For the twelfth edition of the Copa Centroamericana (formerly UNCAF Nations Cup), the UNCAF means Costa Rica as host country. This is the third time, after the editions 1999 and 1991 that Costa Rica is organizing the competition. All matches of the competition will be held at the estadio Nacional, 35,060 spectators, in the city of San José, the capital of the country.
Seven national teams of Central America are participating in the Copa Centroamericana 2013, 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 Copa Centroamericana 2013. The five best selections of the tournament qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2013 in [pays:13]the United States.
January 18, 2013, the twelfth Copa Centroamericana begins.
In Group A, Costa Rica, unfortunate finalist of the last edition, is seeded. Favourite of the competition, each time that Costa Ricans organized the Copa Centroamericana, they won it. They are vying to add a seventh sacred to their record in this tournament. Facing them, Guatemala (winner of the 2001 Copa Centroamericana) is logically the most dangerous group selection. Despite two recent Copa Centroamericana where Bicolor was able to pass the first round, Guatemalans remain a tough opponent in Central America. Behind these two nations, Nicaragua and Belize will try to please their fans, with the objective to pass for the first time in their history the cape of the first round in Copa Centroamericana.
For the first match of the competition, the Guatemala faces the Nicaragua. The estadio Nacional de San José is virtually empty (200 viewers), and half time is piped with a score of 0-0. Out of the locker room, the Nicaraguan defender Josué Quijano made the net at the 47th minute, but the experienced David Espinoza equalizes for 'Bicolor' at the 67th. More nothing happens in this opening match, both teams will leave on this score of 1-1.
Later in the day, the stadium fills gradually to attend the introduction of the Costa Rica against Belize. Belizeans are resistant to los Ticos and keep the score of 0-0 until half-time, but the striker of Columbus Crew Jairo Arrieta popped up at the 55th and gives the victory to Costa Ricans. Score final 1-0, Costa Rica begins its tournament with three points.
Two days later, Belize is opposed to the Guatemala. The winner of this match would ideally place for qualification in the semi-finals, but the match is sterile, and the two teams end the game with a score of 0-0.
In the other game of the day, Costa Rica welcomes the Nicaragua, and Cristian Lagos opened the scoring at the 7th minute. 1-0 for los Ticos, the players of Enrique Llena try to comeback, but eventually, Celso Borges double upgrading at the 86th, and Costa Rica, with the 2-0 win, validates his ticket to the semifinals.
January 22, 2013, the Nicaragua faces Belize, and the winner of this match still has a chance to expect a next semi-final in this Copa Centroamericana. It would be a moment of history for one of the two teams, and the Belizean midfielder Trevor Lennen opens the door to exploit at the 29th minute. 1-0 for Belize at half-time. The second period ahead in time, when Elvis Figueroa equates to los Pinoleros at the 85th minute. A match no one arranges person, and it is time that chooses the striker star of Jaguars Deon McCaulay to score his first goal of the competition. Score final 2-1, moment of history for the selection of Belize, who won his first match in Copa Centroamericana. But more than this victory, with four points in three games, Jaguars are in second position in the group until the last match between Costa Rica and the Guatemala.
And the Guatemala knows, it must win to regain the second place of the group in Belize. But Jairo Arrieta is not there to enjoy Guatemalans, and he opened the score at the 11th minute for los Ticos. Bicolor pushed back into the match and always believe in its chances of qualifying, but the time turns, and the goal of José Manuel Contreras is not enough for the happiness of Guatemala (90th). Score final 1-1, Costa Rica finished first in the group and still unbeaten in the competition, and for the first time in ten participations, Belize accesses the semi-finals of the Copa Centroamericana. Things are changing slowly but curely in Central America!
In Group B, the Honduran champion is seeded. Returning to the forefront in Central America, the Honduras now wants to add a fourth Copa Centroamericana to his tally, and hopes to achieve this feat on his greatest adversary, Costa Rica land. In this group with three teams, the Salvador and the Panama arrived in this competition with the status of outsiders.
For the first match of the group, the Honduras faces the Salvador. The game is balanced, and both teams leave after 45 minutes of play with a score of 0-0. At the 75th minute, the forward of the American club New England Revolution Jerry Bengston gives the advantage to H, but Selecta doubt not long and Rafael Burgos brings his own back in the match two minutes later. Score final 1-1, this group looks tight.
Two days later, the Panama begins its competition against the Salvador, and in a stadium where only 250 spectators moved, no player found the solution and both teams left with a score of 0-0. 2 points in two games, the Salvador must now await the outcome of the last match of the group to find out what its future will be made in the tournament.
And this last game, that is the Panama against the Honduras. 13th minute, Marcos Sánchez opened the score. 1-0 for the Panama. The Honduras is virtually eliminated, and Juan Pablo Montes does not want to go home prematurely and equalizes at the 31st. 1-1, final score.
All the teams have two points, and the Honduras finished first in the group in having scored one goal more than the Salvador and the Panama. But second place qualifying for the semi-finals, it is the tie between the two selections, and the draw must designate who will be the happy chosen. And the fate looks for Selecta, the Panama is eliminated without losing any match.
Before the semifinals, the match for the fifth place of the tournament takes place between the Panama and the Guatemala. The winner qualifies for the next CONCACAF Gold Cup 2013 in the United States. And although disappointed not to participate in the semi-finals the Panama remains determined, and Blas Pérez opened the score at the 28th minute. Alcibiades Rojas then Alberto Quintero heavier the score (55th and 58th), and despite the reduction in the scoreboard by Minor López at the 75th minute, Panamanians won this match and are therefore qualified for the next Gold Cup.
On 25 January, the semi-finals of the Copa Centroamericana 2013 start.
To begin with, the Honduras faces Belize. Experience against the unexpected. And neophytes Belizeans boldly played their luck, the Guatemalan referee whistles the halftime score of 0-0. 67th minute, Brayan Beckeles brand for H. Belize wants to return to the score, but Hondurans are good, and the course of the Jaguars stop at the semi-final stage, hoping perhaps better for next time. For its part, the Honduras reached the final of the Copa Centroamericana with the intention to retain his title for the sixth time.
In the other semi-final, the Salvador will try to depress the Costa Rican ogre. Almost 5,000 fans expect a victory for the Ticos, and it is finally the midfield of the Portland Timbers Rodney Wallace issuing the stadium at the 72nd. Score final 1-0 to Costa Rica, who will now face an old acquaintance for a seventh win in Copa Centroamericana.
On 27 January, the day starts with the match for third place between the Salvador and Belize. And the hierarchy is respected, the forward Nelson Bonilla scoring the only goal of the match at the 50th minute. Selecta wins 1-0 and finished third in the competition. Belize can come out high-head of this tournament, and now give venue to the other selections of Central America with the aim of finally winning this trophy.
Later in the day, the estadio Nacional of San José is filled with 14,146 spectators to attend the final of the Copa Centroamericana 2013, Costa Rica against the Honduras. The Salvadoran referee gives the kickoff, and the men of Jorge Luis Pinto is the fault at the 38th minute through defender Giancarlo González. 1-0 for los Ticos, the stadium is hot as embers. H does not abandon, it grows to equalize, Costa Ricans give nothing, and final whistle sounds in the aisles to the stage.
Costa Rica is a champion for the seventh time, the Honduras must bow to the lighthouse of Central American nation.
With two goals scored during the competition, Costa Rican Jairo Arrieta is the top scorer of the Copa Centroamericana 2013.
In the company of Costa Rica and the Honduras, the Salvador, Belize and the Panama qualified for the next CONCACAF Gold Cup 2013 in the United States.
