MIAMI, Florida – Jorge Benguche struck midway through the second half to rescue a 1-1 draw for Honduran giants Olimpia against Independiente of Panama in Group B of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup on Wednesday night at the Estadio Chelato Ucles in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
After two matches played in the group, both Olimpia and Independiente sit two points behind leaders Real Esteli of Nicaragua.
The teams traded early looks, first in the 13’ when Olimpia’s Edwin Rodriguez hit a stinging left-footed shot that smacked off the Independiente post and out of play.
Less than two minutes later in the 15’ the visiting Panamanians had a chance through Carlos Small, whose header sliced wide of the post.
The best scoring chances of the first 45 minutes all went Olimpia’s way at the end of the first half.
First there was Jose Pinto latching onto a ball inside the box, however Independiente GK Eddie Roberts made a superb save to keep it scoreless. That was followed by another Roberts block on a Pinto attempt from inside the area.
Yustin Arboleda was next to see a chance spoiled with an attempt off the crossbar, while the follow-up effort from Benguche was denied by Roberts.
For all of Olimpia’s dominance to close the first half, Independiente wrestled the momentum right back and got the game’s first goal in the 51’ when Small found space and headed in a cross from Marlon Avila for a 1-0 lead.
Yet when Olimpia are down at home they always seem to summon some of their strongest football, and they produced an equalizer in the 65’ when Arboleda chested a pass down perfectly for Benguche to run onto and fire into net to even the score at 1-1.
Each side was keen for a winner, but the two goalkeepers stayed strong the rest of the way, making for a share of the spoils on the night.
