MIAMI, Florida – The 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League Final will pit two of Central America’s biggest clubs as Alajuelense of Costa Rica take on Honduran side Olimpia. It has been an arduous journey to the Final for both teams, yet each managed to stay unbeaten throughout the process, resulting in a Final that will forever live in Concacaf history.

Alajuelense’s path to the Final started in the Preliminary Round against Aguila of El Salvador, who grabbed a 1-0 lead at home in the first leg, only for Alajuelense to earn a late 1-1 draw thanks to Bryan Felix’s goal. It was all Alajuelense in the second leg in Costa Rica, as goals from Aaron Suarez, Bernald Alfaro and Aubrey David paced the Ticos to a 3-0 win and a 4-1 triumph on aggregate.

Up next in the Round of 16 was a date with SCL debutants Alianza of Panama and a Doryan Rodriguez hat trick, plus scores from Alexander Lopez and Jose Miguel Cubero, gave Alajuelense a commanding 5-0 lead in the series after the first leg. Alajuelense’s unbeaten run was extended in the second leg, as an own goal was enough to secure a 1-1 draw in Panama and 6-1 win on aggregate.

Another Alianza was on the docket in the Quarterfinals, this time SCL stalwarts Alianza of El Salvador. A tough first leg in San Salvador saw Alfaro score his second goal of the tournament for a 1-0 Alajuelense win, setting the stage for a comprehensive 2-0 home win in the second leg with Suarez getting his second goal of the tournament and all-time SCL top scorer Johan Venegas converting a penalty for a 3-0 aggregate win.

Alajuelense then took aim at Honduran side Real Espana in the Semifinals. Fresh off of eliminating Costa Rican clubs Cartagines and Herediano in the previous rounds, Real Espana were a formidable foe, but Alajuelense could not have asked for a better first leg away, as Venegas scored and added assists on goals for Freddy Gondola and Celso Borges in a 3-0 victory.

There were nervy moments in the second leg, but a goal from Lopez and a second half stoppage time score from Giancarlo Gonzalez gave Alajuelense a 2-2 draw at home, 5-2 on aggregate, and a 5W-3D-0L record in the tournament thus far.

Olimpia's route

Olimpia’s road to the Final began in the Round of 16 and it was a difficult start in a 2-2 first leg draw away to Municipal of Guatemala in which Olimpia finished the match with nine men after goals from Brayan Moya and Boniek Garcia. However, they recovered nicely in the second leg at home and a Michaell Chirinos score made for a 1-0 win and 3-2 aggregate victory.

Olimpia really found their scoring stride in the Quarterfinals against Diriangen of Nicaragua, getting goals from Moya, Jerry Bengtson, Edwin Rodriguez and Jorge Benguche for a 4-0 first leg win in Nicaragua. Bengtson, Benguche and Chirinos then all scored in a comeback 3-1 second leg win at home for a 7-1 victory on aggregate.

The Semifinals were a different story as Olimpia went up against domestic rivals Motagua for the second time in SCL history. After a 0-0 draw in the first leg, it looked like another 0-0 draw was in the cards for the second leg as well, until Carlos Sanchez’s breathtaking strike in the 87th minute delivered a 1-0 triumph, giving Olimpia a 4W-2D-0L record in the tournament.

It has been a rollercoaster of emotions for both sides on their way to the Final, and the two legs to be disputed on October 26 and November 2 should be no different.