GUATEMALA City – Douglas Lopez scored on a late first half free kick to lift Costa Rican club Cartagines to a 1-0 victory versus Coban Imperial of Guatemala in Group A action of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup at the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
It was Cartagines’ first win of the tournament, while Coban Imperial suffered their first defeat in three matches.
Each side had some decent looks at goal in the first half. Coban Imperial’s Luis Martinez was unable to get on the end of a pass with the goal mouth open in the 32’, while Jossimar Pemberton of Cartagines had a swinging right-footed shot sail wide in the 37.
Just when it looked like the teams would be even going into the halftime dressing rooms, Lopez broke the deadlock with a well-taken free kick, sending a lowly-driven right-footed attempt through a maze of defenders and past Coban Imperial GK Minor Alvarez for a 1-0 lead in the 43’.
Coban Imperial started the second stanza in strong fashion, with Martinez having another chance at goal in the 52’ but was denied by Cartagines GK Darryl Parker.
Janderson Pereira then went wide wide in the 60’, but it was indicative of Coban Imperial’s intent to find an equalizer.
However, as time ticked away and at every turn, the Cartagines defense was there to meet the challenge and kept Coban Imperial at bay until the final whistle to secure the three points.
