MIAMI, Florida – The third week of matches in the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup begins on Tuesday with another trio of matches, including Group B leaders Real Esteli of Nicaragua paying a visit to El Salvador to play CD FAS.

Real Esteli have started off the competition with a bang, earning six points from their first two matches, both at home, but now a road test awaits at the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador against a FAS side that is looking to bounce back after suffering a 2-1 loss to Xelaju last week in Guatemala in their opener.

The star of last week’s epic 1-0 win over Honduran giants Olimpia for Real Esteli was Harold Medina, who scored the lone goal and could have easily ended the night with three or four scores. Medina also had an assist in Real Esteli’s tournament opener against Xelaju.

FAS will counter with Wilma Torres, author of the team’s goal last week in Guatemala, while Rodrigo Rivera and Rudy Clavel stand to play an active part in the middle of the park after completing 54 and 60 passes, respectively, against Xelaju.

Match Officials FAS vs Real Esteli
Referee: Raul Castro (HON)
AR1 Roney Salinas (HON) AR2 Jesus Tábora (HON)
4th Official Jorge Leira (PAN)

 

CD Universitario vs.  Jocoro FC  

The day will begin with a contest between two teams in Group A seeking their first win in the tournament, as Jocoro of El Salvador face Universitario of Panama at the Estadio Universitario in Penonome, Panama.

Jocoro will be keen to turn around their fortunes after the results of the first two weeks in which they have suffered back-to-back defeats of 4-1 and 4-0 to Saprissa and Coban Imperial, respectively.

Meanwhile, Universitario made their tournament debut last week and delivered a strong defensive performance in a 0-0 draw at Coban Imperial.

Luis Choy was a workhorse for the Panamanians in completing 35 passes and making four ball recoveries, while GK Joseph Esquina was a strong presence in net with six saves and four clearances.

Jocoro will turn to the dangerous Luis Acuna, who has the team’s lone goal in the tournament and was unlucky to not have scored last week. Juan Carlos Argueta has also posed a threat, as he led the team last week in shots with three.

Match Officials CD Universitario vs.  Jocoro FC  

Referee Bryan Lopez (GUA)
AR1 Luis Ventura (GUA) AR2 Humberto Panjoj (GUA)
4th Julio Luna (GUA)

 

CSD Coban Imperial vs. CS Cartagines

The other game on Tuesday will see another Group A fixture, with Guatemala’s Coban Imperial squaring off with Cartagines of Costa Rica at the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Cartagines return to action after having been off in week two and will be eager to bounce back from their opening 1-0 loss to fellow Costa Rican club Saprissa. Coban Imperial have enjoyed a very strong start to their first ever Concacaf competition, with a win and draw from their first two matches.

Coban Imperial boast several weapons, including Luis Martinez, who scored in the opening 4-1 win over Jocoro and leads the team with six shots taken. Luis De Leon has also played a key part, with 53 passes completed in the 0-0 draw with Universitario, plus a ball recovery.

Jostin Daly, Allen Guevara and Jose Vargas are a few of the players that Cartagines will be leaning on in this affair. Daly had five shots in the opening week against Saprissa, including one that hit the post, while the veteran Guevara took three shots. Vargas provides a blue-collar edge in the back, evidenced by his five ball recoveries and two clearances against Saprissa.

Match Officials CSD Coban Imperial vs. CS Cartagines

Referee Fernando Hernandez (MEX)
AR1 Leonardo Castillo (MEX) AR2 Michel Espinoza (MEX)
4th Official Diego Montaño (MEX)