Action from the Honduran Clausura play-in, first leg between visiting Honduras Progreso (white jersey) and Marathon on May 3, 2017, in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. (Photo courtesy of Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras)
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras – A pair of one-goal games kicked off the 2017 Honduran Clausura playoffs as Marathon and Real Sociedad won on Wednesday.
CONCACAF.com takes a look at each match:
2017 Honduran Clausura Playoffs
Play-In, First Leg
May 3, 2017
Marathon 1, Honduras Progreso 0
Joshua Vargas 90’+4
- Just when it appeared the game would end in a scoreless draw at the Estadio Yankel Rosenthal in San Pedro Sula, Joshua Vargas gave host Marathon a 1-0 win, netting off a left-footed free kick from 22-yards out.
- It was second straight victory for the Monstruo Verde, after losing four consecutive matches.
- Honduras Progreso had posted a 2-0 win at Marathon in their previous meeting on April 8, 2017.
- Marathon needs only a draw to book a place in the semifinals, when the sides meet again at the Estadio Humberto Micheletti on Saturday.
Real Sociedad 2, Real España 1
Pablo Arzu 60´; Rony Martínez 67´ / Claudio Nicolas Labarinas Cardozo 40´
- Real Sociedad rallied from a 0-1 deficit at halftime to score twice during a seven-minute, second-half stretch and earn a 2-1 win over Real España.
- Claudio Nicolas Labarinas Cardozo put the visitor ahead in the 40th minute, intercepting Robbie Matute’s chested attempt to make to a back pass to goalkeeper Yull Arzu and striking from the edge of the six-yard box.
- The host equalized in the 60th minute through Pablo Arzu, who connected on a loose ball at the right post.
- Rony Martinez netted the game-winner in the 67th minute by striking from 16-yards out with his left foot.
- The sides will meet again on Saturday at the Estadio Francisco Morazan, with Real Sociedad needing only a draw to claim a place in the semifinals.
By virtue of finishing in first- and second-place in the regular season, respectively, Olimpia and Motagua have already booked semifinal berths.
