Real Esteli thwart Saprissa rally to earn Champions Cup spot | OneFootball

SAN JOSE – Real Esteli are through to the semifinals of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup and have qualified for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup after a stirring 2-2 draw with Deportivo Saprissa in their quarterfinal second leg on Wednesday night at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica.

It will be Real Esteli’s first Champions Cup appearance since 2021, while Saprissa will look to make the most of their second chance to qualify for the Champions Cup via the Central American Cup Play-In.

Saprissa started off the stronger of the two sides and Javon East evened the aggregate score with the game’s first goal in the 19’ by taking a flicked-on header from Ariel Rodriguez and rounding Real Esteli GK Douglas Forvis before finishing into an open net for a 1-0 Saprissa lead.

Real Esteli went right to work at finding an equalizer in the game and a go-ahead goal on aggregate and tested Saprissa GK Esteban Alvarado with a couple probing efforts.

Their efforts would finally pay off early in the second half when first leg hero Bancy Hernandez sent in a deep cross from the left flank that deflected off the foot of Saprissa DF Fidel Escobar and into net, making it 1-1 in the game and 2-1 on aggregate to Real Esteli.

Real Esteli stayed on the hunt and they left the Estadio Saprissa in stunned silence in the 71’ when Marvin Fletes came off the bench and thumped home a header off a corner kick to make it a 2-1 Real Esteli lead in the match.

But Saprissa are never ones to go quietly and they made it 2-2 in the game and got to within two goals of a full comeback on aggregate when Orlando Sinclair steered home a Kendall Waston headed cross in the 82’.

The home fans roared to life and saw their side come within a whisker of another goal when Warren Madrigal headed off the post in the 87’.

But in the end, the night belonged to Real Esteli, who saw out the final minutes to nail down the 3-2 aggregate victory.