Hey everyone, So I thought to wait until later in the year to start this thread as Apertura tournaments wrap up in Mexico and Central America...but I completely forgot about Canada. The inaugural season of the Canadian Premier League is drawing to a close, and we already know who will play in the two-legged Final (late Oct/early Nov): this year's CL participants Forge (Hamilton, ON) and Cavalry (Calgary, AB). The only thing left to decide is who will win the Fall Season table, as said team will get to decide the order of the Final.
The CPL has already announced the order no matter who actually wins the Fall. The Forge has a conflict with the CFL team whose stadium they share for the later date in Hamilton so they will host the first leg on October 26. The second leg will be on November 2 in Calgary. https://canpl.ca/article/forge-to-h...ier-league-finals-cavalry-to-stage-return-leg
And we have our first team in! Criticize the CanPL format all you like (I know I would)...but after Cavalry won both the spring and fall seasons, they blew both legs of the Final to let Hamilton's Forge FC seal their return to the continental stage. 2020 CL Qualifiers 1. Forge [CAN1 or CAN2]
Due to the MLS possible strike, the CSA would be forced to reallocate both Competitions berth 2020 Champions League If Montreal Impact can't participate, (CPL) Cavalry should go instead as the highest non-MLS ranked club after TFC 2020 Canadian Championship If MLS should still be on strike and miss the cut off date to join the tournament, I'm of the opinion that the CSA should reallocate the berths as follow 2020 Canadian Championship winner goes to 2021 CONCACAF League 2020 CPL Champions goes to 2021 CONCACAF Champions League
For once, Concacaf isn't waiting until the last minute to share details on the Caribbean Club Championship: - Draw on Dec. 4 - Teams: Portmore United and Waterhouse FC (JAM), Arcahaie FC and Don Bosco FC (Haiti), Cibao FC and TBA (DOM) - Group stage (2 groups of 3) in Jan-Feb 2020 - Semis, 3rd-placer and Final in May 2020 - Champion to CCL, 2nd and 3rd to CL, 4th-place to playoff with semi-pro Caribbean Club Shield winner (mind you, the latter is 2-0 so far) Anyone know why Trinibago teams are sitting this out again? Did they fail to register, or were they demoted to semipro status?
Here goes a post-weekend round-up... NORTH AMERICA Canada - As we saw, Forge won the inaugural CanPL, and the next Voyageurs' Cup won't be around for a while. USA - Since the shift in CCL qualifying seasons, we won't hear from the US until the next Open Cup Final (unless someone runs off with the Supporters' Shield first). Mexico - The Apertura quarterfinals are set: CENTRAL AMERICA Belize - The Opening Season is currently at the semifinal stage. Guatemala - The Apertura regular season is still ongoing. El Salvador - Ditto. Nicaragua - Same. Honduras - So apparently there's now a Pentagonal Round 2 (although those points aren't counted toward the full-year table). Time to phone the expert: @Catracho_Azul how does this work, is the winner of the Pentagonal the league champ? Or does the regular-season winner get a lifeline like in Costa Rica (i.e. getting to play a Final against the Round 2 winner)? Costa Rica - Speaking of the devil, Alajuelense's chase for that long-awaited 30th league title is now at the semifinal stage. Final el partido@adsancarlos vs @ldacr Estadio Carlos Ugalde ÁlvarezSemifinales Liga Promerica Apertura 2019#LigaPromerica #Apertura2019 #Semifinales pic.twitter.com/7KrcUJ5yyo— UNAFUT (@UnafutOficial) November 25, 2019 Final del partido@csherediano1921 vs @SaprissaOficial Estadio Eladio Rosabal CorderoSemifinales Liga Promerica Apertura 2019#LigaPromerica #Apertura2019 #Semifinales pic.twitter.com/vWBiJnsAtz— UNAFUT (@UnafutOficial) November 24, 2019 Panama - At the semifinal stage, with Tauro and Independiente tied after the first leg and Costa del Este grabbing a surprise 2-0 lead at Plaza Amador. CARIBBEAN As I just mentioned, the pro-level Club Championship will kick off early next year.
Should have clarified: it's not going anywhere, but the edition that will send a team to the 2021 CCL won't begin until May 2020.
So first, I forgot to mention this here, but: current rumors point to this next season of continental football (fall 2020 to spring 2021) as being the path to Infantino's brand new 24-team CWC extravaganza, so there may just be that much more motivation for everyone involved. Meanwhile, in the here and now... Mexico: Ya no tienes que esperar más 😱😱😱... porque ya está lista la #AgendaFutbolística 📅⚽ con los partidos de #Semifinales #Apertura2019 de la #LigaBBVAMX¿Quién llegará a la #GranFinal?⚽ #SienteTuLiga ⚽ pic.twitter.com/CzK0xQPGOI— Liga BBVA MX (@LigaBBVAMX) December 2, 2019 Belize: The usual suspects, Verdes and Belmopan Bandits, will dispute the Opening Season championship over the next two weekends. Guatemala: The regular season is still ongoing El Salvador: The league actually went against the grain and reduced the number of teams in the playoffs from 8 to 6. Regular season leaders Alianza and FAS will wait to see what comes out of the 3v6 and 4v5 quarterfinal matches. Honduras: La TABLA DE POSICIONES de la PENTAGONAL de la @lnphonduras ¡Motagua vuelve a soñar con el tricampeonato! pic.twitter.com/BMQ9RzlDFT— Diario Diez (@DiarioDiezHn) December 3, 2019 Finally found an explanation to this format - and it is like in Costa Rica: either regular season winner Olimpia takes this round as well and it's all over, or another Round 2 winner would face Olimpia in a Final. Nicaragua: FINAL| Managua FC 0-0 Juventus FC| Penales: MFC 7-6| ¡Managua FC clasifica a Semifinales! Enfrentará al Walter Ferretti. pic.twitter.com/hSw8GXjHjg— FutbolNica (@FutbolNica) December 1, 2019 FINAL| Managua FC 0-0 Juventus FC| Penales: MFC 7-6| ¡Managua FC clasifica a Semifinales! Enfrentará al Walter Ferretti. pic.twitter.com/hSw8GXjHjg— FutbolNica (@FutbolNica) December 1, 2019 Costa Rica: Fase final Liga Promerica ⚽️🏆Programación oficial Apertura 2019#Apertura2019 #LigaPromerica #FaseFinal pic.twitter.com/Dn1xXZBNBu— UNAFUT (@UnafutOficial) December 2, 2019 Panama: Tauro will face potential CL debutants Costa del Este FC in the Apertura Final next Monday.
Draw reveals groups for the 2020 Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship! Who are you most excited to watch? #LoveForOurGame pic.twitter.com/lFipRGz6Yt— Concacaf (@Concacaf) December 4, 2019
¿Ya los viste? 😮😮😮Estos son todos #LosResultados que nos dejó la actividad dentro de la IDA de #Semifinales #Apertura2019 de la #LigaBBVAMX⚽ #SienteTuLiga ⚽ pic.twitter.com/fDbFm3OsdX— Liga BBVA MX (@LigaBBVAMX) December 6, 2019 Final del partido@csherediano1921 vs @ldacr Estadio Eladio Rosabal CorderoFase Final Liga Promerica Apertura 2019#LigaPromerica #Apertura2019 #FaseFinal 🏆⚽ pic.twitter.com/IVMY8Qeimx— UNAFUT (@UnafutOficial) December 5, 2019
Time for some more updates! Mexico: ¡Tras llegar a la final de la Liga MX, @Rayados obtiene el pase a la Liga de Campeones Concacaf Scotiabank 2021! El equipo regio es el primer clasificado a la edición de 2021 #SCCL pic.twitter.com/f5GETl2uMK— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) December 8, 2019 ¡Clasificados a la Liga de Campeones Concacaf Scotiabank 2021! 🦅Tras lograr el pase a la final de la Liga MX el @ClubAmerica es el segundo clasificado a la edición de 2021 💪🏻#SCCL pic.twitter.com/shLBklsDza— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) December 9, 2019 Guatemala: The Apertura regular season finally came to an end, with Cobán Imperial and Municipal earning byes to the semifinals, while Comunicaciones will face Guastatoya (in a rematch of their Concacaf League R16 matchup) and Antigua takes on Sanarate in the play-in round. El Salvador: FAS will take on Santa Tecla in the Apertura semifinals, while Alianza are up against Sonsonate. Honduras: It's all over! ¡OLIMPIA ES CAMPEONÍSIMO DE HONDURAS! El león rompe su sequía de títulos tras vencer a Marathón y terminar líder de la PENTAGONAL de la Liga SalvaVida.¡FELICIDADES A LOS SEGUIDORES DEL VIEJO LEÓN! https://t.co/ZsU42oO4dH pic.twitter.com/vmpHmjITUc— Diario Diez (@DiarioDiezHn) December 8, 2019 Nicaragua: FINAL| Walter Ferretti 2-2 Managua FC| Global: 4-4| Penales: MFC 5-4| ¡¡Managua FC clasifica a la #FinalNica!! pic.twitter.com/oQEz4JptYY— FutbolNica (@FutbolNica) December 9, 2019 FINAL| Diriangén 1-1 Real Estelí| Global: RE 1-1 (gol de visitante)| ¡¡Real Estelí clasifica a la #FinalNica!! pic.twitter.com/Qtg0rfNKQr— FutbolNica (@FutbolNica) December 9, 2019 Costa Rica: https://twitter.com/UnafutOficial/status/1203817327499862017 Herediano won the Round 2 playoffs - so they'll face Alajuelense in yet another home-and-away Final, this time for all the marbles. Panama: Apertura Final this evening. 2021 CCL Qualifiers 1. CF Monterrey [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2. Club América [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2020 CL Qualifiers 1. Forge [CAN1 or CAN2] 2. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2]
¡¡¡TAURO CAMPEON ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!!!Felicidades al @TauroFC por su estrella número 1️⃣5️⃣, tras vencer al @costadelestefc por 2-0 en la Gran Final del Torneo Apertura 2019 de la @LPFpanama. #LPFxRPC pic.twitter.com/acXTdp7vgZ— Deportes RPC (@deportes_rpc) December 9, 2019 2021 CCL Qualifiers 1. CF Monterrey [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2. Club América [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2020 CL Qualifiers 1. Forge [CAN1 or CAN2] 2. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2] 3. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN2]
After last weekend... Mexico: Guatemala: The semifinals will take place over the next week, and do we have a humdinger! The matchups (home-and-away): Cobán Imperial vs. Antigua GFC Municipal vs. Comunicaciones Belize: Long-time followers of Concacaf football here know how we tend to mock the Belizean league for game results often being reported two whole days after the fact. Well, I am here to give them their due (and apparently outperform Google, who are still none the wiser ): not only did the local press report on the Final the same day, but it was even shown live on national TV. It has to be said: that production is just **chef's kiss** from the graphics to the kid mascots wearing Spain jerseys to the national anthem played by a high school marching band. Now that they have the Opening Season title in hand and top the full-year table to date, Verdes have the inside track on the Concacaf League berth. El Salvador: Alianza will play FAS in the Apertura Final next Sunday. Nicaragua: #FinalNica (Ida)| FINAL| Managua FC 1-0 Real Estelí pic.twitter.com/gNqwfmoIOi— FutbolNica (@FutbolNica) December 16, 2019 Costa Rica: We're now in Round 3, i.e. Alajuelense's extra chance at the title after failing to win the Round-2 playoffs. And...it's not going well so far Final del partido@csherediano1921 vs @ldacr Estadio Eladio Rosabal CorderoGran Final Ida Liga Promerica Apertura 2019#GranFinal #LigaPromerica #Apertura2019 🏆⚽ pic.twitter.com/kkkIsTeonw— UNAFUT (@UnafutOficial) December 16, 2019
Canada 2020 Canadian Championship News: The format of the 2020 Canadian Championship has been announced. Six CPL teams will begin tournament play in the qualifying round while Cavalry FC will begin to play in the quarter-final roundInfo: https://t.co/NR3PXj2ZjM pic.twitter.com/6siFLLi1Qt— Canadian Premier League (@CPLsoccer) December 18, 2019
Cavalry getting the bye over Forge is weird given that Forge won the league, even if Cavalry topped the regular season overall table.
Cavalry made it to last year's semifinals against Montreal, that's why they are getting the Quarterfinals spot Forge reward for winning CPL Championship is an automatic qualification to 2020 CONCACAF League
So Forge have to play an extra Voygeurs Cup game and Concacaf League this summer. They might have got that backwards. Also, Forge's spot is with western teams, with their path to the finals likely bringing them to Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver. Meanwhile nearby York 9 who play in Toronto, path is to Toronto (Masters in Scarborough), Toronto (TFC), and Montreal. I like the new format and the bracket - but I think Hamilton got screwed.
There wasn't any space for Forge and they are technically more western located than TFC and York9 Also, the CSA have the chance to get the CPL rematch in their tournament. Everyone thought the biggest rivalry in CPL would be Edmonton and Calgary...it's really Forge and Cavalry
They are, barely ... though at the same time, Hamilton is still closer to Halifax than they are to Winnipeg - let alone Vancouver and Calgary! There's local transit from Toronto to Hamilton, which I take to that stadium. But with 4 Toronto-area teams in the tournament, I can see why one of them had to be in the west - and Hamilton is the logical choice. Hopefully there's a 13th western team in the tournament next year and there's a second qualifying round for the top OSL team versus against the weaker of York and Forge. I also hope that next year, that if they stick to the same regional format, that they mix it up at the quarter-final level, so that Quebec/Atlantic winner plays one of the Western groups, and the Toronto-area winner plays the other Western group.
Alajuelense's apparently Quixotic quest for their 30th national championship continues Final del partido@ldacr vs @csherediano1921 Estadio Alejandro Morera SotoGran Final Vuelta Liga Promerica Apertura 2019#GranFinal #LigaPromerica #Apertura2019 🏆⚽ pic.twitter.com/4W2nezwlPA— UNAFUT (@UnafutOficial) December 22, 2019 El @csherediano1921 se proclama campeón nacional de la Liga Promerica Apertura 2019 🏆🥇¡Felicidades heredianos! 💛❤El teeeaaaam el teeeaaaam 🎶🎶#LigaPromerica #Apertura2019 #HeredianoCampeón pic.twitter.com/jkkeAlVeXa— UNAFUT (@UnafutOficial) December 22, 2019 Meanwhile, 10 minutes left in extra time in the Nicaraguan championship, for anyone interested: UPDATE: Real Estelí held on to their advantage in extra time to seal a 2-0 victory on the night (2-1 agg.) to claim the Apertura title. 2021 CCL Qualifiers 1. CF Monterrey [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2. Club América [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2020 CL Qualifiers 1. Forge [CAN1 or CAN2] 2. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2] 3. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN2] 4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC2] 5. Real Estelí [NCA1 or NCA2]
https://www.fifa.com/news/the-week-in-numbers-x4415 says: "17 points is what Herediano finished behind Alajuelense in the 22-round regular season, but it didn’t stop them causing a major upset to lift the Costa Rican Liga trophy. Herediano first had to beat Alajuelense over two legs to ensure a Grand Final was required, before grabbing a last-gasp goal to take it to a shootout, which they won 5-4. Alajuelense have agonisingly finished runners-up five times since last winning the league in 2013."
Won't lie, I blanked between the end of the CWC and the holiday cheer, but things are all decided in El Salvador. 📹👀 #LoQueNoSeVio El gol del campeonato como no la habías visto antes👌🏼🏆#HISTOR14BLANCA 🅰️ pic.twitter.com/iSKPWWuuZL— Alianza Fútbol Club (@AlianzaFC_sv) December 24, 2019 Termina el juego en el estadio Cuscatlán. Alianza campeóooooon | @cdeportivofas 0-1 @AlianzaFC_sv #ALIvsFAS #MásUnidosMásFuertes pic.twitter.com/jhF1WssBUp— Alianza Fútbol Club (@AlianzaFC_sv) December 22, 2019 Just the Liga MX and Guatemalan Apertura Final 2nd legs to go today, and that'll be it for the calendar year! 2021 CCL Qualifiers 1. CF Monterrey [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2. Club América [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2020 CL Qualifiers 1. Forge [CAN1 or CAN2] 2. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2] 3. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN2] 4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC2] 5. Real Estelí [NCA1 or NCA2] 6. Alianza [SLV1 or SLV2]
The last one in from Central America for the calendar year (long time no see!)... ¡SOMOS CAMPEOOOOONES! #SomosRojos #SomosIncr31bles pic.twitter.com/1bVW4SAgLS— CSD Municipal (@Rojos_Municipal) December 29, 2019 Felicidades a @Rojos_Municipal por el campeonato. ¡Fue una gran final! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾— Antigua GFC (@soyantiguagfc) December 29, 2019 2021 CCL Qualifiers 1. CF Monterrey [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2. Club América [MEX1, MEX2 or MEX3] 2020 CL Qualifiers 1. Forge [CAN1 or CAN2] 2. Olimpia [HON1 or HON2] 3. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN2] 4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC2] 5. Real Estelí [NCA1 or NCA2] 6. Alianza [SLV1 or SLV2] 7. Municipal [GUA1 or GUA2]