MIAMI – The 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup continues with CD Olimpia hosting CS Cartaginés in the Second Leg of their Quarter Finals series on Thursday at Estadio José de la Paz Herrera Uclés in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

CD Olimpia enters with the lead after a 2-1 win in the First Leg. Michael Chirinos and Jorge Benguché were on target for the Honduran club in the win. The goal was Benguché’s fifth, placing him in a tie in the Top Scorers race.

Los Leones are unbeaten in their last six games in the CCAC. It is Olimpia’s longest unbeaten run in the competition. The club has scored two or more goals in the last five games.

CS Cartaginés will have the objective of rewriting history by turning the series around, as no team has advanced in the competition after losing the first leg at home in any round in the Knockout Stage. Marco Ureña scored the Costa Rican side’s goal in the first leg and is also tied for the Top Scorer Award with five goals.

The away goals rule will be used as the first tiebreaker for a draw on aggregate. Only a 2-1 win for Cartaginés would trigger Extra Time and potentially penalties, if necessary.

Milestones & Records from the First Leg

Michaell Chirinos of CD Olimpia scored the 450th goal in the history of the Concacaf Central American Cup, netting his fourth goal overall in the tournament and second with Olimpia. His other two goals were scored while playing for Deportivo Saprissa in 2023.

 

 

Jorge Benguché reached goals in the competition, tying Johan Venegas for second place on the all-time scoring list. Both trails only Agustín Auzmendi, who leads with 11 goals.

Marco Ureña scored his fifth CCAC goal, all with CS Cartaginés, tying Johan Venegas as the club’s top historical scorers in the competition.

Olimpia wins in Costa Rica after nearly 21 years

CD Olimpia earned its second-ever away win in a first-leg match in Costa Rica against a Costa Rican club in any international tournament. The last time they achieved that feat was 20 years, 11 months, and 4 days ago, on October 21, 2004, when they defeated CS Herediano 3-2 in the Second Round of the UNCAF Interclub Cup.

That victory at Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero featured goals from Wilmer Velásquez, Walter “El General” López, and Luciano Emilio. Michael Umaña and Christian Oviedo scored for the home side. Olimpia advanced in the series via the away goals rule, having lost the return leg 0-1.

Cartaginés suffers rare home defeat to a Honduran club

This is the first time Cartaginés has lost a first-leg home match to a Honduran club in any tournament. The only other home loss to a Honduran side came on March 16, 1994, when they fell 0-1 to Petrotela in the Second Round of Group 1 (North & Central America) in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The lone goal was scored by Cristian Mena.

Whenever Cartaginés has lost the first leg of any series, they have been eliminated:

2023 CCAC Quarterfinals vs Alajuelense

1978 Concacaf Champions Cup First Round (Central America) vs CD FAS

Olimpia’s dominance in first legs: 24 wins, 20 qualifications

With this result, CD Olimpia registered its 24th victory in a first-leg match across all international tournaments. In the previous 23 series, they advanced in 20 of them.

The Honduran giants have only been eliminated after a first-leg win on three occasions (12.5%):

1. Vs. Árabe Unido – Preliminary Round, 2009–10 Concacaf Champions Cup

First leg: 2-1

Second leg: 0-1 (eliminated on away goals)

2. Vs. Atlas FC – Round of 16, Concacaf Champions Cup 2023

First leg: 4-1

Second leg: 0-4 (eliminated)

3. Vs. Deportivo Saprissa – Semifinals, Scotiabank Concacaf League 2017

   First leg: 2-0

   Second leg: 1-4 (eliminated)