So, based on that, the pass-down spot for USA1 (best aggregate record over two seasons) would get placed in Pot A despite winning nothing, while this year's MLS Cup winner would get placed in Pot B. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
A couple updates from Costa Rica: first, I'm barely literate. Here's the actual top of the full-year table: TABLA GENERAL ACUMULADA 2017-2018 No. EQUIPO PJ PG PE PP GF GC G. dif PTS % 1 HEREDIANO 44 29 12 3 75 26 49 99 75,00% 2 SAPRISSA 44 26 9 9 93 48 45 87 65,91% 3 SANTOS 44 21 16 7 76 44 32 79 59,85% 4 ALAJUELENSE 44 21 11 12 84 56 28 74 56,06% So Alajuelense are actually up against it in terms of reaching the continental stage next season. After last night's results: We are now guaranteed that the Clausura will be resolved in a two-legged Final. The problem for "Liga" is that with only two extra berths to fall down the full-year table, they're in line to be left out in the cold. So for Alajuelense, it's CCL-or-bust: they have to beat archrivals Saprissa at the Saprissa on Sunday to make the Final, then take out Herediano for the Clausura trophy. Anything less, and they'll be staying home next season. Good luck manudos
FT Arnett Gardens (Jamaica) 2 - 0 Central FC (T&T). The hosts deserved winners on the night, they will meet Pantoja in the final on Sunday. Central FC meet Portmore in the third place match.— Caribbean Football (@caribbeanfooty) May 12, 2018 2019 CCL Qualifiers 1. Sporting Kansas City [USA] 2. Tigres UANL [MEX] 3. CF Monterrey [MEX] 4. Pérez Zeledón [CRC2] 5. Alianza [SLV1] 2018 CL Qualifiers 1. Chorrillo FC [PAN2] 2. Walter Ferretti [NCA] 3. Real España [HON2] 4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC3] 5. Motagua [HON1 or HON3] 6. Marathón [HON1 or HON3] 7. Olimpia [HON4] 8. Árabe Unido [PAN1 or PAN3] 9. Tauro [PAN1, PAN3 or PAN4] 10. Santa Tecla FC [SLV2 or SLV3] 11. Deportivo Saprissa [CRC1, CRC3 or CRC4] 12. Atlético Pantoja (DOM) [CFU1 or CFU2] 13. Arnett Gardens (JAM) [CFU1 or CFU2]
How did the Dominican league become relevant so quickly? Like, 10 years ago it was a steady stream of Trini and Jamaican teams with the occasional interloper, and now we've got a Dominican champion and finalist in consecutive years.
Atletico Pantoja won penalty kicks 6-5 after a scoreless draw to qualify for the CCL. Jamaican clubs Arnett Gardens and Portmore United will go to the CL. Portmore United came back to beat Central FC 2-1 and send Central FC to a playoff against Club Franciscain of Martinique on Wednesday.
Fyp - I'm not bitter, though. FIFA also paid out of their own pocket to restore Haiti's national stadium, so I can't be a hypocrite
With thanks to fellow posters, let's get back on the roundup trail: NORTH AMERICA Mexico: Toluca and Santos Laguna emerged victorious in their respective semifinals, wrapping up the list of favorites/Mexican representatives in the next Champions League. CENTRAL AMERICA Belize: The final ended two days ago, and Wikipedia, the national press and Twitter have no reports on how it ended. Classic Honduras: Motagua and Marathón tied at 1, rendering Saturday's second leg a de facto one-off Final. El Salvador: So it went. Costa Rica: Better luck next year, Liga Panama: This happened. ¡DALE LIKE Y RT!Para que el ¡GOOLAAZOO! de #JoseFajardo del #CAI le de la vuelta al mundo🌎🙌 CHIILEENAAZOO. #LaLigaDeTodos 🇵🇦 #LPF pic.twitter.com/bRL3GT8PeJ— TVMAX Deportes (@tvmaxdeportes) May 13, 2018 ¡Gran final del Torneo Clausura 2018! Sábado 19 de mayo de 2018⚽️ @CAIPanama 🆚 @TauroFC 🏟 Rommel Fernández⏰ 8:00 pm🎉 Zona 12: 3:00 pm 🎟 B/. 10.00Promo especial: B/. 25.00 = 🎟 Final + 🎟 Preferencial Partido de despedida Panamá vs Irlanda del Norte. #YoSoyLPF pic.twitter.com/EoD79kux6F— LPF TIGO (@LPFpanama) May 13, 2018 CARIBBEAN H/T to @EvanJ , and congrats to the champs! The 2018 #FlowCONCACAF Caribbean Club Champion is @atleticopantoja 😀⚽️They celebrates after besting Arnett Gardens in a sudden death shoot out to take home the coveted cup and US $50,000!Tune in now, live free on the Flow Sports App, download now: https://t.co/3vbhqFfTyG pic.twitter.com/skWUZm5hiC— FLOW Jamaica (@FLOWJamaica) May 14, 2018 Finally, for any newcomer confused on how we already have 16 teams for the Concacaf League: we still need to "graduate" one team each from Costa Rica, Panama and Honduras to the CCL. They will be replaced by the Belizean champ, the Nicaraguan Clausura winner and the fourth-place team out of the Caribbean. 2019 CCL Qualifiers 1. Sporting Kansas City [USA] 2. Tigres UANL [MEX] 3. CF Monterrey [MEX] 4. Pérez Zeledón [CRC2] 5. Alianza [SLV1] 6. Toluca FC [MEX] 7. Santos Laguna [MEX] 8. Atlético Pantoja (DOM) [CFU1] 2018 CL Qualifiers 1. Chorrillo FC [PAN2] 2. Walter Ferretti [NCA] 3. Real España [HON2] 4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC3] 5. Motagua [HON1 or HON3] 6. Marathón [HON1 or HON3] 7. Olimpia [HON4] 8. Árabe Unido [PAN3] 9. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN4] 10. Santa Tecla FC [SLV2] 11. Deportivo Saprissa [CRC1 or CRC3] 12. Arnett Gardens (JAM) [CFU2] 13. FAS [SLV3] 14. Santos de Guápiles [CRC4] 15. CAI de la Chorrera [PAN1 or PAN4] 16. Portmore United (JAM) [CFU3]
Soccerway doesn't say either. FlashScore has sections for 161 countries, but is missing a lot of CONCACAF such as Belize. CONCACAF's website doesn't say, but it does say that the CONCACAF League draw will be later this month.
I found this on Twitter: #Belize #soccer #fútbol #football #PLB #PremierLeagueofBelize #playoffs ⚽️🇧🇿 pic.twitter.com/u57fId05vO— Scott Parker ツ (@parkers3) May 14, 2018 If that's accurate (and given that it's the only thing I can find, I think it is), then the new semifinal second leg will be tomorrow, the first leg of the final will be on Thursday, and the second leg on Sunday.
I found more details! http://amandala.com.bz/news/deal-fair-play-plb-playoffs/ It seems like a Belize Defence Force player scored a penalty, the referee ruled the goal out for some reason, and then refused to allow a re-take, so BDF appealed to the Belize Football Federation for a replay, which was granted...but only after the first leg of the final had already been played. Complain about USSF all you want, at least it's not that bad!
And Club Franciscain have done it! They beat Central FC 2-1 and made history as the first club from a non-FIFA member to reach the continental stage in the CCL era.
Updating the list accordingly now that I'm at a computer... Also, the first leg of the Costa Rican Clausura Final finished 1-1, so all to play for at the Saprissa on the weekend. 2019 CCL Qualifiers 1. Sporting Kansas City [USA] 2. Tigres UANL [MEX] 3. CF Monterrey [MEX] 4. Pérez Zeledón [CRC2] 5. Alianza [SLV1] 6. Toluca FC [MEX] 7. Santos Laguna [MEX] 8. Atlético Pantoja (DOM) [CFU1] 2018 CL Qualifiers 1. Chorrillo FC [PAN2] 2. Walter Ferretti [NCA] 3. Real España [HON2] 4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC3] 5. Motagua [HON1 or HON3] 6. Marathón [HON1 or HON3] 7. Olimpia [HON4] 8. Árabe Unido [PAN3] 9. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN4] 10. Santa Tecla FC [SLV2] 11. Deportivo Saprissa [CRC1 or CRC3] 12. Arnett Gardens (JAM) [CFU2] 13. FAS [SLV3] 14. Santos de Guápiles [CRC4] 15. CAI de la Chorrera [PAN1 or PAN4] 16. Portmore United (JAM) [CFU3] 17. Club Franciscain (MTQ) [CFU4]
So Concacaf finally made an announcement about the CL! Let's check our homework, focusing on the least-straightforward calls: Chorrillo and Santa Tecla are stuck in the CL - called it! Not that hard, though. FAS are IN - called it! Santos de Guápiles are IN - called it! Alajuelense are OUT - called it! Pérez Zeledón are in - Wait a minute, what's this? Defending champion Olimpia are OUT - whoa. So what happened, here? In essence, Concacaf hasn't announced yet what it will do with Guatemala's CCL berth. My best guess is that with Guatemala's new regularization committee installed today, Concacaf is betting that the Guate Fed can get back in FIFA's good graces by December. If so, that's great news for Apertura champs Antigua GFC, who won the full-year table. Not so much for the national team, though, who are already out of next year's Gold Cup and, at best, will slum it in the bottom division of the CNL. Hey, maybe Carlos Ruiz will come out of retirement to run up the score on Anguilla and co. @edcalvi Finally, the draw will be Wednesday, May 23 at 7 pm US Eastern, to be shown on UDN in the US (I'll believe it when I see it) and FOX Sports in Latin America. The pots were also announced, and Belize 1 hilariously remain in Pot 1, likely cannon fodder against anyone save maybe Club Franciscain. EDIT: And now we have a name change to boot. Seguirnos en @UDUniversitario pic.twitter.com/SGyJ8mRvkR— Club Deportivo Universitario (@UDUniversitario) May 17, 2018 2019 CCL Qualifiers 1. Sporting Kansas City [USA] 2. Tigres UANL [MEX] 3. CF Monterrey [MEX] 4. Alianza [SLV1] 5. Toluca FC [MEX] 6. Santos Laguna [MEX] 7. Atlético Pantoja (DOM) [CFU1] 8. Antigua GFC [GUA] * 2018 CL Qualifiers 1. UD Universitario [PAN2] 2. Walter Ferretti [NCA] 3. Real España [HON2] 4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC3] 5. Motagua [HON1 or HON3] 6. Marathón [HON1 or HON3] 7. Árabe Unido [PAN3] 8. Tauro [PAN1 or PAN4] 9. Santa Tecla FC [SLV2] 10. Deportivo Saprissa [CRC1 or CRC3] 11. Arnett Gardens (JAM) [CFU2] 12. FAS [SLV3] 13. Santos de Guápiles [CRC4] 14. CAI de la Chorrera [PAN1 or PAN4] 15. Portmore United (JAM) [CFU3] 16. Club Franciscain (MTQ) [CFU4] 17. Pérez Zeledón [CRC2]
We suck so much that Carlos Ruiz is still the best we have LOL. And I find it impressive how informed you are about our federation problems! I heard Panama and Costa Rica will get out CCL spots!
Some updates from the weekend so far: First, a warm welcome back to the CCL for Marathón! Now, here's hoping they get drawn against a US club so we'll find out if they cleared their name with OFAC . FWIW their former president, Yankel Rosenthal, is still on the Clinton List. There, they will be joined by a debutant... El pitazo final y @CAIPanama campeón del Clausura 2018. #YoSoyLPF pic.twitter.com/NkqOSYpfMS— LPF TIGO (@LPFpanama) May 20, 2018 Third, the Clausura Final in Nicaragua has been delayed due to the security situation there; the first leg may or may not be played tomorrow. https://www.facebook.com/nickybolanos/videos/vb.500612925/10157391713917926/?type=2&theater Finally, Verdes got upended in the replayed semifinal FINAL SCORE: Verdes FC-0; Belize Defence Force FC-0. (Replay game of the appealed Leg 2 of the semifinals.) BDF now advances on aggregate, 2-0, to the championship series against the Belmopan Bandits.#Belize #soccer #fútbol #football #PremierLeagueofBelize #PLB ⚽️🇧🇿 pic.twitter.com/knEhyko8d1— Scott Parker ツ (@parkers3) May 17, 2018 Their hopes now rest with the very Defence Force that eliminated them, as the BDF can't qualify for the CL. If they manage to win the Closing Season Final, Verdes would advance as the champion with the better full-year record. But... FINAL SCORE (First Leg): Belmopan Bandits-3; Belize Defence Force FC-1.The second leg of the #PLB finals is scheduled for Mon, May 21, at 8:00 pm [local] in Belmopan's Isidoro Beaton Stadium.#Belize #soccer #fútbol #football #PLB #PremierLeagueofBelize @ScoresFutbol ⚽️🇧🇿 pic.twitter.com/HdAUFEbV7p— Scott Parker ツ (@parkers3) May 20, 2018 2019 CCL Qualifiers 1. Sporting Kansas City [USA] 2. Tigres UANL [MEX] 3. CF Monterrey [MEX] 4. Alianza [SLV1] 5. Toluca FC [MEX] 6. Santos Laguna [MEX] 7. Atlético Pantoja (DOM) [CFU1] 8. Antigua GFC [GUA] * 9. Marathón [HON1] 10. CAI de la Chorrera [PAN1] 2018 CL Qualifiers 1. UD Universitario [PAN2] 2. Walter Ferretti [NCA] 3. Real España [HON2] 4. Herediano [CRC1 or CRC3] 5. Motagua [HON3] 6. Árabe Unido [PAN3] 7. Tauro [PAN4] 8. Santa Tecla FC [SLV2] 9. Deportivo Saprissa [CRC1 or CRC3] 10. Arnett Gardens (JAM) [CFU2] 11. FAS [SLV3] 12. Santos de Guápiles [CRC4] 13. Portmore United (JAM) [CFU3] 14. Club Franciscain (MTQ) [CFU4] 15. Pérez Zeledón [CRC2]
https://areyouwatchingthis.com/tv/stations/udnhd-univision-deportes-network-hd thinks UDN will show Univision Deportes Football Club then, but I think that can be moved for a live event. Arabe Unido is the Pot 2 club to avoid.
Belize up next... 2019 CCL Qualifiers 1. Sporting Kansas City [USA] 2. Tigres UANL [MEX] 3. CF Monterrey [MEX] 4. Alianza [SLV1] 5. Toluca FC [MEX] 6. Santos Laguna [MEX] 7. Atlético Pantoja (DOM) [CFU1] 8. Antigua GFC [GUA] * 9. Marathón [HON1] 10. CAI de la Chorrera [PAN1] 11. Deportivo Saprissa [CRC1] 2018 CL Qualifiers 1. UD Universitario [PAN2] 2. Walter Ferretti [NCA] 3. Real España [HON2] 4. Herediano [CRC3] 5. Motagua [HON3] 6. Árabe Unido [PAN3] 7. Tauro [PAN4] 8. Santa Tecla FC [SLV2] 9. Arnett Gardens (JAM) [CFU2] 10. FAS [SLV3] 11. Santos de Guápiles [CRC4] 12. Portmore United (JAM) [CFU3] 13. Club Franciscain (MTQ) [CFU4] 14. Pérez Zeledón [CRC2]
I should offer a correction on FAS: as last year's CL regulations state and Concacaf mentions here, FAS got in based on their full-year record among the semifinalists. That is, in Central American leagues save Costa Rica and Belize, continental berths left over after the half-season champions and runners-up are covered get distributed only among the losing semifinalists from each tournament. In FAS's case, while they were the best of the rest in the full-year table, they wouldn't have even been considered if they had not reached the Apertura or Clausura semifinals.
I would like to mention that CAI of Panama won their first ever championship in history by defeating the "big club" Tauro FC. Club Atlético Independiente was founded in the 1970s
https://www.concacafleague.com/en/article/cd-fas-back-on-the-concacaf-stage is titled "CD FAS back on the CONCACAF stage." CD FAS was last in the Champions League in 2014-2015 when I saw them in the Group Stage at the Red Bulls. http://www.concacaf.com/en/article/new-champions-crowned-in-concacaf is titled "New Champions crowned in Concacaf."
FINAL SCORE (Second Leg): Belmopan Bandits-5; Belize Defence Force-3Aggregate Score: Belmopan Bandits-8; Belize Defence Force-4Belmopan Bandits are the PLB 2017-2018 closing season champions.#Belize #soccer #fútbol #football #PLB #PremierLeagueofBelize @ScoresFutbol ⚽️🇧🇿 pic.twitter.com/cPDUKTWCJi— Scott Parker ツ (@parkers3) May 22, 2018 2019 CCL Qualifiers 1. Sporting Kansas City [USA] 2. Tigres UANL [MEX] 3. CF Monterrey [MEX] 4. Alianza [SLV1] 5. Toluca FC [MEX] 6. Santos Laguna [MEX] 7. Atlético Pantoja (DOM) [CFU1] 8. Antigua GFC [GUA] * 9. Marathón [HON1] 10. CAI de la Chorrera [PAN1] 11. Deportivo Saprissa [CRC1] 2018 CL Qualifiers 1. UD Universitario [PAN2] 2. Walter Ferretti [NCA] 3. Real España [HON2] 4. Herediano [CRC3] 5. Motagua [HON3] 6. Árabe Unido [PAN3] 7. Tauro [PAN4] 8. Santa Tecla FC [SLV2] 9. Arnett Gardens (JAM) [CFU2] 10. FAS [SLV3] 11. Santos de Guápiles [CRC4] 12. Portmore United (JAM) [CFU3] 13. Club Franciscain (MTQ) [CFU4] 14. Pérez Zeledón [CRC2] 15. Belmopan Bandits [BLZ]