TEGUCIGALPA – Yostin Obando scored deep into second half stoppage time to deliver a 3-2 victory to Honduran side Olancho against Verdes of Belize in Group D action of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup on Wednesday evening the Estadio Chelato Ucles in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
The result keeps Olancho alive in the tournament with three points through three games, while Verdes’ campaign has come to a close after four matches.
Verdes jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 6’ thanks to some clever playmaking Edwin Villeda, whose surgical pass into the area allowed for a strong finish from Joel Burgos.
Olancho quickly got back on level terms in the 17’, with Cristhian Altamirano flighting in a pass that met the streaking Carlos Fernandez, who headed into net for Olancho’s first ever Concacaf goal and a 1-1 scoreline.
The match stayed wide open as the first half progressed, with both teams presented with chances to take the lead.
Olancho would be the ones to take advantage, grabbing a 2-1 advantage in the 39’ when a header was nodded down in the area and Oscar Almendarez calmly pushed a shot home to give the Honduran side their first lead in the tournament.
Verdes weren’t about to throw in the towel and a stinging shot from Krisean Lopez in the 62’ required a reaction save from Olancho GK Roberto Lopez.
The Verdes attacker would get a second chance at it and didn’t miss the second time, as he slipped past a defender and slotted a shot right in between the legs of the Olancho GK and into net to pull Verdes level 2-2 in the 68’.
Just when it looked like it would end with a share of the spoils, Obando managed to split a pair of Verdes defenders in the area and finished to earn his side a dramatic 3-2 victory.
