CARTAGO – Real Espana of Honduras are through to the quarterfinals of the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League thanks to a 2-0 victory over Costa Rican club Cartagines in the second leg of their Round of 16 series on Thursday night at the Estadio Jose Rafael Meza in Cartago, Costa Rica.

The result gives Real Espana a 4-0 triumph on aggregate and a spot in the next round where they will take a crack at another Costa Rican side, Herediano.

Cartagines came out flying in search of a first goal to work themselves back into the tie, but they quickly learned they were up against a goalkeeper in fine form. Real Espana’s Luis Lopez was a man on a mission and made an incredible reaction save to deny Marcel Hernandez the game’s first goal via header in the 25’.

Instead, the first score belonged to Real Espana, who stunned the home fans and grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 32’ through Jhow Benavidez. Darixon Vuelto’s free kick thundered off the post and bounced straight to Benavidez, who did exceptionally well to steer his shot into net off the carom.

Cartagines now needed to rally for four goals to win the series, as they tried to apply pressure on Lopez and the Real Espana defense. 

Yet the visiting Hondurans were unfazed and a Cartagines giveaway in their own half in first half stoppage time led to a Real Espana break that ended with Ramiro Rocca’s cross going off the foot of Cartagines DF Jose Gabriel Vargas and into net for a 2-0 Real Espana lead.

Even with the four-goal advantage on aggregate, Lopez stayed locked in and made a trio of superb saves to start the second half, the best a diving stop to deny Michael Barrantes in the 66’, to keep the home side off the scoreboard.

A sending off for Real Espana’s Mayron Flores in the 72’ gave Cartagines a man advantage to close the match, but Lopez was not to be beaten in making another pair of standout saves, enabling Real Espana to see things out.