Four clubs remain in the hunt to raise the trophy in inaugural CONCACAF League
Miami (Thursday, August 24, 2017)– The Scotiabank CONCACAF League, the newest addition to the club competitions platform of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, reached the semifinal stage Thursday evening as the Quarterfinals concluded with away-leg matches in Panama and Honduras. The semifinals will feature clubs from three nations when action resumes the week of September 11, following the FIFA international match window scheduled for early September.
CD Olimpia (HON) and CD Plaza Amador (PAN) qualified Thursday evening and will face each other in one semifinal series. Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN) and Santos de Guapiles (CRC) had qualified earlier in the week, and will square off in the other semifinal.
Starring top veterans and emerging talent from Central America and the Caribbean, the Scotiabank CONCACAF League has roused the passions of fans across the region with matches throughout the month of August, as 16 clubs began the quest for an international club competition title in front of their home crowds, in quick-fire knockout round format.
Following thrilling action across eight CONCACAF nations this month, the field is now down to just four ahead of next month’s semifinals. The remaining clubs include two from Panama, and one each from Honduras and Costa Rica.
By virtue of higher accumulated point total through the first two rounds of the competition, Santos de Guapiles and CD Olimpia have earned the advantage of hosting the decisive return leg of their respective semifinal series.
Scotiabank CONCACAF League 2017 Semifinal Matches
Home team listed first
Away Legs (September 12-14)
Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN) v Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC)
CD Plaza Amador (PAN) v CD Olimpia (HON)
Return Legs (September 19-21)
Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) v Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN)
CD Olimpia (HON) v CD Plaza Amador (PAN)
Exact dates and kickoff times for the semifinal matches will be announced shortly. Click here to see the bracket.
The championship home-and-away final of the Scotiabank CONCACAF League, between semifinal winners, is scheduled for the last two weeks in October.
In addition to raising the inaugural SCL trophy, the tournament champion earns a ticket to join 15 additional club qualifiers from across the region – including Canada, Mexico and the United States, in the revamped Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.
The 2018 edition of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League kicks off in February of next year, featuring the winner of the 2017 Scotiabank CONCACAF League and 15 more of the best clubs from the entire CONCACAF region, including the Caribbean and Central America, plus Mexico, the United States and Canada. The champion of that competition will represent the region in the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup.