CD Marathón defeat Alianza in Play-In First Leg

Messiniti, Ramírez delivered the winning goals.

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras - The 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup action continued on Tuesday with CD Marathón defeating Alianza FC 2-1 in the First Leg of their Play-In Series at Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Emotions ran high from the beginning of the match, with Alianza FC opening the scoring in the 5’ when Harold Osorio headed in Matías Mier’s corner kick.

The hosts pushed to level things up at Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, Nicolás Messiniti doing so in the 15’ knocked one in on the doorstep.

CD Marathón kept their tally going, taking the lead of the game in the 22’ thanks to Damín Ramírez, who fired home a right-footed blast from within the box.

Alianza will host CD Marathón in the Second Leg of the Play-In Series on Tuesday, October 27, with the winner of the series securing a spot in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.

Post-Match Stats: CD Marathón vs. Alianza FC (SLV)

• CD Marathón secured their first-ever victory in the knockout stage of the Concacaf Central American Cup. It also marked the first time the Honduran club came from behind to win a match in the competition.
• CD Marathón's victory over Alianza FC was only the second by a Honduran club in the Concacaf Central American Cup Play-In round, following FC Motagua's 2-0 win over CD Águila in 2024, which secured qualification for the Concacaf Champions Cup.
• CD Marathón are the only team in the 2026 Concacaf Central American Cup with three different players who have scored at least three goals. Following goals from Nicolás Messiniti and Damián Ramírez against Alianza FC, both joined Yairo Moreno on three goals in the competition.
• Alianza FC scored their second-ever goal from a corner kick in the Concacaf Central American Cup, following Emerson Mauricio's goal against L.A. Firpo in 2024. Meanwhile, CD Marathón have scored four goals from corners in the 2026 edition, tied with CS Cartaginés for the most by any team in the competition.
• Harold Osorio's goal after just four minutes and one second was the earliest Alianza FC have ever scored in the Concacaf Central American Cup. It also marked the club's first-ever goal in the knockout stage of the competition.