2016-17 CCL Qualifiers [R]

Two updates from today: first, it's every club for itself in Mexico now, as the rayados eliminated archrival Tigres from the Clausura playoffs.

Second, Alajuelense still can't get past level 29 in the Costa Rican league p), losing 2-0 at Herediano (3-0 aggregate) to hand the florenses yet another club title and CCL berth. Mind you, before David Patey stepped in to stabilize the club, they were on a Cruz Azul-esque trophy drought mixed with unpaid debts and salaries, so the current run is spectacular by their standards.

2016-17 CCL Qualifiers

1. Vancouver Whitecaps [CAN]
2. Sporting Kansas City [USA]
3. FC Dallas [USA]
4. New York Red Bulls [USA]
5. Árabe Unido [PAN]
6. Pumas UNAM [MEX]
7. Portland Timbers [USA]
8. Tigres UANL [MEX]
9. Honduras Progreso [HON] *
10. Antigua GFC [GUA] *
11. Alianza [SLV]
12. Deportivo Saprissa [CRC]
13. Police United [BLZ] *
14. W Connection (TRI) [CFU]
15. Central FC (TRI) [CFU]
16. Don Bosco (HAI) [CFU] *
17. Herediano [CRC]

 

Plaza Amador, the only grande in Panama yet to play in the Champions League, are now only one step away from earning their ticket after hammering Árabe Unido 3-0 in the second leg of their Clausura semifinal.

...although that won't be the biggest talking point from last night.

#LaLigaDeTodos: Parte de lo sucedido en el partido del Plaza Amador vs. Arabe Unido en el Maracaná. Vía @JMDeporte https://t.co/AbbqRvq0Pc

— TVN Noticias (@tvnnoticias) May 15, 2016

 

In Honduras, Olimpia will take on Real Sociedad in the Clausura final, with the games set for Wednesday and Sunday.

 

And in Mexico: if América want to match Monterrey's record of three straight Champions League titles, they'll have to beat Monterrey themselves to qualify. The other Clausura semifinal pits two of Carlos Slim's playthings against each other as Pachuca take on León.

 

In Panama, Plaza Amador will face Chorrillo FC in the Clausura final this Sunday.

El @cdplazaamador y @ChorrilloFC disputarán la final del Clausura 2016 este domingo a las 5pm en el Rommel Fernández pic.twitter.com/QU7f15xqHY

— LPF TIGO (@LPFpanama) May 18, 2016

 

It was a night for the old-hands: in Nicaragua, Real Estelí called their hiatus at one year as El Tren del Norte beat Walter Ferretti 1-0 (1-0 agg.) to claim the Clausura title and the CCL ticket.

Afterwards, a truly titanic showdown of the only teams in the region with multiple Champions League titles under their belt ended in Monterrey's favor, as the regios saw off América 4-2 (4-3) agg to reach the Clausurs final. Sorry @jared9999 , but while the Azteca is the more historic venue, there was simply nothing like continental nights at the Tec, and this rayado fanbase that embraced this tournament like few others in Mexico deserved to bring it to their new digs.

2016-17 CCL Qualifiers

1. Vancouver Whitecaps [CAN]
2. Sporting Kansas City [USA]
3. FC Dallas [USA]
4. New York Red Bulls [USA]
5. Árabe Unido [PAN]
6. Pumas UNAM [MEX]
7. Portland Timbers [USA]
8. Tigres UANL [MEX]
9. Honduras Progreso [HON] *
10. Antigua GFC [GUA] *
11. Alianza [SLV]
12. Deportivo Saprissa [CRC]
13. Police United [BLZ] *
14. W Connection (TRI) [CFU]
15. Central FC (TRI) [CFU]
16. Don Bosco (HAI) [CFU] *
17. Herediano [CRC]
18. Real Estelí [NCA]
19. CF Monterrey [MEX]

 

Looks like we will have to hold off on Nicaragua for it: I asked for an open clarification on the Facebook page of FutbolNica, and the commenters there unanimously informed me that now the CCL berth is awarded to the winner of the Season Final betweeb the Apertura and Clausura winners (when distinct).

2016-17 CCL Qualifiers

1. Vancouver Whitecaps [CAN]
2. Sporting Kansas City [USA]
3. FC Dallas [USA]
4. New York Red Bulls [USA]
5. Árabe Unido [PAN]
6. Pumas UNAM [MEX]
7. Portland Timbers [USA]
8. Tigres UANL [MEX]
9. Honduras Progreso [HON] *
10. Antigua GFC [GUA] *
11. Alianza [SLV]
12. Deportivo Saprissa [CRC]
13. Police United [BLZ] *
14. W Connection (TRI) [CFU]
15. Central FC (TRI) [CFU]
16. Don Bosco (HAI) [CFU] *
17. Herediano [CRC]
18. CF Monterrey [MEX]

 

In Honduras, Real Sociedad tied the series before collapsing in the last 20 minutes to fall 3-1 (5-2 agg.) to Olimpia, the only club left with a perfect attendance record in the CCL (Isidro Metapán were eliminated in the Salvadoran Clausura semifinals).

Now then, brace yourselves: the unthinkable has happened.

Yes, Plaza Amador has FINALLY qualified for the Champions League, ending their Chivas-esque run of futility by defeating Chorrillo 1-0 in the Clausura final.

2016-17 CCL Qualifiers

1. Vancouver Whitecaps [CAN]
2. Sporting Kansas City [USA]
3. FC Dallas [USA]
4. New York Red Bulls [USA]
5. Árabe Unido [PAN]
6. Pumas UNAM [MEX]
7. Portland Timbers [USA]
8. Tigres UANL [MEX]
9. Honduras Progreso [HON] *
10. Antigua GFC [GUA] *
11. Alianza [SLV]
12. Deportivo Saprissa [CRC]
13. Police United [BLZ] *
14. W Connection (TRI) [CFU]
15. Central FC (TRI) [CFU]
16. Don Bosco (HAI) [CFU] *
17. Herediano [CRC]
18. CF Monterrey [MEX]
19. Olimpia [HON]
20. Plaza Amador [PAN] *

 

Finally, Pachuca held serve at home, defeating León 2-1 (3-2 agg.) to round out the list of favorites - I mean, Mexican representatives in the next CCL.

The last three qualifiers will be the Clausura winners in Guatemala and El Salvador and the full-year champ in Nicaragua. I suspect all three Finals will wrap up next weekend...when I will be mostly offline, visiting the Peru/Chile border. @slaminsams @Popol Vuh @EvanJ @dinamo_zagreb it's all on you!

2016-17 CCL Qualifiers

1. Vancouver Whitecaps [CAN]
2. Sporting Kansas City [USA]
3. FC Dallas [USA]
4. New York Red Bulls [USA]
5. Árabe Unido [PAN]
6. Pumas UNAM [MEX]
7. Portland Timbers [USA]
8. Tigres UANL [MEX]
9. Honduras Progreso [HON] *
10. Antigua GFC [GUA] *
11. Alianza [SLV]
12. Deportivo Saprissa [CRC]
13. Police United [BLZ] *
14. W Connection (TRI) [CFU]
15. Central FC (TRI) [CFU]
16. Don Bosco (HAI) [CFU] *
17. Herediano [CRC]
18. CF Monterrey [MEX]
19. Olimpia [HON]
20. Plaza Amador [PAN] *
21. CF Pachuca [MEX]

 

So apparently I was right the first time: CONCACAF announced the draw procedure today, and they have Real Estelí as already being qualified.

The confusion seems to have sprung from FENIFUT initially announcing that the Season Final winner would get the CCL berth rather than the half-season champ with the most points in the full-year table. Thus, CONCACAF overruled FENIFUT, either because 1) the Season Final was too close to the draw (unlikely, since the Guatemalan and Salvadoran Clausura tournaments will wrap up next weekend), 2) FENIFUT didn't properly notify CONCACAF in time or 3) CONCACAF holds its "half-season champ w/most points in the full-year table" measure above amendment by the federations within UNCAF.

For those of you who don't remember: ahead of the first CCL (2008-09), CONCACAF obligated all Central American leagues to carry out Season finals between Apertura and Clausura winners (when distinct) to determine CCL berths and seeding, whether or not they already did so. Probably facing pushback for this, CONCACAF switched to the current full-year table measure and has stuck with it since.

Thus: Estelí is in, and UNAN can rightfully be upset - but with its own federation.