February 3 – Seven times Champions Cup winners Club América opened their quest for an eighth title with a 2-1 away win against CD Olimpia at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
An at times pedestrian first half gave way to a pulsating second half that saw Olimpia equalise Victor Davila’s opener with a Jorge Alvarez beauty from outside the box, only for Ramon Juarez (pictured) to sneak in the winner with three minutes to go.
Club America opened the contest content to sit deep in possession, drawing Olimpia’s forwards towards them.
It was Olimpia who had first shot at goal when Jorge Benguche, Olimpia’s leading attacking threat fired wide. It was the first a number of missed opportunities with Jorge Alvarez and Kevin Guiti both firing over the top of the America goal
On 27’ Benguche had Olimpia’s best chance of the half. A long ball found him on the left and lifting the ball over his defenders he drove towards goal and fired a shot inside the box that Luis Malagon palmed away for a corner.
America’s composure was rattled. While they had the bulk of possession, it was mostly in their own half and when they did pass their way out their attack lacked menace in front of goal.
On 34’ Benguche again turning in the America box dragged his shot wide of Malagon’s right post.
While Olimpia had the half chances, a composed America back four were happy to soak up pressure with Uruguayan central defender Sebastian Caceres looking particularly comfortable.
Olimpia’s profligacy in front of goal played into America’s patient hands.
With the clock ticking towards half time America upped the intensity of their attack for the first time and won a corner in the third minute of added time. The ball eventually fell loose in the middle of the box with Chilean Victor Davila picking it up, pushing it to his left to open space to fire into the top right of Olimpia’s goal past a despairing Erick Menjivar dive.
The second half opened with a greater intensity and within four minutes Olimpia had dragged themselves level and back into the match.
The ball was worked right to left across the top of America’s box before coming back to Alvarez who hit his shot with the outside of his foot high and wide of Malagon 1-1.
Olimpia sensed blood and on 55’ thought they had the lead with cross from the left found the imperious Benguche who headed in, only to be ruled offside. There were no complaints.
Two minutes later Benguche was involved again wide on the right winning a free kick. Carlos Sanchez curled his shot toward goal only to see Malagon punch the ball clear.
Now it was Mexico’s turn to put the pressure. A ball into the box found Caceres head forcing a leaping Menjivar to palm the ball over. A slow paced first half had turned into a fast paced end-to-end second.
On 73’ America brought on leading scorer Henry Martin for goalscorer Davila. America were now starting to apply consistent pressure on the Olimpia goal with Menjivar keeping the Hondurans in the tie.
On 78’ Olimpia brought on their own goalscoring legend Jerry Bengtson for Edwin Rodriguez.
On 81’ Menjivar again saved brilliantly, this time diving to his right to push aaway another Caceres header. Going straight back up the other end Alvarez hit a shot from outside the bix over.
America had a claim for penalty turned down in the 84’ after Alex Zendejas looked to have been pushed over just inside the box.
It didn’t matter, on 87’ America had the lead and the win. A shot from Brian Rodriguez was palmed away by Menjivar into the path of Ramon Juarez who sidefooted in – 2-1 to America.
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