PENONOME – Honduran club Motagua are back in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League after defeating Tauro FC of Panama 5-4 in a penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw in the second leg of their 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League quarterfinal series on Wednesday night at the Estadio Universitario in Penonome, Panama.
After 180 minutes, the two sides were still level at 0-0 on aggregate, but in the spot kicks Motagua converted all five, while GK Jonathan Rougier saved Tauro’s fifth and final attempt to punch his side’s SCL semifinal and 2023 SCCL ticket.
With margins razor-thin to begin with, it was a very cagey first half between the two sides.
Tauro summoned up two good chances in the first 45 minutes, the first a Miguel Camargo left-footed shot in the 17’ that was saved by Motagua’s stalwart GK Jonathan Rougier.
Shortly before the half, Tauro then created another chance that ended with an Omar Valencia shot saved by Rougier.
But it was Motagua who mostly controlled matters, as they had Tauro pegged back in their own half for good chunks of the half. Despite their best efforts, however, there was no way through Tauro GK Eric Hughes, who was always alert in coming off his line to snuff out a chance.
Motagua stayed on the front foot as the second half progressed while searching for a goal and a hard hit from Angel Tejeda in the 80’ almost yielded the first goal of the series.
Tauro were also keen to find a late winner and it almost came off the right foot of Victor Medina in the 85’ with an effort that fired wide.
Matters had to be settled in a penalty shootout and Motagua proved perfect, converting all five, while Rougier soared to the rescue on Tauro’s fifth attempt, making the decisive save to win the series.
