Spotlight shines on Honduras as Motagua take on Marathon

MIAMI, Florida – It will be an all-Honduran affair on Thursday night as Marathon and Motagua tangle in the first leg of the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf League quarterfinals at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

While the two clubs are long-time rivals in the Honduran domestic league and previously faced each other in past UNCAF club tournaments, this quarterfinal series will mark their first ever match-up in SCL play.

Marathon reached this stage of the tournament by surviving an epic penalty shootout against Real Esteli of Nicaragua, winning 5-4 in spot kicks after a 2-2 draw on aggregate.

Game Notes CD Marathon vs FC Motagua 

The hero was GK Denovan Torres, who made four stops in the shootout and now has 12 saves in the tournament. Torres, as always, will play a pivotal role in Marathon’s chances.

Helping up front will be Mario Martinez, who leads the SCL in shots with nine and has two goals plus an assist. Brayan Castillo is another danger man up top for Marathon, with three shots in the tournament and a goal in the previous round against Real Esteli.

Edwin Solano provides the calm in midfield for Marathon and the 13 fouls he has received in the 2021 SCL proves that opponents find it difficult to strip him of possession.

After reaching the SCL Final in 2018 and 2019, Motagua’s bid in 2020 came up short with a quarterfinal defeat to domestic rivals Olimpia. Now a new chance against another Honduran opponent presents itself for Motagua after they handled Panama’s Universitario 3-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16.

Just as he was in the 2018 and 2019 SCLs, Kevin Lopez continues to be a force for Motagua in the SCL and leads the team with two goals in the present edition as he heads into his 23rd career SCL match.

Marco Tulio Vega and Wesly Decas are also a dynamic duo in attack, with five and three shots, respectively, in the tournament. But perhaps the secret weapon is Gonzalo Klusener, who in his career has faced Marathon and has never lost, with five wins, two draws and two goals.