For the eighth edition of the UNCAF Nations Cup, the UNCAF designates the Guatemala as host country, eight years after having organized the competition for the first time. All games of the tournament will be held in the estadio Nacional Mateo Flores, national stadium in Guatemala City.
Seven national teams of Central America are participating in the 2005 UNCAF Cup, competition exchange format, the teams are divided into two groups for the first round. The top two from each group meet at the semi-final stage, and then a final will determine the winner of the 2005 UNCAF Cup. The top four selections in the tournament qualify for the Gold Cup 2005.
February 19, 2005, the eighth UNCAF Nations Cup starts.
In Group A, Guatemala, on his land, aspires to win the second UNCAF Cup in its history. The Honduras, meanwhile, after three consecutive failures in this competition, wants to remind all of Central America does not have double winner of the tournament for nothing. Facing these two outsiders, Nicaragua and Belize does drop nothing, having everything to gain.
And for Nicaraguans, this desire is put to the test as soon as the first match against the Hondurans. And for those who still doubted, H is not there to joke. After the opening of the score by Milton Nunez at the 19th minute, the men of José Da La Paz Herrera still grow and Wilmer Velasquez, the striker star of the Club Deportivo Olimpia, begins his show. 1 goal before halftime (42nd), a second return from the locker room (51st), and Honduran striker signed one tripled at the 73rd. The first scorer of the match Milton Núñez scorres also one doubled (84th), and despite the reduction of the score at the 54th by Milton Bustos, the Nicaragua begins its tournament with a 5-1 correction. Meanwhile, the Honduras hits a great shot from the outset, and is already big impression.
In the other game of the day, the Guatemala welcomes Belize with the want of his tournament. It is done at the 35th minute, when Edwin Villatoro releases the stadium. 1-0 for 'Bicolor', then 2-0 after a penalty at the 72nd. Own work, the men of Ramon Maradiaga are present.
Two days later, Belizeans are facing the Honduras with the secret hope of not taking a suitcase. But Honduran strikers are on fire, and the doubles Wilmer Velasquez - Milton Nunez is hungry for goals, first opening the score at the seventh minute, before that second sign a new doubled in this match. Wilson Palacios mingles with the joy of the strikers just before the end of the match (88th). Score final 4-0, two games for Honduras, two victories, 9 goals scored, banked 1! H is back!
To keep pace, the Guatemala must win against the Nicaragua. And it is indeed a duel which is played in this group, los Pinoleros taking only 11 minutes before Juan Carlos Plata opens the score for the premises. Exceeded in the game, Nicaraguans are starting to play the spike, and the Salvadoran referee changes from yellow to red without batting an eyelid against Nicaragua (5 yellow cards, 2 red cards). 9 against 11, los Pinoleros can only undergo, and the game ends with a new disappointment, 4-0 for the Guatemala.
In the final of the beaten of the group, the Nicaragua outweighs Belize on the score of 1-0, goal by Juan Carlos Vilchez. Belizeans finish once again a UNCAF Cup without marking any point.
In the other game, the first place of the group is at stake between the Honduras and the Guatemala. Gonzalo Romero opened the score at the 22nd. Clamor in the estadio Mateo Flores. The Honduras seeks to return to the score, and the inevitable Wilmer Velasquez signed his fifth goal of the tournament. 1-1, score final, the two favorites of the group cannot decide, but easily qualified for the semi-finals of the competition.
In Group B, Costa Rica, from the top of her four titles in UNCAF Cup, is obviously the big favourite. Behind, the Salvador and the Panama are battle-ready to go in the semifinals.
And this place to qualify for the second round can be played in this direct confrontation between the Panama and the Salvador. The estadio Mateo Flores knows, 10,000 people having made the trip in the stadium to attend this match. The game is tight, and the 0-0 is the score at the end of the first half. At the 77th, Juan Ramón Solís opens the score for Panamanians, Selecta grows to equalize, but awkwardly, Marvin Benitez being expelled by the Mexican referee. Score final 1-0 to the Panama.
Two days later, the Salvador faces Costa Rica and must defeat the quadruple champion for not prematurely go home. And the exploit took form at the 40th minute when Dennis Alas gives the advantage to Selecta. Earlier in the match, Costa Rican midfielder Danny Fonseca found no better than follow a yellow card (21st) and then a red seven minutes later, leaving his teammates to 10 for the last hour of play. Led to the score and outnumbered, Costa Rica began the second period with the hope of limiting case. But the Guatemalan referee is the man of the second period, expelling two Salvadoran players at the 60th minute. At 9 against 10, Selecta crack for the first time and Whayne Wilson equalizes for Costa Rica. 77th minute, new red card for the Salvador, then another at the 90th, spaces are more easily created at 7 to 10! And Roy Myrie took the opportunity to give the edge to score at the end of part, score final 2-1 to Costa Rica, and 4 to 1 for the Salvador at the level of the red cards.
On 23 February, the first place of the group is played between los Ticos and the Panama. In a match where cartons, once more, to notice more than the goals, Roy Murie opened the score at the 81st minute for Costa Rica, and the two teams to end up with this first round. Towards the semi-finals.
On 25 February, the first semi-final confront the Costa Rican titleholder and the Guatemala. And the logical favorite of the match keeps his rank, Geinder Segura opening the score at the 8th minute for los Ticos, until Douglas Segueira (22nd) then Whayne Wilson worse (42nd) the score. 3-0 at halftime, the estadio Mateo Flores fears for his team a terrible correction. The return of the locker room, Bicolor limited case, banking only one new goal at the 61st. Final score 4-0, Costa Rica is in the final after a demonstration against the organizing country.
In the other semi-final, the Honduras faces the Panama. Debates are more balanced, and the striker star of the tournament Wilmer Velásquez delivers his own at the 72nd and sends H in the final of the 2005 UNCAF Cup.
Two days later, the day begins with the small final between the Guatemala and the Panama. At home, the Guatemalan players want to finish on a good note, and Edwin Villatoro shows the way at the 7th minute. After one doubled by Juan Carlos Plata, Bicolor finished his competition in third place with 3-0 victory.
This is the time of the final of the tournament, when also find Costa Rica against Honduras, so classic confrontation in the early days of the UNCAF Cup. The quadruple champion against the double winner of the competition.
The Guatemalan referee gives the kickoff, and the end of the 90 minutes will give the name of the dominate selection in Central America. 58th minute, Milton Nunez hit a fifth time in the tournament and gives the advantage to the Hondurans. Haughty, Costa Rica replied 10 minutes later by Whayne Wilson, and both teams finished regulation time with a score of 1-1. Extensions. Nothing happens, the penalties will seal the winner of the 2005 UNCAF Cup.
And in this little game, after a lengthy session, Costa Rica wins 7-6 and raises a fifth time the UNCAF nations Cup. The Honduras is sorry, but takes date for the next competition. In the meantime, in the company of the Guatemala and Panama, the two finalists of the tournament qualify for the Gold Cup 2005.
With six goals in the competition, Wilmer Velasquez is the top scorer of the 2005 UNCAF Cup.
