May 12, 2025
These diaries have been fairly regular visitors to football in Nicaragua, with 7 previous reports, the last being in April 2024 when Managua FC won 2-0 at Indigenas de Matagalpa.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2024/04/indigenas-de-matagalpa-fc-0-2-managua.html
Today saw the second leg of the Clausura semi-final, with the first meeting between the two sides last Thursday ending in a 1-1 draw. The second leg was being played at the 20,000 capacity National Football Stadium, Managua’s usual home ground in the capital which has an artificial surface, for the right to play Real Esteli in the Grand Final.
2024/25 Season Recap
Like many South and Central American countries, Nicaragua follows the Apertura and Clausura format.
The Apertura season was won by Diriangen, who after finishing top in the regular 18 game season, eliminated 6th placed Managua FC in the semi-final on penalties after two 1-1 draws, and then went on to beat Real Esteli in the final, with a goal in the 6th minute of added time in the home second leg, to win 4-3 on aggregate. This became Diriangen’s 33rd title.
Real Esteli comfortably headed the Clausura table, finishing 10 points clear of second placed Managua, with Diriangen a further point behind in third place.
Diriangen beat Matagalpa 2-0 in the quarter final play-off to set up the semi-final with Managua. The first leg was played at the Cacique Diriangén Stadium, and the team from the capital team took an early lead, after a scintillating run down the left wing by Juan Barrera set up Maykel Reyes to finish from close range.
Diriangen dominated the rest of the match and created multiple clear chances, but found Managua goalkeeper Alyer López in inspired form, saving at least five attempts on goal. The equalizer eventually came in the 86th minute through Renzo Carballo, who slid in to turn a low cross from the right wing past the Managua keeper from 6 yards.
Managua FC
Since Managua were featured in these diaries in April 2024, they had been unable to add to their sole title, the 2018 Apertura.
Only two players remained from that day. One was record goal scorer for the national team Juan Barrera, whose 26 goals in 93 appearances was double that of the next highest on the all-time list with the other being defensive midfielder Kevin Serapio ( 28 caps ).
Keeper Alyer Lopez had 4 caps for Nicaragua, winger Abner Acuna had 11 caps, full-back Jeremy Cuarezma had 2 caps, and attacker Ronald Palacios had 1 cap.
Cuban forward Maykel Reyes ( 52 caps ) was Managua’s leading scorer in the Clausura campaign with 8 goals, and the other foreigners in the Managua squad included Argentine centre-back Matias Steib, Brazilian forward Lucas dos Santos ( who played for Diriangen in the game featured below in 2022 ), Colombian centre-back Darwin Carrero, who has played in Bolivia and Kuwait, and Costa Rican right back Junior Delgado. Ex-Real Esteli attacking midfielder Ewerton Bezerra was from Brazil.
Diriangen FC
Diriangen play in the city of Diriamba, located 44km south of the capital and are one of the oldest sides in Central America. Their Estadio Cacique Diriangen has an official capacity of 7,500, and the Caciques, which translates as Chieftans, usually play in some combination of black and white.
The last time Dirangen were featured in these diaries was back in April 2022, when they routed Export Sebaco 8-0, with 8 different goal scorers. Four of those scorers are still with the club, namely midfielders Jason Coronel ( 32 caps ), centre-forward Luis Coronel ( 18 caps ), defender and captain Erick Tellez ( 31 caps ) and tricky Argentinian winger Carlos Torres. Centre-back Justin Cano ( 3 caps ) was another survivor from that match.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2022/04/diriangen-fc-8-0-h-export-sebaco-att.html
Diriangen had four other Nicaragua internationals in their squad. Defensive midfielder Jonathan Moncada ( 18 caps ) was previously with Walter Ferretti and several years ago had a short stint with Latvian side Spartaks Jurmela, centre-back Melvin Hernandez ( 9 caps ), and full-back Anyelo Velasquez ( 1 cap ). Uruguay born former international Richard Rodriguez had won 19 caps for Nicaragua during his career.
In addition to Torres, Diriangen had two other foreigners in their squad. Argentinian midfielder Matais Galvaliz had joined from Guatemalan side Deportivo Guastatoya after having previously played for Honduran side CD Montagua, and Paraguayan forward Renzo Carballo had played for Tacuary in his home country. Carballo was their top scorer in the Clausura with 10 goals.
Recent Meetings
Prior to the semi-final first leg draw, the results of the two Clausura regular meetings were a 1-0 home win for Diriangen in February, but Managua obtained revenge with a 5-0 victory in the return game at the end of March.
Matchday Information
The journey from Diriamaba to Managua is 44 km, and should normally take an hour by road. It looked like around 100 or so fans had made the journey, but they were situated in the vast main stand. The Managua supporters were packed into the small open stand behind one of the goals, with a handful behind the other goal.
The weather at the 20.00 local kick-off time ( 03.00 UK ) was dry and 29 degrees.
The match was streamed live on the NicaSports YouTube channel, and on the FIFA+ website.
Bet365 made Diriangen 11/10 favourites, with Managua at 2/1 and the draw at 9/4.
Managua made one change from the first leg, with Serapio returning in place of Ramon Estrada, whilst Diriangen kept faith with the same starting XI.
Both sides were in their first choice kits, with Managua in all blue with a yellow band across the chest, whilst Diriangen were in a mostly white but with faint thin black stripes and black sleeves.
Match Report
Dirangen kicked off, attacking the end where the Managua fans were situated, but it was the home side who had the first attack in the opening minute. Ewerton’s floated through ball put Jose Martinez clear, but the linesman’s flag was raised for offside.
The first yellow card was shown in the 5th minute. Galvaliz tripped Ewerton as he attempted to go pass the Diriangen midfielder on the left, but as the whistle blew for the free-kick, Cano scythed down Barrera to receive the yellow card. Martinez crossed to beyond the far post but Diriangen keeper Ruiz dropped the ball under little pressure, and Reyes was on hand to scoop the ball over two defenders on the line to give Managua the lead. A huge clanger from the keeper and it was 1-0 in the 6th minute.
Managua’s cheers were short lived though, as Jeremey Cuarezma and Serapio made a hash of trying to clear a low free kick by Richard Rodriguez from the left, and Tellez spun to shoot across goal and into the far corner of the net. 1-1 after 9 minutes.
The yellow cards were soon evened up when Barrera flattened goal scorer Tellez, but shortly after Barrera did well on the left to send a cross towards the far post which Reyes steered back to Martinez, who skipped inside a defender to shoot left footed from just inside the area, but Ruiz partially redeemed himself by pushing the ball away and then gathering.
Back down the other end, Carballo attempted to get on the end of a raking cross from Rodriguez, but under pressure from Steib, could only head wide. Tellez then bravely blocked a shot from Reyes, the ball smacking into his private parts, and when writhing in agony on the ground, Reyes sportingly rushed to assist the Diriangen centre-back. Tellez was able to continue, and Reyes headed the first corner of the match high over the bar.
Oliver Oroczo brought down Serapio to give Managua a free-kick in a central position around 35 yards out. Ewerton’s fierce drive went into the defensive wall but the referee judged it to have been stopped by an arm, so Managua had another free-kick, but 10 yards closer to the goal. This time Martinez rolled the ball to Ewerton, who smashed the ball through the splintering wall, and with keeper Ruiz probably unsighted and motionless, the ball flew into the keeper’s left-hand corner. 2-1 in the 21st minute.
Almost immediately after, a long-range effort from bald but bearded playmaker Rodriguez was deflected to give the visitors their first corner. The delivery from Rodriguez was headed away, and when Martinez attempted to race down the right wing, he was impeded by Velasquez, who received the third yellow card of the game.
Diriangen carelessly gave the ball away in the middle of their half, but Martinez blazed from distance high and wide. As the game entered the 27th minute, and high cross from Moncada was headed back across goal by Rodriguez, but after a bit of a scramble, Managua were able to clear. A cross-cum-shot from Hernandez was then easily saved by the Managua keeper.
Martinez then popped up on the left wing to win a corner for Managua. Slightly controversially, shortly after, the referee played an advantage after a foul on Ewerton, but Managua put the ball out for a throw to allow treatment to Ewerton. The Brazilian eventually recovered without the trainer coming on to the pitch but Diriangen didn’t give possession back to Managua when play resumed.
Diriangen were enjoying a spell of pressure, but Managua defended a couple of free-kicks, a corner and a couple of crosses, until Steib barged over Orozco to add to the tally of yellow cards. Coronel’s right wing cross drifted wide of the far post. Yellow card were also shown to both benches.
With four minutes of the first half remaining, Managua broke through Reyes, but after a lay off to Martinez, Velasquez was able to get back to dispossess the diminutive Managua winger, who then was able to force a corner.
At the half-time interval, Managua led thanks to their strong start, but then were able to keep Diriangen at arm’s length despite the visitor’s enjoying the lion’s share of possession.
At the start of the second period, Diriangen nearly levelled the scores 15 seconds, but Galvaliz’s drive from close to the penalty spot after Moncada’s pull back from the byline was spectacularly pushed away by Lopez.
Managua broke quickly and Velasquez pushed over Martinez close to the Diriangen byline, and was fortunate not to be shown a second yellow card. After the free-kick was cleared, shortly after, Barrera’s 20 yard left-footed volley was pushed around the post by the diving Ruiz.
A flowing Diriangen move ended with Lopez bravely claiming Rodriguez’s cross, and he was rewarded by being clattered into by substitute Luis Coronel.
In the 54th minute a Diriangen free-kick from the angle of the penalty area was taken by Rodriguez, but went straight into the defensive wall and off for a corner. Shortly after, Luis Coronel then entered the referee’s notebook for a very late challenge on Cacares.
Diriangen were still pressing, and a delicate chip into the Managua area saw Rodriguez head across goal, but Managua were able to clear before a Diriangen forward could get to it.
In the 62nd minute Galvaliz played a pass across the penalty area for Moncada, but the effort was deflected for a corner. After some head tennis at the set-piece, Cano’s attempt was deflected for another corner, from which Luis Coronel’s weak header bounced easily for keeper Lopez to gather.
The visitors continued to probe and in the 65th minute Galvaliz’s long range volley went gently into arms of Managua keeper.
However, a long ball down left hand channel saw Reyes skip past Cano to get to the byline, nit his attempted square ball to Barrera from tight angle deflected off keeper Ruiz’s outstretched foot to Martinez, who slammed across the goal into corner of net from 6 yards. Martinez was shown a yellow card for taking his shirt off in celebration, but it was now 3-1 after 66 minutes.
Diriangen temporarily looked a beaten side but an overhit Managua corner reached Cuarezma, but his wild swing sent the ball high into the air and Ruiz was able to punch away. Reyes was injured during the attack and had to be taken off on a stretcher
Diriangen’s attempts to get back into the game saw a right wing cross headed away by Carrero, then Galvaliz was chopped done outside the Managua area, for which Barrera was shown a yellow card. Galvaliz sent the free-kick over the defensive wall, but Lopez made a smart diving save to push the ball away one-handed for a corner.
Dirangen continue to search for a goal, and a left wing cross was headed across goal by Carballo, but Luis Coronel’s wild slash headed for the corner flag. With 6 minutes remaining Velasquez’s low 25 yard left footed drive from left wnt across the goalmouth and although Carballo stuck out leg, he couldn’t make contact and the ball went off for a goal-kick.
With normal time up, Managua substitute Kevin Miranda was shown a yellow card for YC for blatantly stopping a free-kick from being taken. It was his first contribution after coming onto the pitch. The free-kick was cleared and Managua set off on a counterattack, but Lucas dos Santos hit post from edge of the area.
With the game petering out in added on time, a long range shot from Jason Coronel produced a regulation diving save from Managua keeper Lopez, then a right-wing cross bounced across the Managua 6 yard line and was headed off for a corner by Delgado.
The final whistle sounded shortly after, and Managua had earnt the right to play Real Esteli in the Grand Final.
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDzX28q0pEU
Managua FC : A. Lopez – Cuarezma ( Delgado ), Steib, Carrero, Caceres – Martinez ( Palacios ), M. Lopez ( Dos Santos ), Serapio, Ewerton Bezerra, Barrera ( Miranda ) – Reyes ( Acuna )
Diriangen FC : Ruiz – Hernandez, Cano, Tellez, Velasquez – Rodriguez ( Zapata ), J. Coronel, Galvaliz – Orozco ( L. Coronel ), Carballo, Moncada
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