ANTIGUA, Guatemala – Hugo Del Cid drew a penalty and scored a goal to help Guatemalan side Xelaju hold off FAS of El Salvador 2-1 in Group B of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup on Wednesday night at the Estadio Pensativo in Antigua, Guatemala.
After a 1-0 loss to Real Esteli in week one, Xelaju are back in the mix with three points, while FAS will search for their first points of the tournament in their second match next week against Real Esteli.
Xelaju looked to get a goal from the opening whistle and almost did in the 4’ when Gerson Tinoco just missed connecting cleanly off a cross from the right wing, with the ball spinning over the crossbar.
The Xelaju pressure continued and it paid dividends with a penalty in the 22’ when Del Cid was fouled just inside the box. Three minutes later, Kenner Gutierrez stepped to the spot and hammered home the spot kick for a 1-0 Xelaju lead.
FAS nearly answered immediately when a loose ball in front of goal was almost stabbed home by Rafael Tejada, but Xelaju GK Jose Calderon saved the ball from crossing the line at the last possible moment.
It proved to be a big stop, as minutes later in the 31’ Hugo Del Cid did well to beat a pair of defenders before firing a powerful left-footed shot into net for a 2-0 Xelaju advantage.
FAS were unfazed by the deficit and went to work in the second half on pulling back to within a goal to give themselves a chance at a result.
After some poking and prodding, they did bring the scoreline to 2-1 in the 72’ through Wilma Torres, who unleashed a right-footed rocket that grazed the underside of the crossbar near the top right corner and rippled the net for a goal.
The Xelaju defense would regroup, though, and saw out the final minutes to nail down the three points.
