MIAMI, Florida – Even though the Scotiabank Concacaf League is entering just its third year, Belmopan Bandits are well versed in the nuances on the competition.
For the third time the Belize club will feature in the SCL, making Bandits the only team in the entire 2019 SCL to have competed in every edition of the tournament.
Bandits’ maiden voyage in the SCL in 2017 came to an end in the first round with a 5-1 defeat on aggregate by Nicaragua’s Walter Ferretti, with Honduran National Team legend Georgie Welcome scoring the lone Bandits goal.
A year later Bandits was drawn in the Round of 16 versus Motagua. It was a tight, intense 180 minutes of football between the two sides, but eventually the Hondurans would emerge victorious in a 3-0 aggregate win.
Yet Bandits impressed in the tie, evidenced by their strong defensive performance against a team that reached the 2018 SCL Final.
In the quarterfinal round of the 2018 SCL, Portmore United of Jamaica would concede five goals against Motagua. A round later in the semifinals, Tauro of Panama allowed three goals to the Catrachos, while in the final, 2018 SCL champions Herediano gave up two goals to Motagua.
Comparatively, Bandits certainly held their won against the 2018 SCL Finalist, which should provide a good foundation for their 2019 SCL campaign.