Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Lions finalists. In a game of few emotions and many fouls, Olimpia and Motagua tied 0-0 in the return match of the so-called final of La Lligueta. The first leg (3-1), allowed the whites to reach the final and fight the title against Marathon for the Opening.
The blues led by Diego Vázquez did not show their best version and remained on the shore being a semester to oblivion.
Those led by Pedro Troglio in this way will face again against Marathon, a team that left them without the championship of the regular laps and also the verdolagas can boast of being the only team that has defeated them in this campaign in the National League.
actions
The first half was intense, but with few goal options. The Blues with the need to seek to score fast went on the attack.
However, the clearest goal plays would be the Lions. Edwin Rodríguez took an exquisite step on Eddie HernandezThe home keeper was stunned 9 minutes into the match when he misjudged the free kick by Jonathan Rougier and dived in the wrong direction.
Experienced left-back Javier Portillo also tried, but the ball went over the top 11.
The first of the blues came through Rubilio Castell, first connected the throw, Edrick Menjívar caught without problems at 19. The game was starting to get friction, the fight in midfield was constant.
Olympia had it again. Jerry Bengtson passed to Eddie Hernández who went hand in hand with Rougier, but as a savior Sergio Peña arrived to avoid what seemed to be the first for the locals.
Now José Pinto on the right passed Marcelo to Sants, sent a cross, and the ball went under the legs to Rodriguez, amazing that the lions missed.
In the final minutes of the first half, Motagua sought him through centers, Roberto Moreira did not walk fine. Olimpia controlled the game, Motagua needed to do more to find the feat.
Complementary part
The Blues continued with the same idea, looking for a discount on the overall scoreboard. Despite this, the cyclone did not find the key to penetrating the frame of the whites.
Eddie Hernández fired from outside the box but the shot went wide.
Diego Vázquez moved the bench and introduced Marc Vega, Gonzalo Klusener to look for more offensive presence. However, the Blues did not find the plays to score.
Lack of clarity and precision were the constants. The whites knew how to handle the ball, closing the spaces of the rival Motagua could not score and the whites are just finalists.
Dates and times
The first leg between whites and greens will be played this Wednesday, January 13 at the National Stadium in Tegucigalpa in a clash that will begin at 7:00 pm.
For its part, the match of the Grand Final where there will be no tomorrow, will be next Saturday, January 16 at the Yankel Rosenthal Stadium in San Pedro Sula from 2:00 pm.
The time set by the Sampedrano team is due to the fact that the sports grounds do not have electric lighting and the match could even be extended to overtime or penalty shootouts.
Olimpia will be looking for Pere Troglio’s title 32 in the first division, while the Marathon led by Héctor Vargas is looking for his coveted Tenth.
Headlines:
Olympics: Edrick Menjívar; Maylor Núñez, Jonathan Pau, Johnny Leverón, Javier Portillo; Deybi Flors, Germán Mejía, Edwin Rodríguez, José Pinto; Jerry Bengtson and Eddie Hernandez.
Motagua: Jonathan Rougier; Marcelo Sants, Cristopher Meléndez, Wesly Decas, Omar Elvir; Sergio Peña, Walter Martínez, Matías Gálvaliz, Kevin López; Roberto Moreira and Rubilio Castell.