SANTA ANA – Honduran giants Olimpia stayed alive in the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup with a 4-2 triumph over CD FAS of El Salvador in Group B action on Tuesday night at the Estadio Las Delicias in Santa Tecla, El Salvador.
With the win, Olimpia now sit on four points with one match remaining. The Hondurans must win next week at home against Xelaju and hope Independiente of Panama (7 points) fall to FAS to have a chance to advance on goal difference.
Olimpia came storming out of the gates and just before three minutes had ticked off the clock, it was 1-0 to Olimpia when Edwin Rodriguez flipped a pass over to Jorge Benguche, whose right-footed finish rippled the net.
The Hondurans kept coming forward in search of more goals and Carlos Pineda duly delivered in the 37’ with a powerful right-footed shot that went blazing past FAS GK Kevin Carabantes and into net for a 2-0 lead.
FAS weren’t about to let Olimpia run away, and they cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 42’ when Gerardo Guirola guided a cross into the area and Dustin Corea was there to steer home a header.
The momentum stayed with FAS to start the second half and the scoreline soon read 2-2 when Joao Plata converted a penalty kick in the 49’ to get the Salvadorans back on level terms.
The visiting Hondurans needed something to go their way, and they got a big break in the 72’ when Carabantes was unable to reach an Edwin Solano cross and Kevin Lopez was there to head home for a 3-2 Olimpia lead.
Yet almost right after they went back ahead, Olimpia promptly gave FAS some help when Carlos Pineda was sent off on a straight red card in the 74’.
Olimpia were unfazed by playing a man down and Jorge Benguche polished things off with a chip into net in the 85’ for his second goal of the night to round out the 4-2 scoreline and nail down his side a crucial three points.
