Former champions and new faces highlight SCL Round of 16

MIAMI, Florida– Last week marked the conclusion of the Preliminary Round of the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf League, which produced a wealth of exciting moments that sets the stage for what should be an entertaining Round of 16.

For the first time ever in the SCL Round of 16, two teams from the same country will square off when Guatemalan sides Guastatoya and Comunicaciones meet. 

Comunicaciones managed to punch its ticket to the Round of 16 thanks to a dramatic late goal in its series with Honduran club Marathon, a 3-2 win. Facing los Cremas in a knockout round will be nothing new for Guastatoya, who defeated Comunicaciones 3-2 on aggregate in the 2018 Guatemalan Clausura Final and then eliminated Comunicaciones again in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Clausura 2-1 on aggregate.

Also appearing in the Round of 16 is SV Robinhood. The Suriname club has stolen the headlines by winning the 2019 Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield, then emerging victorious in the 2019 Concacaf League playoff before eliminating AS Capoise 1-1 on aggregate via the away goal tiebreaker in the 2019 SCL Preliminary Round. 

Robinhood, who over a 11-year period from 1972 until 1983 reached the final of the Concacaf Champions Cup five times, will look to make more history against Panama’s Independiente.

Also impressing in the Preliminary Round was first-year club Forge FC of Canada, who advanced with a 2-1 win on aggregate over Antigua GFC of Guatemala. The Canadians will now take aim of 2017 SCL champions Olimpia.

The Honduran club is one of two former SCL champions in the current edition of the tournament, adding to the splendor of the matches to come next week.

Joining Olimpia as former champions involved in the 2019 SCL is Herediano, who took home the 2018 SCL title. The Tico outfit begins its quest for back-to-back SCL crowns against Waterhouse of Jamaica.

With three-time Concacaf club champions Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica also in the mix taking on Aguila of El Salvador, the 2019 SCL Round of 16 has all the elements of some compelling football in the two weeks to come.