Review : Guatemala 2022/23 Liga Nacional Apertura – Week 6

August 21 & 22, 2022

Round 6

Deportivo Mixco 2-0 Club Xelaju MC

Antigua GFC 6-0 Deportivo Achuapa

Comunicaciones FC 2-2 CSD Municipal

CD Malacateco 1-0 Coban Imperial

Deportivo Guastatoya 1-1 Santa Lucia

Deportivo Xinabajul 1-1 Deportivo Iztapa

Round 6 of the Guatemala 2022/23 Liga Nacional Apertura opened with newly promoted Deportivo Mixco chalking up their second consecutive home victory, in front of a near capacity crowd in their compact stadium, to move further away from the relegation zone as they overcome Club Xelaju, who extended their winless run to three games.

After Xelaju had an early goal disallowed when international forward Darwin Lom ( 15 caps ) clearly fouled the Mixco keeper before tucking home, 37 year old Mexican forward Augustin Herrera gave Mixco a 10^th minute lead after being left unmarked to stoop and head home a cross from the right from 6 yards.

Xelaju could have equalised in the 23^rd minute but Cardozo’s left-footed effort flashed wide, after which Lom headed over from a good position.

In the second half Mixco’s Marquez sent a long range free-kick against the top of the bar but Xelaju then created a host of chances for the equaliser but Cardosa, Ruiz and Lom were all denied. Mixco wrapped up the three points with another close-range header from Herrera 6 minutes from time. On another day Xelaju could easily have won this game, but they missed their chances but Mixco took theirs.

Antigua GFC went into their match with Deportivo Achuapa in 6^th place in the table, with the visitors in 8^th place. However, a disastrous performance from Achuapa saw them slump to the bottom of the table after two red cards and a 0-6 thrashing as Antigua climbed up into second place. There was little hint of the avalanche of goals to come in the first half, although Dewinder Bradley’s long-range effort had crept in of the post to give Antigua an early lead, and Achuapa had chances to get back on level terms. However, Colombian striker Harold Reina received two yellow cards within three minutes just before the interval to reduce Achuapa to 10 men to change the complexion of the game.

Argentinian journeyman striker Lucas Gomez, who has scored goals in Peru, Boliva, Azerbaijan, Honduras, Costa Rica and Venezuela as well as in Guatemala and his home country, smartly turned past his marker to add Antigua’s second goal in the 56^th minute.

Colombian defender Juan Orosio then joined Reina for an early shower by bringing down Gomez when the striker was bursting clear on goal, and although the offence looked to be just outside the area, a penalty and the red card were awarded. Argentine midfielder Cristian Hernandez despatched the spot-kick to make it 3-0 with 63 minutes played.

Against 9 men, Antigua showed no mercy and added further goals from Gomez, Selvin Sagastume, Cristian Jimenez to complete the rout.

Comunicaciones’ slow start to the season continued as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to CSD Municipal, who had started the round in second place. 

 

Both sides had earlier been in mid-week action in the CONCACAF League, with Municipal fighting back after falling 0-2 behind at home to Honduran side Olimpia after just 10 minutes to earn a 2-2 draw after Olimpia had correctly two players shown red cards for nasty fouls.

Comunicaciones slipped to a 0-1 home loss to Diriangen of Nicaragua and following a a 1-1 draw this week in the return leg in Nicaragua, have been eliminated from the competition 1-2 on aggregate

Comunicaciones got off to an ideal start to the El Clasico Chapin when Costa Rican born but naturalised Guatemalan international striker, Andres Lozcano rose to powerfully head home with barely a minute on the clock. Municipal responded strongly and had several promising moves before they equalised in the 35^th minute, striker Luis Martinez ( 26 caps ) being left unmarked to head home a free-kick from the left touch-line.

Just before half-time Municipal put the ball into the back of the net, but it was chalked off for a marginal off-side, so the scores remained level at the break.

Comunicaciones also scored early in the second half, this time Honduran midfielder Kevin Lopez ( 13 caps ) got onto the end of a in-swinging cross from the left to bundle the ball over the line from close range, with the ball probably coming off his chest as he dived for a header inside the 6 yard area.

Colombian substitute Eliser Quinones looked lively for the home side, and his ferocious long-range effort was smartly tipped over the bar by keeper Jerez. Comunicaciones looked to be holding out for a much needed three points when slack defending two minutes from time allowed Cuban international Yasniel Matos ( 6 caps ) to steal in unnoticed at the far post to head home a bouncing cross for the equaliser.

After their 1-4 hammering at Antigua the previous week, Malacateco faced another stern test at home to runaway leaders Coban Imperial but a smart finish from left winger Luis Perez, cutting back inside to place his right-footed shot just inside the far post gave them a confidence booster in the 12^th minute. Colombian Emerson Cordoba should have doubled their lead shortly after but after showing good control to beat his marker, steered the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Coban Imperial gradually got into the game, but found Malacateco keeper Luis Ruiz, returning after a short-spell out with injury, in good form and they rarely looked like scoring an equaliser.

The match between Deportivo Guastatoya and Santa Lucia saw 5^th play 11^th but with Guastatoya having drawn four of their previous five matches, the pattern was repeated with another 1-1 draw at the picturesque, tree-lined Estadio David Cordon Hinchos. Veteran centre-back Ruben Morales put the home side ahead in the 35^th minute, athletically finishing and Santa Lucia keeper Garcia had made a point-blank save to keep out a header from a corner.

Guastatoya should have increased their lead early in the second half but Garcia made a brave close-range block to deny Barrera but against the run of play, a nice move saw Kener Lemus teed up to sweep home the equaliser from around 12 yards. The home side piled on the pressure, but Garcia made another fantastic reaction save to keep out Colombian striker Orlen Quintero’s header from a few yards out. Deportivo will be disappointed not to have won this game.

The last game of the round was a meeting between two struggling sides as bottom side Deportivo Xinabajul hosted 9^th place Deportivo Iztapa.

Uruguayan defender Frederico Antunez gave Xinabajul a 4^th minute lead, heading home from a corner after a poor mis-judgement by the Iztapa keeper. Johny Canothen equalized from the penalty spot in the 61 minute, and only a combination of brave goalkeeping and a desperate block prevented the visitors from taking the lead a few minutes later. Xinabajul pressed for a late winner but they were unable to create any decent chances, and their appeals for a penalty were ignored.