points after two matches, leapfrogging Xelaju (three points from three matches) into second place in the group.
The fans were treated to a breathless first 10 minutes, with each side finding the back of the net in the opening moments.
Independiente were first to strike, as Jorge Serrano gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 3’ with one of the best goals of the tournament to date.
Serrano gathered a pass near the touchline in the middle of the field and proceeded to shake off a crew of tugging defenders before finishing past Xelaju GK Jose Calderon for the spectacular goal.
Xelaju promptly delivered a response just minutes later in the 5’ with Juan Calderon gathering in a cross from the right wing, taking a touch and firing a shot that took a slight deflection and rippled the net to level things at 1-1.
The back and forth continued, but without another goal until the 63’, as Independiente lurched back ahead for a 2-1 advantage. Rafael Aguila attempted a shot from outside the top of the area, and as the ball was rolling through a sea of legs, Gilberto Hernandez got a slight touch on the ball and redirected it into net.
Independiente then tacked on an insurance score in the 73’ through Anthony Stewart, who had just been substituted into the match and with basically his first touch, he took a cross from Marlon Avila and whipped a header past Calderon to give the Panamanians a 3-1 lead.
Xelaju looked to pull a goal back late on and came achingly close in the 87’ on a hard hit from Cardona that smacked the crossbar and out. Independiente survived that scare and then saw out the final minutes to collect the three points.
