SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras – In a battle of teams playing in their first ever Concacaf match, Guatemala’s Coban Imperial defeated Jocoro of El Salvador 4-1 in Group A of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup on Tuesday night at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Anthony Lopez had a goal and an assist, while Luis Martinez scored and drew a penalty to lead the way for the Guatemalans.
Coban Imperial could not have asked for a better start, as Martinez scored in the 7’ to hand his side an early 1-0 lead. Lopez flighted in a cross from the left flank and Martinez got to the ball a split-second ahead of Jocoro GK Oscar Sanchez, redirecting into net for the score.
Coban Imperial kept mounting the pressure and their efforts would pay off before halftime as Lopez, in his first appearance with the club, settled a ball that had deflected to his feet and fired a shot into net to make it 2-0 in the 42’.
Things remained in Coban Imperial’s favor as play drifted into the second half and after Martinez was fouled in the Jocoro area, Janderson Pereira stepped up and calmly converted the resulting penalty for a 3-0 lead in the 51’.
But a big moment came in the 64’ that gave Jocoro a chance to get back into the match. Attacker Henrry Ventura was taken down in the box by DF Thales Moreira, resulting in a penalty and a second yellow card and sending off for Moreira. Luis Acuna scored the penalty, drawing Jocoro to within 3-1 and with a man advantage for nearly a full half-hour.
Suddenly, it was Jocoro playing with a spring in their step, but Coban Imperial had an answer and back they came with an Anllel Porras header in the 71’ to restore their three-goal cushion at 4-1, which held until the final whistle.
