Central American Cup Semifinals Game-Changer: Abel Mendez

MIAMI, Florida – For the first time in their history, Real Esteli of Nicaragua are playing in a Concacaf final in the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup and it could not have been possible without the heroics of Abel Mendez.

The 31-year-old Argentine attacker scored a goal and had two assists in leading Real Esteli to a 3-2 aggregate victory over Panama’s CA Independiente in the semifinals.

Thanks to his performance, Mendez is the Game-Changer for the 2023 Central American Cup semifinals.

“It makes me very happy, more so knowing that it helped the team get to this historical Final. It’s the first time that a Nicaraguan club has gotten this far and played a final of this magnitude, so it makes me happy,” said Mendez in an interview with Concacaf.com

“It was one of the best goals of my career for the magnitude and the context, for what it means to be in a Central American Cup final, so thank you for this great compliment,” added Mendez.

Mendez’s goal came in the first minute of second half stoppage time in the first leg, setting off a wild celebration inside the stadium. It is a feeling that Mendez will always remember.

“It was such unique joy because the day before and that same day, I had a sense that I would do it. I dreamed about it and I’m a person of great faith, I had been coming off a series of injuries, I hadn’t been playing much, but I felt like God had prepared me for that moment. I had a feeling that it was going to go in and that I would do something important,” said Mendez.

Mendez then followed that up with a two-assist performance in the second leg in Panama, including an inch-perfect cross just second into the second half with the aggregate even at 1-1. His assist on Bancy Hernandez’s goal swung the tie firmly in Real Esteli’s favor.

“We quickly recovered the ball, about 30 seconds in. It was a good ball from Arley [Bonilla] and then a pass from Harold Medina, and when I saw that Bancy [Hernandez] had won the position, I only tried to play in a good cross so he could get on the end of it and thankfully he got there. He had some good fortune and it ended up going in,” said Mendez.

Mendez then set the table for Bonilla’s goal in the 81^st minute that gave Real Esteli a 2-2 draw in the match and the 3-2 lead in the series.

“It was a great finish from Arley. It was a similar play because it was Harold Medina who played the ball into me on the wing and so then I just tried to play my best pass. We were about 10-15 minutes away from the end of the game and we were having trouble. Credit to Arley for anticipating the play and the goalkeeper coming off his line and when the ball went in, we all hugged each other because we knew we were finalists,” said Mendez.

When Mendez reflects on what that semifinal meant to him personally, it takes on an even greater significance because of what happened upon his arrival to Nicaragua.

“Before I arrived to Esteli, I went through a very sad time. I lost my sister, I got here and got injured right when the season started, but I’m someone who has always worked hard. I think that working hard every day has its rewards and I’ve always believed that God puts us to the test, and that was another test. In the semifinal to enter and score that goal and then start for the first time and give two assists and go down in history of the club and country is something unique for my career”

Now Mendez and Real Esteli shift their focus to the Final against Alajuelense with the full knowledge that a very difficult two legs await.

“We are preparing ourselves for what it is, which is a final. We know it’s going to be 180 very hard minutes, but we believe in the work that we have been doing and we’re trusting in what we’ve been doing, which has gotten us here. It got us good results, we’re in the final playing in that manner and we just need to correct the errors we’ve had in this tournament,” said Mendez.

Should Real Esteli get the job done, it would mark a first ever Concacaf title for the club.

“It would be unforgettable. We know that we are marking a history, we are in the final and we know that we can forever live in history for many years because it would be so important not just for the club, but the country. I’m not going to say that we have nothing to lose, because we do have something to lose, because very few ever remember who finished second. As life goes on, they always talk about the champions, so hopefully we can be champions,” concluded Mendez.