TIBAS, Costa Rica – The stage is set for a Scotiabank Concacaf League Final to remember, as Costa Rican giants Deportivo Saprissa take on legendary Honduran club Motagua in the 2019 SCL Final first leg on Thursday night at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma in Tibas, Costa Rica.
For Saprissa, this marks their first appearance in the SCL Final, however the club has plenty of title-winning pedigree, with three Concacaf club championship trophies residing in their trophy cabinet.
Saprissa’s offensive weapons are many, including the tournament’s top scorer in Johan Venegas (6 goals), plus 17-year-old starlet Manfred Ugalde (4 goals) and veteran MF Marvin Angulo (2 goals).
History is also on Saprissa’s side, as they own an all-time record of 9W-5D-1L against Motagua. Coincidentally though, that one defeat occurred in the only previous Final disputed between the two sides, the 2007 UNCAF Interclub Cup Final, won by Motagua 2-1 on aggregate.
The Catracho club arrive into Thursday’s encounter brimming with confidence, having conceded just one goal in their last four SCL matches.
A year ago, Motagua fell just short of achieving SCL glory, losing 3-2 in the Final to Herediano. Now, the likes of DF Juan Pablo Montes and MF Matias Galvaliz will be looking to take down a different Costa Rican club.
Match Officers:
R: PARCHMENT, DANEON ESTRADO (JAM)
AR1: DUHANEY, OJAY JOHANE (JAM) AR2: WALES, CALEB (TRI)
4th Official: RADIX, REON ANTONIO (GRN)
Deportivo Saprissa leads the all-time series against FC Motagua
* Concacaf Champions League, Torneo de Clubes UNCAF, Torneo Grandes de Centroamérica .
The only match FC Motagua won to Saprissa was in the final of the Torneo de Clubes UNCAF (1-0) on 12-05-2007 in Tegucigalpa's goal by Josimar Nacimiento.
Record of the all-time series GP- 15 W- 9- D- 5 L-1 GF- 24 GA- 7
It will be the first time they meet in the Scotiabank Concacaf League; it will be the 101st game in the history of the competition.