MIAMI, Florida – The 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League kicks off this Tuesday beginning with the first leg of the Round of 16 between Marathon of Honduras and the Portland Timbers from the United States at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Marathon are back in the SCCL for the first time since the 2019 edition thanks to winning the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf League Play-In match against Forge FC of Canada, 1-0.
The Catracho side will be coming into the contest feeling confident after posting a 1-0 win against Platense over the weekend in the Honduran domestic league to extend their unbeaten streak to two matches.
Marathon have their fair share of weapons, but the one that stands out is legendary FW Carlo Costly. At the 38 years of age, Costly is still a threat and has four goals this season in the Honduran Clausura.
Marathon will no doubt look to make their home field advantage count against a Portland side that has never won in Central America.
The Timbers suffered a 3-1 defeat to Olimpia of Honduras in the 2014-15 SCCL group stage before suffering a 4-2 loss to Costa Rican giants Deportivo Saprissa in the 2016-17 SCCL group stage.
However, Portland is a side always looking to make history and will attempt to do just that on Tuesday with their dangerous attacking trio of MF Diego Valeri, MF Sebastian Blanco and FW Jeremy Ebobisse.
The Timbers qualified for their third SCCL after winning the 2020 MLS Is Back tournament and now a new knockout round competition beckons for the men from Oregon.
Portland Timbers
Third participation in the SCCL: 2014/15, 2016/17 and 2021.
SCCL record: GP-8 W-5 D-1 L-2 (GF-22 GA-13). To date, they have used 36 players, 20 yellow cards and no player sent off.
Top scorer in SCCL: Fanendo Adi (NIG) 4 goals.
Players with the most SCCL appearances: Fanendo Adi (NIG) and Jake Gleeson (NZL) with 7 and 6 appearances respectively.
Top scorer in SCCL Round of 16: No.
Portland Timbers has 63% of victories, in 8 games they scored goals and in 1 and did not concede goals in SCCL (Triumph 6-0) vs. Alpha United (Jack Jewsbury, Gastón Fernández, Michael Nanchoff, Norberto Paparatto x2 and Fanendo Adi), Match day 5 Group 5 2014/15 edition, at Providence Park Stadium, USA (23 Sep 2014).
SCCL KO Phase Record: First time playing in the Round of 16.
SCCL away record: GP-4 W-2 D-0 L-2 (GF-9 GA-9).
Qualification to SCCL 2021: MLS is Back Champion 2020.
Games vs Central American rivals in SCCL: 6
Record vs Central American rivals: GP-6 W-3 D-1 L-2 (GF-12 GA-12).
