Hi everyone, The draw for the third edition of the Concacaf League - now involving all but one of the continental qualifiers from Central America and the Caribbean - will take place on May 30 at 8:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern. Concacaf has published the details, so I'll just present an abridged version. The draw will begin with the preliminary round (in July, Pot 1 seeds host second leg). Pot 1 Santa Tecla FC (SLV) AS Capoise (HAI) Marathón (HON) Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) Antigua GFC (GUA) PAN3 Pot 2 Belmopan Bandits (BLZ) Real Estelí (NCA) SV Robinhood (SUR) Comunicaciones (GUA) Alianza (SLV) CAN2 Then, the main bracket will be filled out for Series 1 through 8 with the following pots (R16 in August, Pot 3 teams host second leg): Pot 3 AD San Carlos (CRC) Herediano (CRC) CD Guastatoya (GUA) Motagua (HON)* Olimpia (HON)* Tauro (PAN)* Águila (SLV) PAN1 or 2 Pot 4 Waterhouse FC (JAM) Managua FC (NCA) 6 Preliminary round winners * Teams already guaranteed to obtain a berth valid for the Concacaf League proper - just a question of which one. --- Their note also states that teams from the same country cannot face each other in the preliminary round...but does not stipulate the same for the R16. Finally, the hosting order is the same as in previous editions. The higher seeds (Pot 1 and Pot 3) host the second legs in the prelims and the R16, respectively; the winners of the odd-numbered series (1, 3, 5 and 7) host the second legs in the quarterfinals; and the teams with the best records from previous rounds - including the prelims? I'd imagine not - will host the second legs of the semifinals and Final.
So am I only one who failed to notice that the CONCACAF League got reformatted? I mean, all the Central American teams having to go through CL to get to the SCCL is kinda brutal.
I agree. The Central American clubs that start in the Round of 16 have to win that round and win their Quarterfinal or be one of the two best losers. The Semifinals and Final may be only for bragging rights because all of those clubs qualify for the SCCL. The Quarterfinals could make unique rooting situations. For example, let's say one has A vs. B and one has C vs. D. A won 3-0 hosting B in the first leg. A and B play their second leg first. C and D know that if A advances with a win or draw, it will help C and D in terms of qualifying because B will have a worse record among the Quarterfinal losers, but it will guarantee that A hosts the Semifinal second leg over the winner of C vs. D. To make it simple, clubs could have different rooting interests for a game depending on whether they prioritized qualifying or hosting the Semifinals. When the Torneo Interclubes de UNCAF had 16 clubs and qualified 3 for the CONCACAF Champions Cup, I said that the third place aggregate was more important than the Final aggregate because the former decided who qualified and the latter was just for bragging rights.
https://www.concacafleague.com/en/article/haiti-s-as-capoise-first-ever-team-to-compete-in-scl is titled "HAITI´S AS CAPOISE FIRST-EVER TEAM TO COMPETE IN SCL." https://www.concacafleague.com/en/a...ts-will-feature-in-the-scl-for-the-third-time is titled "BELMOPAN BANDITS WILL FEATURE IN THE SCL FOR THE THIRD TIME." https://www.concacafleague.com/en/article/waterhouse-looking-to-make-great-strides-in-2019-scl is titled "WATERHOUSE LOOKING TO MAKE GREAT STRIDES IN 2019 SCL."
Today's the day, folks! In accordance, I have updated the pots based on developments over the last weekend.
LOL - Concacaf were in such a rush that they published the regulations before taking out the edits But it's now confirmed: all semifinalists + the best two quarterfinalists will head to the CCL. Plus, the hosting rights for the second legs of the semifinal and the Final will be determined by previous record from the R16 on.
THE BRACKET: Motagua (HON) vs. Managua FC (NCA) Herediano (CRC) vs. Waterhouse FC (JAM) AD San Carlos (CRC) vs. [Santa Tecla FC (SLV) or Real Estelí (NCA)] [PAN1] vs. [PAN3 or Alianza (SLV)] --- [PAN2] vs. [AS Capoise (HAI) or SV Robinhood (SUR)] Águila (SLV) vs. [Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) or Belmopan Bandits (BLZ)] CD Guastatoya (GUA) vs. [Marathón (HON) or Comunicaciones (GUA)] Olimpia (HON) vs. [Antigua GFC (GUA) or CAN2]
There's one confusing edit in the regulations, point II.G.1.b.i: So what if a team wins the first leg, loses the second by the exact same score and wins the shootout? Do they get 6 points from the series?
Updating the bracket, now that things are squared away in Panama: Motagua (HON) vs. Managua FC (NCA) Herediano (CRC) vs. Waterhouse FC (JAM) AD San Carlos (CRC) vs. [Santa Tecla FC (SLV) or Real Estelí (NCA)] Tauro (PAN) vs. [San Francisco (PAN) or Alianza (SLV)] --- CA Independiente (PAN) vs. [AS Capoise (HAI) or SV Robinhood (SUR)] Águila (SLV) vs. [Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) or Belmopan Bandits (BLZ)] CD Guastatoya (GUA) vs. [Marathón (HON) or Comunicaciones (GUA)] Olimpia (HON) vs. [Antigua GFC (GUA) or CAN2]
The schedule is set. A curious novelty is that there are no changes in time slots, e.g. if your first leg was Tuesday at 8:00 p.m., the second leg will be as well.
Antigua will take o Forge FC from Hamilton, ON, who just won the "CanPL Founders" table this evening.
If Forge advances, I hope their Round of 16 home leg time gets moved up because it's supposed to be 10:00 P.M. If you want to have a new club attract fans to a confederational tournament, ending at midnight local time is not how to do it.
2019 CONCACAF League Preliminary Round Home team first, times are ET First Leg Tuesday, July 30 Real Esteli (NCA) v. Santa Tecla (SLV) 10:00 pm Wednesday, July 31 Robinhood (SUR) v. Capoise (HAI) 8:00 pm Belmopan Bandits (BLZ) v. Saprissa (CRC) 10:00 pm Thursday, August 1 Forge FC (CAN) v. Antigua GFC (GUA) 6:00 pm Alianza (SLV) v. San Francisco (PAN) 8:00 pm Comunicaciones (GUA) v. Marathon (HON) 10:00 pm Second Leg Tuesday, August 6 Santa Tecla (SLV) v. Real Esteli (NCA) 10:00 pm Wednesday, August 7 Capoise (HAI) v. Robinhood (SUR) 8:00 pm Saprissa (CRC) v. Belmopan Bandits (BLZ) 10:00 pm Thursday, August 8 San Francisco (PAN) v. Alianza (SLV) 8:00 pm Antigua GFC (GUA) v. Forge FC (CAN) 8:00 pm Marathon (HON) v. Comunicaciones (GUA) 10:00 pm The Round of 16 starts on August 20.
2019 CONCACAF League Preliminary Round Home team first, times are ET First result: First Leg Tuesday, July 30 Real Esteli (NCA) 2-1 Santa Tecla (SLV) Wednesday, July 31 Robinhood (SUR) v. Capoise (HAI) 8:00 pm Belmopan Bandits (BLZ) v. Saprissa (CRC) 10:00 pm Thursday, August 1 Forge FC (CAN) v. Antigua GFC (GUA) 6:00 pm Alianza (SLV) v. San Francisco (PAN) 8:00 pm Comunicaciones (GUA) v. Marathon (HON) 10:00 pm Second Leg Tuesday, August 6 Santa Tecla (SLV) v. Real Esteli (NCA) 10:00 pm Wednesday, August 7 Capoise (HAI) v. Robinhood (SUR) 8:00 pm Saprissa (CRC) v. Belmopan Bandits (BLZ) 10:00 pm Thursday, August 8 San Francisco (PAN) v. Alianza (SLV) 8:00 pm Antigua GFC (GUA) v. Forge FC (CAN) 8:00 pm Marathon (HON) v. Comunicaciones (GUA) 10:00 pm The Round of 16 starts on August 20.
The Canadian Premier League made history again by winning it's first continental match (CAN) Forge FC 2-1 (GUA) Antigua GFC Watch the best moments of @ForgeFCHamilton's historic 2-1 victory over @soyantiguagfc. With tonight's victory Forge FC becomes the first ever @CPLsoccer team to win a match in a @Concacaf competition.#SCL2019 pic.twitter.com/4mhLYC7ypj— Concacaf (@Concacaf) August 2, 2019
2019 CONCACAF League Preliminary Round Home team first, times are ET First Leg is complete: First Leg Tuesday, July 30 Real Esteli (NCA) 2-1 Santa Tecla (SLV) Wednesday, July 31 Robinhood (SUR) 0-0 Capoise (HAI) Belmopan Bandits (BLZ) 1-3 Saprissa (CRC) Thursday, August 1 Forge FC (CAN) 2-1 Antigua GFC (GUA) Alianza (SLV) 5-1 San Francisco (PAN) Comunicaciones (GUA) 2-1 Marathon (HON) Second Leg Tuesday, August 6 Santa Tecla (SLV) v. Real Esteli (NCA) 10:00 pm Wednesday, August 7 Capoise (HAI) v. Robinhood (SUR) 8:00 pm Saprissa (CRC) v. Belmopan Bandits (BLZ) 10:00 pm Thursday, August 8 San Francisco (PAN) v. Alianza (SLV) 8:00 pm Antigua GFC (GUA) v. Forge FC (CAN) 8:00 pm Marathon (HON) v. Comunicaciones (GUA) 10:00 pm The Round of 16 starts on August 20.
2019 CONCACAF League Preliminary Round Home team first, times are ET The Second Leg has begun: First Leg Tuesday, July 30 Real Esteli (NCA) 2-1 Santa Tecla (SLV) Wednesday, July 31 Robinhood (SUR) 0-0 Capoise (HAI) Belmopan Bandits (BLZ) 1-3 Saprissa (CRC) Thursday, August 1 Forge FC (CAN) 2-1 Antigua GFC (GUA) Alianza (SLV) 5-1 San Francisco (PAN) Comunicaciones (GUA) 2-1 Marathon (HON) Second Leg Tuesday, August 6 Santa Tecla (SLV) 1-0 Real Esteli (NCA) Santa Tecla advances on away goals, 1-0. Wednesday, August 7 Capoise (HAI) v. Robinhood (SUR) 8:00 pm Saprissa (CRC) v. Belmopan Bandits (BLZ) 10:00 pm Thursday, August 8 San Francisco (PAN) v. Alianza (SLV) 8:00 pm Antigua GFC (GUA) v. Forge FC (CAN) 8:00 pm Marathon (HON) v. Comunicaciones (GUA) 10:00 pm The Round of 16 starts on August 20.
2019 CONCACAF League Preliminary Round Home team first, times are ET The Second Leg continues: First Leg Tuesday, July 30 Real Esteli (NCA) 2-1 Santa Tecla (SLV) Wednesday, July 31 Robinhood (SUR) 0-0 Capoise (HAI) Belmopan Bandits (BLZ) 1-3 Saprissa (CRC) Thursday, August 1 Forge FC (CAN) 2-1 Antigua GFC (GUA) Alianza (SLV) 5-1 San Francisco (PAN) Comunicaciones (GUA) 2-1 Marathon (HON) Second Leg Tuesday, August 6 Santa Tecla (SLV) 1-0 Real Esteli (NCA) Santa Tecla advances on away goals, 1-0. Wednesday, August 7 Capoise (HAI) 1-1 Robinhood (SUR) Robinhood advances on away goals, 1-0. Saprissa (CRC) 3-1 Belmopan Bandits (BLZ) Saprissa advances on aggregate, 6-2. Thursday, August 8 San Francisco (PAN) v. Alianza (SLV) 8:00 pm Antigua GFC (GUA) v. Forge FC (CAN) 8:00 pm Marathon (HON) v. Comunicaciones (GUA) 10:00 pm The Round of 16 starts on August 20.
Phenomenal run by Robinhood. Playing in a second-tier Caribbean competition not even winning the group to winning the tournament and two straight ties against Haitian teams.
OTOH, a wake-up call for the Haitian league, as the national team's recent fortunes should in no way mask the deficiencies of our local structure.
OMG!!!! Forge advance by defeating Antigua GFC 2-1 on aggregate! Canadian Premier League is for real!!!Historic result for @ForgeFCHamilton! 🇨🇦 They are the first @CPLSoccer side to make it to the Round of 16 of a #Concacaf competition! #SCL2019 pic.twitter.com/cEbDbJCEb1— Concacaf (@Concacaf) August 9, 2019 I always felt that #CanPL would become the third best league in CONCACAF within 5 years. I’ve seen no evidence to suggest otherwise so far.— Duane Rollins (@24thminute) August 9, 2019
Lets slow down 3rd best league in 5 years because they got past Antigua? Lets see how they do against Olimpia first. Keep in mind teams from Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama and Costa Rica have knockout MLS sides in the CCL the larger body of work will give us a sense of where the league is
Based on what I saw of Forge vs Antigua, they won't stand a chance against a much bigger and historic club like Olimpia.
In ArsenalMetro's coefficients, Olimpia is 15th in Concacaf with 31.3474, and second in Central America behind Arabe Unido. Antigua is is tied for 48th with 6.0000. Marathon scored in the 80th minute, and they would have advanced on away goals with a 1-0 win, but Comunicaciones scored in the 89th minute to win the aggregate 3-2.