By Humberto Arias Tejada
It was around 4 in the afternoon at the national stadium in Tegucigalpa, when referee Stewart of Jamaica whistled ending the match between Chapines and Nicas, which by showing a clear advantage of 2 to 0 for our team, automatically gave the title of champions of the III North, Central American and Caribbean Tournament to the representatives of our soccer.
What the Chapina fans have been waiting for for so many years, since 1943 it is preferable to enjoy it as a visitor, for those who created it throughout an extraordinary campaign, undefeated in 5 games, with a solitary goal against and 7 in favor.
We are all celebrating, celebrating something that no one thought was possible before traveling to the Catracha capital, and where the blue and white squad had a series of obstacles to overcome against them (weather, field, and especially, adverse refereeing).
It was played to win
We knew that the first minutes were going to be difficult, since the nicas, encouraged by the catracho public, were going to go all out looking to pierce Nixon’s dugout, who remained undefeated in the 4 games in which he played.
Rubén Amorín properly instructed his boys, so that by using an intelligent defensive system they could cut off the Nicaraguan counterattacks. Hurtarte, Grillo and Guayo covering the midfield, supported by Valdez, imposed an indecipherable approach.
Peña scores
Half an hour into the game, Guatemala advanced. Manuel Escopeta Recinos escaped down the right at full speed, to filter into the area. There he released the trigger with a low and strong shut. Mayorga partially contained his attack, and the ball ended up in Hugo Tin Tan Peña’s boots. He finished and 4 and a half million chapines jumped for joy: a few thousand in Tegucigalpa and the rest in our Guatelinda.
The Shotgun Thundered
Barely a couple of minutes had passed after the Guatemalans’ goal, when the play worked the formula again. López Oliva served long to Peña, goalkeeper Mayorga made a false start. Suddenly we all saw the Nica goalkeeper running desperately towards his goal, harassed by Peña, who shot. The ball bounced off Mayorga’s body to reach Recinos. Manuel got his 12 gauge shotgun working… and the rest is history. The goal served to break the resistance of a team that did not want to serve as a ladder for the Chapinian aspirations. But two goals in as many minutes serve to destroy the most seasoned.
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This note is part of the commemorative series of our diamond wedding, it is a journey through news that marked the history of Guatemala, with original texts and images from each era, as a reliable testimony of our mission of service.