Honduras' Bryan Rochez (white jersey) dribbles down the field against Guatemala in a UNCAF U-20 qualifier on July 23, 2014, at the Estadio Las Delicias in Santa Tecla, El Salvador.
SAN TECLA, El Salvador – After both going winless in their opening three games, Costa Rica and Honduras were victorious for the first time on Wednesday at the Central American qualifying tournament for the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship.
First-place Panama maintained its perfect record through four matches with a 2-0 win over Belize.
For complete schedule, results, table and scorers, click here.
Here’s a recap of the tripleheader action at the Estadio Las Delicias:
Belize 0, Panama 2
Panama (12 points) scored twice in the first half to defeat Belize, 2-0. The table-topping Canaleros have maximum points from four games and a single win or a pair of draws in their last two outings would seal a place at the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in Jamaica.
Carlos Small netted his second goal of the competition in the 17th minute, while Fidel Escobar -- in the first minute of first-half stoppage time -- struck in a second straight game.
Panama leads its nearest competitors – El Salvador and Honduras -- by seven points.
Belize (0 points) has yet to score in three games.
Nicaragua 0, Costa Rica 2
With newly named head coach Harold Wallace in charge, Costa Rica (4 points) secured its first win, overcoming Nicaragua (3 points), 2-0.
Both goals came in the second half as Kenneth Cerdas (66’) scored in a second straight game and Randall Leal (90’+1) clinched the victory with a late insurance tally.
The Ticos bounced back from a 3-2 loss to Panama in their previous outing, a result that hours later led to Ronald Mora’s dismissal as manager.
Nicaragua fell from fourth to sixth place.
Guatemala 0, Honduras 1
Junior Lacayo scored with five minutes left in the first half and 10-man Honduras (5 points) held on to post a 1-0 victory over Guatemala.
The Catrachos, which had registered draws in their previous two games, played the last 21 minutes down a man after Kevin Alvarez was ejected for picking up two cautions within two minutes.
Guatemala (4 points) lost for the first time in three games and dropped from third to fifth in the standings.
