Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Copa de Naciones Digicel goal fest as Nicaragua defeat Belize 4-2
02-14-2007

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador: A stirring performance from Nicaragua, including a hat-trick from Emilio Palacios, saw Carlos de Toro’s team beat Belize 4-2 in the highest scoring game of the Copa de Naciones Digicel to date.

The victory means Nicaragua qualify for Thursday’s play-off with the third placed team from Group 2 in a winner takes all match to decide the 5th qualifier for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA in June.

Nicaragua, who were perhaps unfortunate to lose to hosts El Salvador in their second group game, started with real verve and were two ahead in side 20 minutes both goals coming from Palacios.

On 12 minutes the striker pounced on a weak clearance from Belize goalkeeper Orio to open the scoring and then added his second of the night on 19 minutes with a powerful strike from the edge of the area.

But Belize, who have shown a great determination throughout the Copa de Naciones Digicel, fought back to reduce the arrears with a super individual goal on 25 minutes. Forward Deon McCauley collected possession just outside the 18 yard area and embarked on a mazy run past three defenders before finishing with aplomb.

Five minutes later Nicaragua restored their two goal advantage, Milton Busto hammering home a loose ball inside the penalty box. Yet again Belize responded, again through that man McCauley, this time with an unstoppable shot on 34 minutes from just outside the penalty area.

Belize defender Elroy Smith almost drew his side level shortly before the break with a shot that just drifted wide of the target.

After a pulsating opening 45 minutes, Belize started the second period brightly in search of an equaliser, coming closest on 54 minutes when impressive play maker Lennox Castillo was denied by Espinoza in the Nicaragua goal.

Despite the pressure, Nicaragua’s well-marshalled defence held out before Palacios finally put the seal on the win with his hat-trick, the first of the Copa de Naciones Digicel 2007, on 67 minutes, beating Orio with an angled shot from just inside the penalty area.

Nicaragua now qualify for Thursday’s Gold Cup play-off, with Honduras their likely opponents in the battle for the last Gold Cup qualifying slot. Belize return home after a campaign that showed the team to be significantly more competitive that their 199 FIFA World Ranking suggests.

Nicaragua: Denis Espinoza, Roger Mejía, Silvio Avilés, Eustace Martín, Carlos Alonso; Miguel Masis, Samuel Wilson, Hevel Quintanilla, Armondo Reyes, Milton Busto, Emilio Palacios

Belize: Shane Orio; Lennox Castillo, Mark Leslie, Deon McCauley, Deris Venavides, Bernard Linares, Victor Morales, Trevor Lennen; Elroy Smith, Dalton Eiley, Ian Gaynair.