For the tenth edition of the UNCAF nations Cup, the UNCAF originally designates the Panama as host country. But the Panamanian football federation must decline the organization of the tournament, because any stadium of the country cannot host the competition, all being already occupied by other national competitions. As relief, the UNCAF must choose between the Honduras and the Guatemala, and finally the tenth Cup UNCAF takes the path of the Honduras and take place in the estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino, in the capital Tegucigalpa.
Seven national teams of Central America are participating in the 2009 UNCAF Cup, teams being divided into two groups for the first round. The top two from each group meet at the semi-final stage, and then the final will determine the winner of the 2009 UNCAF Cup. The five best selections of the tournament will qualify to 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
January 22, 2009, the tenth UNCAF Nations Cup starts.
In Group A, the Honduras, on his land, wants to revive its glorious past in this competition and to forget his poor route in the latest edition. Another favorite of the group, the Salvador, selection regularly in the UNCAF Cup semifinals, wants this time reaching the final of the competition for the first time in its history. Facing these two outsiders in the tournament, Nicaragua and Belize are hoping secretly create big sensation and why not, pass the first round of the UNCAF Cup.
Salvadorans opened the ball in estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino against the Nicaragua. And the start of match is unfortunate for Nicaraguan defender Silvio Avilés, who scored against his side at the 18th minute. The men of Carlos De Los Cobos make the race, but the middle defensive Martin Shawn takes two yellow cards in two minutes (23rd and 25th) and leaves his teammates at 10 against 11 for the last hour of play. Nicaragua, in numerical superiority, saw an opportunity to take the three points and ideally begin the competition. Selecta gathers into defence, and half time is piped on the score of 1-0. In the back of the locker room, the Nicaragua grows to equalize, and was finally rewarded at the 85th with Marlon Medina. Score final 1-1, the Salvador comes out well, the men of Ramón Otoniel Olivas can feed any regrets.
Later in the day, the Honduras welcomes Belize before 20,000 supporters acquired to his cause. Captain Amado Guevara opened the score at the 32nd, joy in the stadium. 61st minute, Walter Martínez double setting for the H, and despite the reduction of the score by Lisbey Castillo four minutes from the end of regulation time, the Honduras starts perfectly its UNCAF Cup.
Two days later, Belize still wants to believe in a future potential in this competition, it should absolutely beat the Salvador. But the men of Renan Couch are too undisciplined, and conceded two penalties to Salvadorans, penalties converted by Alfredo Pacheco. 2-0 at halftime, then the burst of pride occurs for Belizeans at the 73rd thanks Jeromy James, but Selecta increases the score two minutes later by Ramón Alfredo Sánchez, until Carlos Ernesto Ayala sealed the game at the 88th. Score final 4-1, the Salvador will validate his ticket for the semi-finals with two wins in two games, Belize, still too tender, leaves as the previous editions the tournament in the first round.
And this day is the day of the 4-1, since the Honduras face the Nicaragua leaves no suspense to the supporters, Mario César Rodríguez scoring the first goal for H at the 16th minute, before Armando Ismael Reyes doesn't equate to los Pinoleros at the 30th. But the second period is one-way, and the unfortunate own goal by Nicaraguan captain David Solórzano at the 65th gives ideas to the players of Reinaldo Rueda, Saul Martínez (73rd) and Walter Martínez (79th) give the victory to Hondurans. 6 points in two games, the Honduras accompanied by the Salvador for the semi-finals.
January 26, 2009, Belize national selection marks his first historic point in UNCAF Cup during his confrontation with the Nicaragua. Taking the advantage in the part at the 27th minute through Byron Usher, Belizeans returning to the locker room with the score of 1-0. But the Nicaragua does not want to be the first selection to fall before the men of Renan Couch, and Juan Ramón Barrera equalizes at the 66th. Nothing happens next, score final 1-1, the Nicaragua and Belize are eliminated from the 2009 UNCAF Cup, but these two teams of Central America become a little tougher to deal with opponents.
In "the finale" of the group to take the first place, the Honduras is facing the Salvador. 34th minute, Costa Rican referee whistle a penalty for H, and Carlos Pavón gives the advantage to his own. In the second half, Marvin Antonio Chávez double the score at the 73rd, score final 2-0, the Honduras finished first in the group, 3 wins in 3 matches, the Honduras can feed from serious ambitions for this competition.
In Group B, Costa Rica, with its six UNCAF Nations Cup titles (including three won consecutively), is the favourite of the competition. Facing him, the Guatemala, winner in 2001 and semi-finalists of the last edition, wants to remember the good memories of the other selections and win his second UNCAF Cup. Third team, the Panama is the nation that rises in Central America, and after losing his first final at the last edition, the Panamanians want to continue their progress and win this 2009 UNCAF Cup. It is a group with three strong contenders to the final victory.
January 23, Costa Rica faces Panama, revenge of the final of the last edition. Andy Furtado began his tournament with one doubled, and los Ticos return to the locker room with a score of 2-0. 55th minute, Álvaro Sánchez scored the third goal of the match for Costa Rica, and the defending champions give a real lesson for their debut in the competition. The Panama is knocked out, Costa Rica is hungry!
Two days later, it is the Guatemala that will attempt to drop the men of Rodrigo Kenton. But definitely, Costa Rica is domineering in this group stage, Álvaro Sánchez signing his second goal of the competition at the 34th. Mynor López gives hope to 'Bicolor' at the 51st, but Pablo Herrera (59th) and Roberto Segura (61st) then hit in turn, and Costa Rica, with two wins in two games, six goals scored for only two conceded, sends other caps a serious message.
January 27, is the second place in the group and thus qualifying for the semi-finals which is played between the Guatemala and the Panama. These two teams want to pass the first round, and the game suffers. Alberto Zapata opened the scoring at the 31st, 1-0 to the Panama. The Salvadoran referee is put to contribution and expels the defensive midfielder Víctor Herrera at the 39th after two consecutive yellow cards. Panamanians are going to play the entire second period at 10 against 11! Bicolor grows, but los Canaleros does not crack, and at the final whistle, it is the Panama who savors the taste of victory and prepares now for his semi-final. The shot is rude to the Guatemala, eliminated for the first time in its history in the first round of the competition.
Before the semifinals, the tournament offers a match for fifth place between the Nicaragua and Guatemala, the winner goes to the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. And obviously the defeat against the Panama did evil to Guatemalans. Samuel Wilson signed one doubled during this match for los Pinoleros, and calls at the same time the Nicaragua for the next Gold Cup in [pays:13]the United States. The Guatemala has lost everything in the space of two games.
On 30 January, the 2009 UNCAF Nations Cup semifinals begin.
The day starts with Costa Rica against the Salvador. 2,500 supporters in the stadium. 14th minute, the Salvadoran defender Alexander Escobar takes a red card, and Andy Furtado, three minutes later, scores his third goal of the tournament for los Ticos. 25th minute, Salvadoran striker Eliseo Quintanilla takes a second card yellow, synonymous with expulsion, and the Salvador, led to the score, is going to have fight 9 tale 11 during the last hour of play! The mission turns out to be too difficult for Selecta, who feels flouee in this encounter, and is unexpected, the match is stopped at the 60th when six players from the Salvador team leave the lawn in full disagreement with arbitral decisions. Score final 1-0, Costa Rica wins on green carpet and arrives for the seventh time consecutively in the UNCAF Cup final!
Later in the day, the Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino fills suddenly of 20,000 supporters, all present to look forward to the confrontation between his favorite, the Honduras, and the Panama. 40th minute, the midfielder of Sporting San Miguelito Ricardo Phillips opened the score at the 40th. Clap of thunder in the stadium, 1-0 for the Panama! H grows back to the score, fans give voice, but Panamanians hold good and final whistle sounds. The Panama is in the final of the 2009 UNCAF Cup with the firm intention to win!
For the third place of the tournament, Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino ring hollow when Honduras and the Salvador on the lawn. In a match where the Costa Rican referee released a red for each team card, the Honduras, thanks to Roger Espinoza (30th), finished his competition by a victory, but full regret in the head.
February 1, 2009, the Panama faces Costa Rica in the final of the 2009 UNCAF Cup for revenge of the latest edition. The game is balanced between two selections, and despite opportunities on each side, the referee whistles the end of the match on the score 0-0 tie. As two years earlier, the name of the champion will decide in the session of the penalties. But this time, it is Costa Rica, which fails, and the Panama wins 5 shots at 3. History! The Panama won its first UNCAF Cup and account now among the major nations in Central America!
With three goals scored in the entire competition, the Costa Rican striker Andy Furtado is the top scorer of the 2009 UNCAF Nations Cup.
With Costa Rica and the Panama, the Honduras, the Salvador and the Nicaragua qualify to 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the United States.
