Fort-de-France, Martinique - Club Franciscain of Martinique made a positive debut in the 2018 Scotiabank Concacaf League (SCL) after beating Nicaragua´s CD Walter Ferretti 1-0 in what was an electric atmosphere inside the State Pierre Aliker here on Tuesday night.
Johnny Marajo scored the all-important goal in 69th minute after a brilliant right-footed shot which gave the Walter Ferretti goalkeeper Denis Espinoza absolutely no chance to save.
The Martinique club’s approach play was more indicative of a seasoned campaigner at this level rather than a debutant at this the second staging of the SCL, Concacaf’s second tier club competition.
Club Franciscain, after a slow start, started to impose itself on affairs in around the 20th-minute of action, giving hints of its quality and that it is comfortable playing on the big stage.
In one of the early attempts on Walter Ferretti’s goal, Club Franciscain came forward starting with a cross from the right-side, but Christop Jougon, unmarked in the area, could only manage to steer his right-footed shot wide of the upright after the opposing defense had failed to deal with the threat.
As space opened up for the Martinique-based club on the right flank, defender Andrew Gentuil sent a cross into the penalty box, but Walter Ferretti´s goalkeeper Denis Espinoza could not effect a proper save and the ball bubbled to a lurking Djenhael Mainge, but he ended up committing a foul on Espinoza.
To bring the first half to a close and against the run of play, Walter Ferretti’s Maykel Montiel tested the Club Franciscain goal with long-range effort, but the ball zipped marginally wide of the net.
For the return and decisive leg of the knockout tournament, Club Franciscain will seek to continue its positive run when it travels to Managua, Nicaragua, next Wednesday to complete the tie at the Eladio Rosabal Cordero. Kick off is 7:00 pm.