SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras – Wilmer Azofeifa scored in the second half and visiting Santos de Guapiles held on for a 1-0 win over Olimpia jn the opening match of the 2017 Scotiabank CONCACAF League (SCL) final on Thursday at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.
The Costa Rican side will take a slim advantage into the second leg on October 26, which it will host at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose.
The only goal came in the 62nd minute, when Azofeifa’s right-footed effort from 30-yards out deflected off an Olimpia defender and bounced inside the right post beyond diving goalkeeper Donis Escober.
Both sides had opportunities to score in an entertaining first half.
In the 28th minute, Escober quickly backtracked to tip Kenneth Dixon’s deflected effort from 22 yards over the crossbar.
Five minute later, the Honduras international custodian denied Dixon once again, diving to his right on what looked to be a well-placed free kick.
Olimpia’s Roger Rojas – the SCL’s leading scorer with five goals – snapped a left-footed attempt from 23-yards out that forced Santos goalkeeper Bryan Morales into an awkward 29th-minute save.
Santos improved to 6W-1D-0L overall in the competition, while Olimpia failed to win for a second consecutive time at home