The selection of Nicaragua surprised this Friday in Managua to that of Costa Rica by signing a historic 1-1 draw on the first day of group C of the final phase of the Concacaf Qualifiers for the 2026 World. With 10 players from the 54th minute, the Blue and White traced a minimum disadvantage to the favorite Costa Rica, which makes her dream in her aspirations to qualify for the first time in her history to a World Cup.
The newly admitted Byron Bonilla charged a penalty in the 81st minute and beat the experienced goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who exploded in jubilation to the thousands of fans who attended the National Soccer Stadium in Managua.
The Costa Ricans had gone forward on the scoreboard in the 60th minute after a corner kick charged by Alejandro Bran, who finished off the central Alexis Gamboa. After a first half without goals, the coastal coach of Costa Rica, the Mexican Miguel Herrera, appealed to the bench to increase the pressure with the entry of midfielder Bran by Brandon Aguilera, who was not on his best day.
Juan Barrera, from Nicaragua, tries to stop Kenay Myrie
Nicaragua lost in the 54th minute for expulsion to Jason Coronel, after the house claimed a penalty in a dangerous play in the area. After the expulsion of Montes and the goal of Costa Rica, the coach of Nicaragua, the Chilean Marco Antonio ‘El Ghost’ Figueroa, rubbed his lamp and put Marlon López, Byron Bonilla and Bancy Hernández, who gave new airs to the premises. Bonilla, Hernández and Ariel Aráuz, one of the figures, became a permanent threat to the goal of Navas.
After the tie, the ‘Piojo’ Herrera also moved his bank, but did not find the revulsion for Costa Rica, which was missing personality and suffered a hard blow of authority. Figueroa won Herrera’s pulse.
Technical file
1- Nicaragua: Miguel Rodríguez; Josué Quijano, Henry Niño, Justin Cano, Óscar Acevedo; Jason Coronel, Junior Arteaga (M.46 Jacob Montes), Ariel Aráuz (m.87 Eber Martínez), Enmanuel Gómez (m.68 Bancy Hernández); Juan Barrera (M.68 Byron Bonilla) and Ariagner Smith (m.57 Marlon López).
Coach: Marco Antonio Figueroa (Chi).
1- Costa Rica: Keylor Navas; Carlos Mora (m.85 Kenan Myrie), Juan Pablo Vargas, Alexis Gamboa, Francisco Calvo: Joseph Mora (m.64 Anthony Contreras); Orlando Galo, Brandon Aguilera (m.46 Alejandro Bran), Josimar Alcocer (m.85 Ariel Lassiter); Alonso Martínez and Manfred Ugalde.
Coach: Miguel Herrera (MEX).
Goals: 0-1, Alexis Gamboa (m. 60); 1-1, Byron Bonilla, penalty (m. 81)
Referee: Mexican Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava expelled Jason Coronel with direct red and admonished the Nicaraguan Junior Arteaga and Costa Ricans Alexis Gamboa and Francisco Calvo.
Incidents: Group C match of the final phase of the Concacaf tie for the 2026 World Cup played at the National Soccer Stadium, in Managua, capital of Nicaragua.
With the results of this Friday, the four selections that make up Group C of the Concacaf Qualifiers to the 2026 World Cup were tied with 1 points. Hours before, Haiti and Honduras selections tied without goals. Nicaragua’s next rival will be Honduras, while Costa Rica will face Haiti.
