Small comes up big as CAI top Motagua to reach Champions Cup | OneFootball

PANANA City – Carlos Small struck for two first half goals to lead Panamanian side Independiente to a 2-0 second leg quarterfinal victory over Motagua of Honduras in the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup on Thursday night at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, Panama.

The win gives Independiente a 3-1 victory on aggregate, assuring not only a place in the semifinals, but also a berth in the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. Motagua will still have an opportunity to qualify for the 2024 Champions Cup via the Play-In.

The two teams opened things by trading a couple tame chances until the first good look at goal arrived midway through the first half when a long ball was hauled in perfectly by Jorge Serrano, only to see his shot turned away by Motagua GK Jonathan Rougier.

But there was nothing Rougier could do to prevent Carlos Small from scoring the opener on the half-hour mark, when a headed pass intended for Rougier did not have enough pace, allowing Small to swoop in and score for a 1-0 Independiente lead.

Carlos Small would strike again just before halftime thanks in part to some persistence from Jefferson Murillo, who found him with a cross from the left wing, and Small did the rest, wheeling around and firing into net for a 2-0 advantage at the break.

Knowing that a 2-2 draw would be enough to advance, Motagua tried their best to pull a goal back to begin a comeback, but the Independiente defense thwarted all attempts.

If anything, the home side appeared to be closer to scoring the next goal, but in the end, the 2-0 scoreline held until the final whistle, cementing a Champions Cup return for Club Atletico Independiente.