- January, 24 2009 -
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JANURAY 24TH – TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS: After an initial stumble with a draw in its opening game with Nicaragua in the Copa Digicel, El Salvador gave its chances of automatic qualification to the semi finals a huge boost last night, by easily dismissing Belize with a score-line that could have been a lot more dramatic.
El Salvador seemed to be a totally rejuvenated side from the one that drew with Nicaragua two nights previously in the opening game of the Copa Digicel, as it passed the ball with authority and purpose from start to finish, intent on learning from its mistakes from the Group A opening game.
After only 13 minutes, El Salvador opened its account when Alfredo Pacheco sent keeper Woodrow West the wrong way and easily dispatched the penalty awarded after West had upended midfielder Corrales in the box, after his mazy dribble from 20 yards out.
The second goal came for El Salvador almost as an exact carbon copy of the first, when Pacheco again sent West in the wrong direction as he converted his second penalty of the night to double his and El Salvador’s account - all after only 28 minutes of play.
Mexican coach, Carlos de los Cobos, must have wondered what team he sent out for the opening game of Group A in the Copa Digicel as the El Salvadorians resembled nothing of the previous lack luster approach, as they set about dismantling a now weakened Belize side. Only for some poor finishing from Cesar Larios, El Salvador could have been further in front before half time.
Belize coach, Renán Couoh, started the second half by bringing on Lisbey Castillo and Christobal Gilharray to try and kickstart the Belize team into making some impact onto this one-sided game. And, after 72 minutes, his tactics paid off when both substitutes had a hand in the build-up play which led to striker Jeromy James’ soft shot, which took a deceiving dip to allude keeper Juan Gomez and bring the scoreline back to a competitive 2-1.
El Salvador, however, reacted positively and was in no mood to give up the 2-0 lead it enjoyed for the majority of the match, and at the 75th minute it restored its two goal advantage, when Ramon Sanchez’s bullet header from an inch perfect cross from the right by Eliseo Quintanilla, gave West no chance in the Belize goal.
Not content with the scoreline and wanting to further stamp their mark of authority on the game, El Salvador rounded off the night in style when, in the last minute of the game, substitutes Renderos and Ayala combined beautifully, playing a neat one-two inside the box for the latter to finish from four yards with a clever little pass into the bottom right of the Belize goal.
El Salvador now sits pretty in Group A - all but assured of a semi final berth in the Copa Digicel with one match remaining and a spot in this Summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Team lineups
El Salvador: Juan Gómez (1), Alexander Escobar (2), Marvin Gonzales (3), César Larios (4), Luís Hernández (5), Ramón Sánchez (7), Salvador Coreas (9), Eliseo Quintanilla (10), Rudys Corrales (14), Alfredo Pacheco (15), Cristian Castillo (17).
Substitutions: Carlos Ayala (11), Edwin Miranda (11) y William Renderos (8).
Belize: Woodrow West (1), Ryan Simpson (3), Shannon Flowers (5), Ian Gaynar (7), Elroy Kuylen (9), Harrison Roches (10), Dennis Serrano (13), Bernard Linares (14), Víctor Morales (15), Lester Serrano (17), Elroy Smith (18).
Substitutions: Lisbey Castillo (6), Christobal Gilharray (11), Jeromy James (12)
Referee: Walter Quezada (Costa Rica)
For more information on the Copa de Naciones Digicel, logon to www.digicelfootball.com
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ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP
Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the largest wireless telecommunications operator in the Caribbean with more than six million customers. After seven years, Digicel is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services and state-of-the-art handsets. By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting-edge of wireless communications – the company is also a new entrant to the Central American market.
Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the largest wireless telecommunications operator in the Caribbean with more than six million customers. After seven years, Digicel is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services and state-of-the-art handsets. By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting-edge of wireless communications – the company is also a new entrant to the Central American market.
Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and now has operations in 31 markets worldwide. Its Caribbean and Central American markets comprise Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. The Caribbean company also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths. Digicel Pacific comprises Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean and Central American sports teams, including the West Indies Cricket Team and Special Olympics teams throughout the region. Digicel is also title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Championships and the Copa de Naciones Digicel, which are the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
