2019 Concacaf League [Multiple Rs]

Alianza fell 1-0, but took the series on aggregate to advance - and the first semifinal is now set (first team listed hosts 2nd leg):

Motagua (HON) vs. Alianza (SLV)

 

And after the scoreless draw in Guatemala (man, I picked a good day to get stuck with work late night ), we have our semifinals:

Motagua (HON) vs. Alianza (SLV)
Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) vs. Olimpia (HON)

If Concacaf were cynical (perish the thought), now would be a good time to consider lifting the sanction on the Tegucigalpa sides...

 

So much for that: the empty-stadium sanction continues for both teams.

 

The schedule:

Thursday, October 24

Olimpia (HON) vs. Deportivo Saprissa (CRC), 8:00 p.m.
Alianza (SLV) vs. Motagua (HON), 10:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 31

Motagua (HON) vs. Alianza (SLV), 8:00 p.m.
Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) vs. Olimpia (HON), 10:00 p.m.

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And as far as hosting privileges for the second leg of the Final, here are the current standings according to Concacaf:

1. Deportivo Saprissa [CRC] (9 pts, +3)
2. Motagua [HON] (8 pts, +3)
3. Olimpia [HON] (7 pts, +4)
4. San Carlos [CRC] (7 pts, -1)
5. Alianza [SLV] (6 pts, +2)

 

Just based on the full rankings of the quarterfinalists - I left them in red to signify that they're gone from this competition.

 

It's gameday! And on the TV front, both 1st legs will be shown live on TUDN in the US.

(the second legs, however, have been preempted by Liga MX, so Yahoo! Sports it is)

 

Honduran newspaper Diez - salivating over a potential all-Honduran Final, I'm sure - has revealed the prize money on offer for the finalists: US$125k for the Concacaf League champion and US$75k for the runner-up.

 

Hot damn!

Saprissa fans have a saying that roughly translates to "Don't hand out anything while the Monster is still alive", and tonight was a shining example of that cup mentality in action. They had already scored 3, but Olimpia's away goal meant that the morados needed one more to survive...which they got in the fourth minute of injury time.

They now face Motagua in the Final; both finished on 12 points up to now, but Motagua drilling Alianza for 3 this evening means that they'll host the 2nd leg of the Final (quick recap: away goals don't count in the Final, and a tie after 180 will go to extra time before PKs).

 

Updates c/o Concacaf - and Motagua will host the second leg in their home stadium in Tegucigalpa (presumably - I have asked them to clarify - with fans).

 

Hey @EvanJ @newtex @ArsenalMetro has anyone heard of a schedule change for the Final? Concacaf announced that the first leg would be this Thursday, and Saprissa's announcement on tickets today has the same info...

¡Falta un paso! 💪¿Nos acompañás el jueves? 💜😈

🎟 Servimás, Tiendas Saprissa y https://t.co/ITBY0kI2dw pic.twitter.com/rG0NG1BHau

— Deportivo Saprissa 💜 (@SaprissaOficial) November 3, 2019

But when I looked it up on TUDN (both on the Xfinity and DirecTV guides), they had the game on Wednesday

The USWNT friendly they're showing on Thursday is at 7:30 p.m. (US Eastern), so there's no conflict with a live game at that time - it may just be TUDN in the wrong.

 

If it was from my previous post, my apologies (I have fixed it now): the second leg is set for Tuesday, Nov. 26.

 

TUDN has confirmed that they will show tomorrow's game live

 

Storytime, everyone!

So this evening, Concacaf's Twitter account publicized a CL Final Preview Show at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. I tuned in like a numpty thinking that it was live, and asked a question - only to find out at the end that it was pre-recorded. But kudos to one of the hosts for actually responding regardless:

Definitely an interesting one. Rules have been changing (away goals, etc) over the past few years to try and get it right. We’ll see if it ends up being the case. I know Devon feels very strongly that a win in Pens is still a win, whether it warrants 3 points is a tough one

— Tyler Terens (@TNTerens) November 26, 2019