For the seventh edition of the UNCAF Nations Cup, the UNCAF designates the Panama as host country. All games of the tournament will be held in two stadiums in the country, the estadio La Pedregalena (Colon) and the estadio Rommel Fernández, in the capital Panama City.
Six national teams of Central America participate in 2003 UNCAF Cup, the competition change format and includes all participating teams in one group, the first winning the competition. The first three selections qualify for the Gold Cup 2003.
Panama, host country of the competition and sensation of the last edition, hope this time further his ambitions and win a first major trophy.
Costa Rica, triple winner of the UNCAF Cup, out of the World Cup 2002 where their course globalist, although that stopped as soon as the first round, was not less honourable (eliminated the difference of goals over the Turkey). Los Ticos begin this competition full of certainties and want to demonstrate above all which is the best nation in Central America.
Guatemala, defending champion, prefers to stay in the shade and in the skin of the outsider of the tournament.
Behind these three nations, the Honduras, double winner of the UNCAF Cup, wants to restore its image, the Salvador hope reached a milestone and seriously claim final victory, while the Nicaragua is looking forward to his first win in an official match for the UNCAF Cup.
February 9, 2003, the seventh UNCAF Nations Cup begins, the Panama welcomes the Salvador in the estadio Rommel Fernández.
And the men of Carlos Alberto Daluz start ideally their tournament, Neftalí Díaz doing lift the crowd at the 34th. Everything seems to be assembled so that Panamanians spin to a first victory in the competition, but is not counting on the burst of Salvadorans, and Josué Galdámez (70th) and Rudy Corrales (77th) then cool the fervour of supporters. Score final 2-1, the Salvador is ready, not Panama.
Two days later, the Honduras seals the score of the match in the first half against the Nicaragua, Jairo Martínez opening the score at the 4th minute, until Julio César de León completes Nicaraguan hopes at the 20th. Despite a first replacement at the 27th, Nicaraguan coach Mauricio Batistini can't revive his team, and los Pinoleros will have to wait a little before enjoying a first victory in the UNCAF Cup.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica between staged against the Salvador. In a match where yellow cards are raining down galore (5 on the side of Costa Rica, the Salvador 2 side), Erick Scott finds the solution at the 62nd and allows los Ticos to earn the three points of the victory.
On 13 February, the Nicaragua confronts the Salvador and crack once again in the beginning of the match, Rudis Corrales opened the score at the 5th minute for la Selecta. Nothing goes more at the 27th when Victor Velásquez double release, and despite the expulsion of Ramiro Carballo at the 67th minute, Salvadorans are still space to make worse the score through Diego Mejía at the end of part (89th). Score final 3-0, the Nicaragua is exceeded, the Salvador has six points in three games and remains first in the tournament.
That same day, the Guatemalan champion starts his tournament against Costa Rican favourite. The 24th minute, the Mexican referee whistle a penalty for Costa Ricans, and midfielder of AEK Athens Walter Centeno gives the advantage to his own. But the men of Steve Sampson are nervous, and just before halftime, Rodrigo Cordero harvested a second card yellow, synonymous with expulsion, and Costa Rica will play the entire second period at 10 against 11. And assent tomb 3 minutes after the start of the second period, Fredy García equalizes for the Guatemala. The men of Julio César Cortés grow, but the score does not evolve, two former champions of the UNCAF Cup will leave on this 1-1.
Two days later, at Colon, Costa Rica reassures somewhat against the victim designated of the tournament, Nicaragua, and thanks to Erick Scott at the 16th minute, won a precious win which puts los Ticos in the standings of the competition. Two wins and one draw, Costa Rica is at the top of the group.
The Salvador, for its part, faces the Honduras to resume the reins of Costa Ricans. And it is thing made at the 81st through Gilberto Murgas. Selecta earns three points more, and distance at the same time a Honduran selection that is very difficult to regain the glorious past of his elders.
After a first defeat in the opening of the tournament, Panama expects to raise its head against a serious suitor, the Guatemala. And the estadio Rommel Fernández expects no less. The game is hard, bitter, Mario Mendéz opened the score at the 29th minute, fans exult, Roberto Brown shapes victory at the 36th, the Panamanian people believe more and more, but Honduran referee has work, Joel Solanilla and Gilberto Walter are expelled on the side of Panama, and the yellow card became commonplace during this game (5 on the side of Panamanian, 3 for the Guatemala). Final score, 2-0 victory of Panama, who can still believe it, while Bicolor leaves the field open to take the top in Costa Rica.
On 18 February, the Guatemala wants to erase his loss to the host country, and nothing better that to confront the Nicaragua, for the moment only selection to have collected any point in this competition. And these points again, expect the striker of Los Angeles Galaxy Carlos Ruiz having decided to mark this match of its footprint by signing one tripled. Accompanied in his hunger for goals by Fredy García (77th) and Carlos Figueroa (81st), the Guatemala corrects Nicaragua 5-0 and goes on the prowl to win his second UNCAF Cup.
That same day, the Panama receives the Honduras with online highlights a vital victory to not let go Costa Rica and the Guatemala in the race for the title. But Jairo Martínez passes by and opens the score for H at the 29th minute. The estadio Rommel Fernández is turned off, the Panama pushes, and despite the equalization of Víctor Mendieta at the 61st, Panamanians returned to the locker room on the final score of 1-1. A victory, a defeat, a draw, the balance sheet for the Panama is not the happiest, and the dream of a sacred on his land becomes more illusory.
As much as two days later, the Guatemala against the Salvador followed a 2-0 victory, and with seven points in four games played, returned to Costa Rica with a match more height.
But Costa Rica intends nothing let go, and against Honduras that same day, Steven Bryce in stoppage time of the first half opened the score for los Ticos. Nothing more will be marked, score final 1-0 for the Costa Ricans, who take the wide at the top of the standings and feel close to the scent of victory in this 2003 UNCAF Cup.
On 21 February, in the capital of the country Panama City, the event that all supporters of the Pinoleros eagerly finally arrives, and this facing the host country Panama, when Emilio Palacios opened the score at the 83rd minute, and the Salvadoran referee whistles the end of the match, the Nicaragua finally won his first game and its first points in the UNCAF Cup. Issue for some, the Panama loses with this match his last hopes in a tournament very badly started.
Two days later, the ranking is decanted and the trophy still hesitate between the Guatemala and Costa Rica. To always believe, Guatemalans face Honduras with the imperative of victory. Guillermo Ramírez don't have to doubt his own and opened the score in the seventh minute, the Guatemala leads 1-0. In the second half, Carlos Figueroa finishes the work, and despite the reduction of the score from Amado Guevara (76th), Bicolor wins the match should not lose to always expect a lose of Costa Ricans.
And for the last match of the competition, Costa Rica faces the host country Panama injured in his pride. A victory or a draw of Costa Ricans, and the title will join the other three already gleaned in the past. But the Panama is at home, and the estadio Rommel Fernández expects a revolt of his own. Half time is piped with a score of parity 0-0, and to conclude in beauty this tournament and prove to the other selections which is better, Alonso Solis opening the score at the 73rd. Score final 1-0, 4 wins and a match draw, as is the balance of los Ticos in this 2003 UNCAF Cup.
Costa Rica won the fourth UNCAF Cup in its history, and qualified along the Guatemala and the Salvador for the next Gold Cup 2003.
With three goals in this competition, the Guatemalan Fredy García and Carlos Ruiz finished top scorers of the 2003 UNCAF Cup.
A tie for fourth place, a draw shall be made between the Honduras and Panama to designate who will officially finish fourth in the competition, and will play a preliminary round against Martinique and Trinidad and Tobago, to participate in the 2003 Gold Cup. After the draw, the Honduras is appointed fourth of the 2003 UNCAF Cup.
