MIAMI, Florida – Bancy Hernandez scored early in the first half to earn Nicaraguan side Real Esteli a 1-0 victory against three-time Concacaf champions Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica in the first leg of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday night at the Estadio Independencia in Esteli, Nicaragua.
Real Esteli came out strong and quickly grabbed a lead courtesy of Hernandez in the 10’ when the ball bounced to him and he rocketed in a right-footed volley to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
Real Esteli were not about to sit back and defend their lead, as they continued placing pressure on the Saprissa back line and Hernandez cranked a shot that barely deflected over the crossbar in the 62’.
Real Esteli GK Douglas Forvis had been relatively untroubled throughout the match, but Saprissa started to commit numbers forward in the final quarter-hour in hopes of an equalizer.
The closest the Ticos came was in the 86’ and 87’ when Ariel Rodriguez had a chance to head in from a few yards out, but never got off a clean look and the follow-up from Warren Madrigal was also wayward. That was followed by a Kendall Waston shot parried wide by Forvis.
In the end, the Real Esteli defense held the line to secure the result and give themselves the advantage going into next week’s return leg.
