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In 2011, CONCACAF celebrates its 50th anniversary.

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As part of a year-long commemoration, a weekly feature titled "This Week in CONCACAF History" will take a brief look back at some of the confederation's most historic games and happenings.

Through "This Week in CONCACAF History" you can revisit the region's most memorable people, events and crowning achievements.

December 17-22

December 17, 1978: Mexico claimed its fifth consecutive CONCACAF Youth (now Under-20) Championship after defeating Canada, 1-0, in the 1978 final at the Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino in Tegucigalpa, Honduras … Omar Mendiburu (87th) scored the game-winner for the Tricolores.

December 18, 2005: Two goals by Alvaro Saborio and another from Ronald Gomez led Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica to a 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad in the third-place match of the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup at the Yokohama International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan … Deportivo Saprissa became the first Central American club to capture the bronze medal at a FIFA Club World Cup.

December 19, 2009: Mexico's Benito Archundia became the first CONCACAF referee to officiate a second FIFA Club World Cup Final, when he took charge of the Estudiantes de La Plata (Argentina) - FC Barcelona (Spain) 2009 championship match (won by the Spanish side 2-1 aet) at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates … Archundia was joined by Hector Vergara of Canada and Mexico's Marvin Torrentera as Assistant Referees 1 and 2, respectively … Archundia and Vergara joined Assistant Referee 2 - Arturo Velazquez of Mexico as they officiated the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup Final in Yokohama, Japan.

December 20, 1972: Honduras' CD Olimpia played to a 1-1 draw against visiting CD Toluca of Mexico in the 1972 CONCACAF Champions' Cup semifinals at Tegucigalpa's Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino and secured its berth to the finals … After Jorge Urquia (40th) gave the host the lead, Hector Hugo Eugui (70th) leveled it for CD Toluca, however, CD Olimpia advanced after winning the first match two days earlier … It also marked the first-ever time in the competition that a Honduran club eliminated a Mexican side.

December 21, 2003: Two goals by Alvaro Saborio and another from Esteban Santana led Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica to a 3-2 victory over Guatemala's CSD Comunicaciones in the finals of the 2003 Copa Interclubes UNCAF (Central American Qualifier to 2004 CONCACAF Champions' Cup) at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California (USA) … Deportivo Saprissa, which claimed its tournament-best fifth Central American crown, reached the championship match by defeating LD Alajuelense of Costa Rica (1-0) in the semifinals two days earlier in the same venue … Meanwhile, CSD Comunicaciones progressed after topping Guatemala's CSD Municipal on penalties 4:2 following a scoreless draw.

December 22, 2002: Host LD Alajuelense of Costa Rica captured its second Copa Interclubes UNCAF (Central American Qualifier to CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2003) after it finished first in the 2002 Final Round group with a perfect 3-0-0 record (9 points) following its 4-0 victory over CD Motagua of Honduras at Alajuela's Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto … Erick Scott scored two goals (4th, 71st), while Alejandro Alpizar (59th) and Steven Bryce (69th) each added one for the Rojinegros.


 For more information or general inquiries concerning historical content, please contact Steven Torres, CONCACAF Director of Information Services at steve.torres@concacaf.org.