MIAMI, Florida – This Friday at 7:00 PM ET, Concacaf will be airing a re-broadcast of the 2018 Scotiabank Concacaf League Final second leg between FC Motagua of Honduras and CS Herediano of Costa Rica, followed by the 2019 SCL Semifinal second leg between Deportivo Saprissa and CD Olimpia. Both matches will be shown on Concacaf’s Facebook and YouTube pages, plus the Concacaf App.
The second edition of the SCL kept the same 16-team format from the first year, but for the first time ever an amateur side qualified for the tournament after Martinique’s Club Franciscain defeated Central FC of Trinidad and Tobago in the 2018 SCL Playoff, 2-1.
The Caribbean side certainly held their own too, losing in a penalty shootout in the Round of 16 to Nicaragua’s Walter Ferretti after a 1-1 draw on aggregate. Also falling in a penalty shootout was 2017 SCL finalists Santos de Guapiles, who were eliminated by Jamaica’s Portmore United.
The Round of 16 was punctuated by high drama between Costa Rican side Perez Zeledon and FAS of El Salvador, with a Perez Zeledon own goal in the 90+5’ sealing a place for FAS in the quarterfinals, 3-2 on aggregate.
One of the top performers in the 2018 SCL was Motagua FW Rubilio Castillo, who on his way to winning Golden Boot honors (5 goals), struck for three goals in Motagua’s 5-2 quarterfinal victory over Portmore United, including a last-gasp match-winner in the first leg (3-2).
The two semifinal series were as close as they could be, with Motagua managing to overcome a great performance from Tauro’s Edwin Aguilar, who finished the tournament with five goals including two against Motagua, to claim a 3-2 win on aggregate.
The other semifinal saw Herediano fend off Arabe Unido 2-1 on the strength of Yendrick Ruiz’s brace in a 2-0 first leg win on home soil. Ruiz also finished the tournament with five goals on his way to claiming the Golden Ball.
It was a classic Final between Herediano and Motagua and the Ticos were feeling good following a 2-0 first leg win thanks to goals from 2018 SCL Best Young Player Jimmy Marin and Allan Cruz. But Motagua would respond in strong fashion in the second leg at home to pull even in the series 2-2 in the second half.
Just when it looked like the two teams were headed for a penalty shootout, some brilliant playmaking from Jose Ortiz and clinical finishing from Marin earned Herediano the title. In the 85’, Ortiz played a slick backheel to the charging Marin, who calmly fired into net to earn Herediano the 3-2 win and the club’s first Concacaf trophy.