SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Olimpia earned the inaugural Scotiabank CONCACAF League title Thursday night at a rainy Estadio Nacional, overcoming host Santos de Guapiles in the two-legged final, 4-1 on penalty kicks.
Michael Chirinos scored the second leg’s only goal in the first half, giving the Honduran power a 1-0 win and leveling the series 1-1 on aggregate. The sides went directly to penalty kicks after the final whistle brought the second half to a close.
Olimpia, which lifted its first CONCACAF trophy since the 1988 Champions’ Cup, converted each of its four attempts, while Santos hit the back of the net once in three tries.
Carlo Costly, Brayan Moya, Alexander Lopez and Carlos Mejia struck for the Leones, but only Cristian Lagos was successful for Santos. For the Costa Rican squad, Wilmer Azofeifa missed on the first attempt and the third saw Michael Barquero’s kick be saved by goalkeeper Donis Escober.
The match’s only goal was scored in the 21st minute, when Santos defender Jose Garro poked the ball away from Roger Rojas in the penalty area. It rolled to Chirinos for a right-footed finish from the top of the 18-yard box.
In the 17th minute, Olimpia nearly took a 1-0 lead, but Costly’s header from Ever Alvarado’s left-sided cross crashed off the crossbar.
With the triumph, Olimpia sealed a spot in next year’s Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, becoming the only team to qualify for all 10 editions.