MIAMI, Florida – Nicaragua’s Real Esteli and Real Espana of Honduras opened up their 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League Preliminary Round series with a 0-0 first leg draw on Thursday night at the Estadio Independencia in Esteli, Nicaragua.
It was a very back-and-forth first 45 minutes between the two sides, but no major chances to speak of by the time the halftime whistle sounded.
Real Esteli had the brighter start and it led to the best scoring opportunity of the half through Pablo Gallego’s right-footed shot in the 5’, but Real Espana GK Luis Lopez reacted well and made the save.
Real Espana were more on the front foot in the second half, but it did not yield a scoring chance for the visiting Hondurans until late on.
A crack from long distance from Devron Garcia in the 83’ first tested Real Esteli GK Cesar Salandia, followed by Darixon Vuelto nearly sneaking in a late winner right on the 90-minute mark with an in-swinging free kick that grazed the crossbar and was pushed out by Salandia.
In the end, a winning goal was not to be had in the final minutes, leaving things wide open going into next week’s return leg in Honduras.
