2023-09-28 06:06:31
Another magical night at the Independencia Stadium, the fortress of Real Estelí, where they have gone 10 years without losing in Concacaf once morest MLS rivals, El Salvador, Guatemala and the two largest teams in Central America, Olimpia of Honduras and Saprissa of Costa Rica, which fell 1-0 this Wednesday night, meaning the fifth victory of the streak, plus five draws. The defeat of the three-time Concacaf champion, who was surpassed in football terms and annulled at the end by goalkeeper Douglas Forvis, is the first time in history once morest a Nicaraguan team, adding another great of Costa Rican football to their list of victims. , following Alajuelense and Herediano.
Real Estelí came out on top at home in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Central American Cup. With their gaze fixed ahead, without fear, ready to impose their style of play, Estelí organized themselves behind and came out with possession of the ball to connect with their skilled players in the midfield: Bancy Hernández, Byron Bonilla or Harold Medina. Saprissa let them play and Estelí’s idea was to take advantage of the midfielders’ associations to do damage. Bonilla appeared in the best version of him receiving from his back, turning and maneuvering through the center looking for Bancy between the lines or opening for Juan Barrera on the right wing.
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Estelí’s dominance was unobjectionable, they arrived clearly and always finished the plays. Harold Medina tried first with a mid-range shot that a defender blocked. Estelí stepped into the area and created danger because they had clear ideas. He never gave up on a play and found reward. Josué Quijano rescued a ball that seemed to go one way, Byron Bonilla collected the rebound and headed it to Bancy (10), who without thinking volleyed it into the left corner, impossible for goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado, who had not conceded a goal in the four group stage matches once morest Cartaginés, Universitario of Panama, Cobán Imperial of Guatemala and Jocoro of El Salvador.
Nothing changed following the goal. Estelí maintained its idea of play, without retreating, anchored to the midfield where it was ruling and had Saprissa under control. Marlon López multiplied in that sector, giving way, cutting passing lines and helping his teammates in recovering the ball. Saprissa didn’t know what to do. The midfield was controlled and on the wings Jefry Valverde and Javon East might not penetrate even though the full-backs joined in because Juan Barrera and Bonilla came down to help with defensive tasks. The greatest danger was created in set pieces but Douglas Forvis solved the danger with his fists or catching the ball. Safe at the back, Estelí attacked with confidence, creating two opportunities with Byron Bonilla (35), who finished up following a death pass from Barrera, and the other in a series of rebounds in the area that the defense blocked for Medina (42) .
Ole Ole ole! People shouted in Estelí
The second half changed because Saprissa came out transformed by pressing high and handling the ball. Estelí looked uncomfortable, a little overwhelmed until little by little they regained the thread of their initial game. Bonilla beat Pablo Arboine one-on-one and the center passed just a foot from the goal line that Barrera did not reach (51). Bonilla, Marlon, Harold and Bancy got together once more in the center of the field, Estelí handled the ball for a minute without allowing Saprissa to touch it and the more than eight thousand fans who filled the Independencia Stadium shouted with every touch olé, olé, hey! The fans were scared by Gerald Taylor’s powerful long-distance shot (58), which goalkeeper Forvis took from a corner kick and Estelí responded with another orchestral play by Byron Bonilla and Harold Medina that Bancy (61) finished with a powerful shot deflected into a corner kick by a defender.
Saprissa tried to equalize the score at the end of the match, however Douglas Forvis made the most of himself, saving a long shot from Ariel Rodríguez (86) and flying into the corner to deflect another header from the giant Kendall Waston (89), drowning out Saprissa’s goal, which He accumulated 15 wins and two draws once morest Nicaraguan clubs in Concacaf tournaments, something that distinguished him from Alajuelense and Herediano defeated by Diriangén (3-2) in 1997 and Tren del Norte (1-0) in 2020. The next Wednesday will try to wash their face by coming back at home to avoid further humiliation, although Estelí will find it difficult because a draw is enough to qualify for the semifinal and preliminary round of the Champions Cup, the club tournament where MLS teams play and Liga MX.
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