Action from the CONCACAF Champions League game between Pachuca (blue/white jersey) and visiting Real España on August 6, 2014, at the Estadio Hidalgo in Pachuca, Mexico. (Photo: Mexsport)
PACHUCA, Mexico – Erick Gutierrez scored a goal in each half and Pachuca posted a 4-1 victory over Real España on Tuesday in the 2014/15 CONCACAF Champions League opener for each at the Estadio Hidalgo.
The host confirmed its intention to recapture the title by pressuring the 2013 Honduran Apertura champion all over the field from the opening whistle. That tactic led directly to the opening two goals, giving the 2009/10 champion a lead that was never threatened.
It was the last match in charge for Real España head coach Hernan Medford, who recently signed a contract to replace Luis Fernando Suarez as the manager of Honduras.
Dieter Villapando’s hustle helped lift the Tuzos to a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute. After doing well to gain possession on the left wing, the 23-year-old delivered a low cross towards the penalty spot. Gutierrez somehow reached back for the ball while moving sharply forward and snapped a shot with his left foot that glanced off a Honduran defender before finding the back of the net.
An ill-advised Real España pass into the middle of the field five minutes later allowed Pachuca to double its advantage. Ariel Nahuelpan was positioned perfectly for the interception. He looked up immediately, locating Hirving Lozano on the right with a superb feed. The calm Lozano took a touch into the box and fired an effort inside the far post.
The break did not disturb Pachuca’s rhythm as it went up 3-0 eight minutes following the restart.
On this occasion, the influential Lozano lofted a delicate pass into the penalty area for an unmarked Gutierrez to sprint at from a deep position and head assuredly past goalkeeper Kevin Hernandez.
Nahuelpan made it 4-0 in the 57th minute thanks to the ingenuity of Aviles Hurtado. With some neat dribbling, the Colombian was able to free himself to make a cross from left edge of the box that Nahuelpan nodded down to the left of a diving Hernandez from 11-yards out.
The visitors pulled one back in the 68th minute, when an attempt shot by Claudio Labariñas took a pair of deflections – the last off the head of Aquivaldo Mosquera – and floated over goalkeeper Oscar Perez for an own-goal.
Pachuca takes the early Group 1 lead and will return to action again on August 27 at Guatemala’s Municipal. Real España will look to bounce back on August 21, also against Municipal.
To view the Club de Fútbol Pachuca vs Real Club Deportivo Saprissa Highlights, click here.
