TEGUCIGALPA – Things remain wide open in the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League semifinal between Honduran rivals Motagua and Olimpia after the two familiar foes battled to a 0-0 draw in the first leg on Wednesday night at the Estadio Chelato Ucles in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
As to be expected, it was an intense and physical first 90 minutes between the two sides, with barely any time on the ball allowed for the players. The spaces closed down fast and it resulted in few opportunities for a goal.
It looked like the halftime break would come with no good scoring chances to speak of, but in the second minute of first half stoppage time, Motagua’s Ivan Lopez cranked a shot from outside the area that left the post of Olimpia GK Edrick Menjivar quivering, nearly giving the hosts a coveted lead.
Olimpia started the second half in strong fashion and inside a minute they almost broke the deadlock on a hard hit from Boniek Garcia that was deflected away. Eight minutes later it was Jose Pinto almost scoring for Olimpia if not for a reaction save from Motagua GK Jonathan Rougier.
The Olimpia pressure kept coming and a looping header in front of the Motagua goal almost ended with Jerry Bengtson heading in, but Rougier did well to tip it onto the crossbar and away from danger.
Things gave way to a frenetic final 10 minutes, beginning with Motagua’s Marcelo Santos firing a rocket that was blocked by Menjivar, followed by Brayan Moya’s buzzing shot skimming the top of Rougier’s crossbar.
In the end, no goals were had, leaving it all to play for in next week’s second leg.
