Retired greats beat Nicaragua all-stars in charity soccer match

Rivaldo, Cafu and other legends of global soccer defeated the cream of the Nicaraguan first division 6-5 at Managua’s Estadio Nacional in a match played for charity.

The first goal was scored by France’s David Trezeguet not long after the start, and 10 minutes later former Real Madrid player Javier Saviola made it 2-0 for the legends.

Age and retirement didn’t slow the legends, including former Blanco Michel Salgado and Brazilian World Cup winners Cafu and Rivaldo, who scored a goal each.

Defender Alvaro Bermudez scored one for the Nicaraguan team, while midfielders Victor Zabala and Manuel Rosas each had a brace for the hosts.

The match exposed the weakness of the sport in Nicaragua, which lacks a soccer tradition, though the game has been growing in the Central American country thanks to the popularity of Spain’s La Liga and the English Premier League.

The match between Nicaragua and the Legends of Global Soccer was a tribute to Nicaraguan soccer great Jose “Peche” Jiron, who died in September, and in honor of Dr. Sergio Chamorro, the former Nicaragua national team goalkeeper.

Revenue from ticket sales went to World Vision Nicaragua, whose program “Safe Water” provides drinking water to children in the rural areas of the country.