SANTA TECLA – Comunicaciones of Guatemala are on their way to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup thanks to a 4-1 victory against El Salvador’s Aguila in Group C action on Wednesday night at the Estadio Las Delicias in Santa Tecla, El Salvador.
The win gives Comunicaciones a perfect nine points from three games and a place in the next round. Meanwhile, the result leaves Aguila eliminated with three points through three matches.
It was a roaring start for Comunicaciones, who got off to a 1-0 lead in the 14’ through Jorge Aparicio when Jose Contreras crossed to Antonio Lopez, who set up Aparicio to finish into net with his right foot.
The goal kicked Comunicaciones into another gear in search of a second goal and it arrived via a breathtaking counterattack in the 27’ polished off by Jose Corena with a clinical right-footed finish for a 2-0 advantage.
Aguila went to work on trying to pull a goal back and veteran MF Darwin Ceren nearly did so in the 30’ with a header off a corner kick that was about to cross the line before it was nudged away by Comunicaciones GK Fredy Perez.
Aguila kept pressing and would find a goal right before halftime when Carlos Salazar was the right man at the right place, poking home a loose ball in front of goal off a corner kick to bring the hosts to within 2-1.
The home side had the momentum to start the second stanza, but Comunicaciones held their ground and the visiting Guatemalans would pick up a crucial third goal in the 71’ when Corena was left all alone on a corner kick and volleyed home to extend the lead to 3-1.
With the two-goal lead, Comunicaciones could play to their liking and they tacked on another in the 82’ through Lynner Garcia, who unfurled a shot that took a deflection and spun into net to complete the 4-1 scoreline.
