February 10 – Mexican giants Club America left it late to take a 2-1 lead over Olimpia back to the Azteca.
Post match, Club America coach André Jardine was adamant that “the score was fair”, but he won’t want the second leg to go down to the wire.
In the Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés in Tegucigalpa, the Hondurans came close to snatching a surprise result but wasted chances and good game management by the Mexicans proved too much for Olimpia.
A pedestrian first half that was notable for Olimpia’s wasted chances and the composure of Club America centre back Sebastian Caceres, sparked into life in first half added time with a Victor Davila goal
It was an advantage the Hondurans were never fully able to overcome. They opened the second with a bit more bite to their play and equalised in the 55th minute with a Jorge Alvarez beauty from outside the box.
If Olimpia thought this was the spark that would light a famous victory, they were wrong.
Club America showed their depth of quality and immediately changed the pace of their game, playing faster crisper football as they squeezed Olimpia back.
With the preparatory softening up work done, Jardine turned to his bench and brought on top scorer Henry Martin and the mercurial Alex Zendejas. Ramon Juarez’s 87th minute tap-in was almost inevitable.
If Olimpia are going to drag themselves back into this tie they need star striker to Jorge Benguche convert his goal opportunities. If he doesn’t turn his threat into goals then Club America will punish the Hondurans in the Azteca cauldron.
Club America go into the leg after a 1-0 win in LigaMX against Monterrey. Zendejas was the scorer and for the Champions Cup is coming into form at just the right time.
1st Round second leg, February 10, Club America (2) Olimpia (1)