Alianza FC secures Quarterfinals berth with victory over CD Marathón

Alianza advances to the Quarterfinals.

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras – The 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup continued on Wednesday with Alianza FC defeating CD Marathón 1-0 in Group B at Estadio Francisco Morazán in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

After a scoreless opening period, the visitors broke the deadlock in the 62’, with Matías Mier capitalizing on a line-splitting ball and finding the back of the net with a first-time, left-footed hit from just outside the box.

Alianza goalkeeper Mario González marked his first appearance of the campaign with a standout performance, recording a save and recording a clean sheet.

With the result in its final Group Stage match, Alianza secured its place in the Quarterfinals.

Marathón will play its final Group B match next Wednesday, August 26, with the Honduran side set to host Real Estelí FC.

Game Notes

• Alianza FC have qualified for the knockout stages of the Concacaf Central American Cup following their victory against CD Marathón; this is the first time the Salvadoran club have reached this round after being eliminated in the group stage in the previous two editions.
• Alianza FC have become only the second team from El Salvador to progress past the group stage in the Concacaf Central American Cup, following CD Águila in the 2024 tournament.
• This was Alianza FC's first-ever away victory in the Concacaf Central American Cup; the Salvadoran side had previously played five away matches in the competition without a win (D1 L4).
• Alianza FC's Matías Mier has scored in a continental competition for the first time in nearly seven years; the Uruguayan forward's last goal in such a tournament came in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana for Internacional de Bogotá (known before as La Equidad) in August 2019.
• CD Marathón failed to defeat Alianza FC despite recording more shots (15 to 7), enjoying more possession (66% to 34%) and completing more than twice as many passes in the attacking half (318 to 150); Alianza FC converted one of their three shots on target, matching the total number of shots on target managed by the Honduran club.