2019_CONCACAF_League

2019 CONCACAF League

2019 CONCACAF League

2019 edition of football club competition


The 2019 CONCACAF League (officially the 2019 Scotiabank CONCACAF League for sponsorship purposes) was the third edition of the CONCACAF League, a football club competition organized by CONCACAF, the regional governing body of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.[1]

Quick Facts Scotiabank CONCACAF League, Tournament details ...

The tournament was expanded from 16 to 22 teams for the 2019 edition, with the addition of a preliminary round. The six new entrants were five teams from Central America, which had previously directly qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League, and a team from Canada playing in the Canadian Premier League, bringing the total number of teams playing in the CONCACAF League/Champions League from 31 to 32. Moreover, a total of six teams now qualified from the CONCACAF League to the CONCACAF Champions League, meaning that the winners of the 2019 CONCACAF League and the next best five teams qualified for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League.[2][3]

Saprissa defeated Motagua in the final to win their first CONCACAF League. Herediano were the title holders, but were eliminated by Waterhouse in the Round of 16.

Qualification

A total of 22 teams participated in the CONCACAF League:

Therefore, teams from either 10 or 11 out of the 41 CONCACAF member associations could participate in the CONCACAF League.

North America

The one berth for the North American Zone (NAFU) was allocated to the Canadian Soccer Association through the Canadian Premier League. As the inaugural 2019 Canadian Premier League season was not scheduled to finish by the start of the 2019 CONCACAF League, the Canadian CONCACAF League berth for this season was decided by the winners of the home and away matches in the Canadian Premier League spring season between FC Edmonton, Forge FC, and Valour FC, the three "inaugural teams" of the Canadian Premier League.[4] They were the second Canadian representative included in CONCACAF competitions, besides the Canadian Championship champions which qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League. In future seasons, the previous year's Canadian Premier League champions would qualify for the CONCACAF League.[5]

Central America

The 18 berths for the Central American Football Union (UNCAF), which consisted of seven member associations, were allocated as follows: three berths for each of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, two berths for Nicaragua, and one berth for Belize.

All of the leagues of Central America employed a split season with two tournaments in one season, so the following teams qualified for the CONCACAF League:

  • In the league of Costa Rica, both champions, and the non-champions with the best aggregate record, qualified. If there was any team which were champions of both tournaments, the non-champions with the second best aggregate record qualified.
  • In the leagues of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama, both champions, and the runners-up with the better aggregate record (or any team which were runners-up of both tournaments), qualified. If there was any team which were finalists of both tournaments, the runners-up with the worse aggregate record qualified. If there were any two teams which were finalists of both tournaments, the semi-finalists with the best aggregate record qualified.
  • In the league of Nicaragua, both champions qualified. If there was any team which were champions of both tournaments, the runners-up with the better aggregate record (or any team which were runners-up of both tournaments) qualified.
  • In the league of Belize, the champions with the better aggregate record (or any team which were champions of both tournaments) qualified.

If teams from any Central American associations were excluded, they were replaced by teams from other Central American associations, with the associations chosen based on results from previous CONCACAF League and CONCACAF Champions League tournaments.[6]

Caribbean

The three berths for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), which consisted of 31 member associations, were allocated via the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship and CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield, the first-tier and second-tier subcontinental Caribbean club tournaments. Since 2018, the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship was open to teams from professional leagues, where they could qualify as champions or runners-up of their respective association's league in the previous season, while the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield was open to teams from non-professional leagues, where they could qualify as champions of their respective association's league in the previous season.[7]

Besides the champions of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship which qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League, the runners-up and third-placed team of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship, and the winners of a playoff between the fourth-placed team of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship and the champions of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield, qualified for the CONCACAF League. For the champions of the CONCACAF Caribbean Club Shield to be eligible for the playoff, they had to comply with the minimum CONCACAF Club Licensing requirements for the CONCACAF League.[8]

Teams

The following 22 teams (from eleven associations) qualify for the tournament.

  • Ten teams enter in the round of 16: two each from Costa Rica, Honduras, and Panama, and one each from El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and the Caribbean.
  • Twelve teams enter in the preliminary round: two each from El Salvador, Guatemala, and the Caribbean, and one each from Canada, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Nicaragua, and Belize.
More information Association, Team ...
More information Association, Team ...
More information Association, Team ...
Notes
  1. ^
    Canada (CAN): As the inaugural 2019 Canadian Premier League season was not scheduled to finish by the start of the 2019 CONCACAF League, the Canadian CONCACAF League berth for this season was decided by the winners of the home and away matches in the Canadian Premier League spring season between FC Edmonton, Forge FC, and Valour FC, the three "inaugural teams" of the Canadian Premier League.[9]

Draw

Location of teams of the 2019 CONCACAF League
North American Zone

The draw for the 2019 CONCACAF League was held on 30 May 2019, at 20:00 Eastern Time (18:00 local time), at the Grand Tikal Futura Hotel in Guatemala City, Guatemala.[10][11][12]

The draw determined each tie in the preliminary round (numbered 1 through 6) between a team from Pot 1 and a team from Pot 2, each containing six teams. The "Bracket Position Pots" (Pot A and Pot B) contained the bracket positions numbered 1 through 6 corresponding to each tie. The teams from Pot 1 were assigned a bracket position from Pot A and the teams from Pot 2 were assigned a bracket position from Pot B. Teams from the same association could not be drawn against each other in the preliminary round except for "wildcard" teams which replaced a team from another association.

The draw also determined each tie in the round of 16 (numbered 1 through 8) between a team from Pot 3 and a team from Pot 4, each containing eight teams, with the six preliminary round winners, whose identity was not known at the time of the draw, in Pot 4. The "Bracket Position Pots" (Pot A and Pot B) contained the bracket positions numbered 1 through 8 corresponding to each tie. The teams from Pot 3 were assigned a bracket position from Pot A and the teams from Pot 4 were assigned a bracket position from Pot B.

The seeding of teams was based on the CONCACAF Club Index. The CONCACAF Club Index, instead of ranking each team, was based on the on-field performance of the teams that had occupied the respective qualifying slots in the previous five editions of the CONCACAF League and CONCACAF Champions League. To determine the total points awarded to a slot in any single edition of the CONCACAF League or CONCACAF Champions League, CONCACAF used the following formula:

More information Points per, Participation ...

Teams qualified for the CONCACAF League based on criteria set by their association (e.g., tournament champions, runners-up, cup champions), resulting in an assigned slot (e.g., CRC1, CRC2) for each team.

The 22 teams were distributed in the pots as follows:[13]

More information Pot, Rank ...
More information Pot, Rank ...
Notes
  1. ^
    CAN The identity of the team qualifying for the slot for Canada (CAN2) was not known at the time of the draw.[14]
  2. ^ a b
    HON The identity of the teams qualifying for two of the three slots for Honduras (HON1 and HON2) was not known at the time of the draw.[14] However, as both Motagua and Olimpia were certain to be in Pot 3 for the round of 16 draw, they were included and assigned a bracket position from Pot A by the round of 16 draw.[12]
  3. ^ a b c
    PAN The identity of the teams qualifying for the three slots for Panama (PAN1, PAN2 and PAN3) was not known at the time of the draw.[14]

Format

In the CONCACAF League, the 22 teams played a single-elimination tournament. Each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis.

  • In the preliminary round, round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals, the away goals rule was applied if the aggregate score was tied after the second leg. If still tied, the penalty shoot-out was used to determine the winner (Regulations II, Article G).[3]
  • In the final, the away goals rule was not applied, and extra time was played if the aggregate score was tied after the second leg. If the aggregate score was still tied after extra time, the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (Regulations II, Article H).[3]

Schedule

The schedule of the competition was as follows.[15]

More information Round, First leg ...

Times are Eastern Time, as listed by CONCACAF (local times are in parentheses):[16]

Bracket

Preliminary roundRound of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
                            
Canada Forge FC202
Guatemala Antigua GFC101
Canada Forge FC112
Honduras Olimpia044
Honduras Olimpia202
Guatemala Comunicaciones000
Guatemala Comunicaciones213
Honduras Marathón112
Guatemala Comunicaciones202
Guatemala Guastatoya101
Honduras Olimpia213
Costa Rica Saprissa044
Belize Belmopan Bandits112
Costa Rica Saprissa336
Costa Rica Saprissa202
El Salvador Águila011
Costa Rica Saprissa314
Panama Independiente202
Suriname Robinhood (a)011
Haiti Capoise011
Suriname Robinhood112
Panama Independiente123
Costa Rica Saprissa101
Honduras Motagua000
El Salvador Alianza516
Panama San Francisco101
El Salvador Alianza202
Panama Tauro011
El Salvador Alianza202
Costa Rica San Carlos011
Nicaragua Real Estelí202
El Salvador Santa Tecla (a)112
El Salvador Santa Tecla000 (2)
Costa Rica San Carlos (p)000 (4)
El Salvador Alianza101
Honduras Motagua134
Jamaica Waterhouse (p)112 (7)
Costa Rica Herediano112 (6)
Jamaica Waterhouse000
Honduras Motagua202
Nicaragua Managua112
Honduras Motagua213

Preliminary round

In the preliminary round, the matchups were decided by draw: PR-1 through PR-6. The teams from Pot 1 in the draw hosted the second leg.

Summary

The first legs were played on 30 July – 1 August, and the second legs were played on 6–8 August 2019.[17]

More information Team 1, Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score ...

Matches

More information Alianza, 5–1 ...
Referee: Bryan López (Guatemala)
More information San Francisco, 0–1 ...
Referee: Diego Montaño (Mexico)

Alianza won 6–1 on aggregate.


More information Robinhood, 0–0 ...
Referee: Okeito Nicholson (Jamaica)
More information Capoise, 1–1 ...

1–1 on aggregate. Robinhood won on away goals.


More information Belmopan Bandits, 1–3 ...
Referee: Nitzar Sandoval (Nicaragua)
More information Saprissa, 3–1 ...
Referee: José Raúl Torres (Puerto Rico)

Saprissa won 6–2 on aggregate.


More information Forge FC, 2–1 ...
Attendance: 4,644
Referee: Juan Gabriel Calderón (Costa Rica)
More information Antigua GFC, 0–0 ...

Forge FC won 2–1 on aggregate.


More information Comunicaciones, 2–1 ...
More information Marathón, 1–1 ...

Comunicaciones won 3–2 on aggregate.


More information Real Estelí, 2–1 ...
More information Santa Tecla, 1–0 ...

2–2 on aggregate. Santa Tecla won on away goals.

Round of 16

In the round of 16, the matchups were decided by draw: R16-1 through R16-8. The teams from Pot 3 in the draw hosted the second leg.

Summary

The first legs were played on 20–22 August, and the second legs were played on 27–29 August 2019.[18]

More information Team 1, Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score ...

Matches

More information Managua, 1–2 ...
More information Motagua, 1–1 ...

Motagua won 3–2 on aggregate.


More information Waterhouse, 1–1 ...
Referee: José Kellys (Panama)
More information Herediano, 1–1 ...

2–2 on aggregate. Waterhouse won 7–6 on penalties.


More information Santa Tecla, 0–0 ...
Referee: Oliver Vergara (Panama)
More information San Carlos, 0–0 ...

0–0 on aggregate. San Carlos won 4–2 on penalties.


More information Alianza, 2–0 ...
More information Tauro, 1–0 ...

Alianza won 2–1 on aggregate.


More information Robinhood, 1–1 ...
More information Independiente, 2–1 ...

Independiente won 3–2 on aggregate.


More information Saprissa, 2–0 ...
More information Águila, 1–0 ...
Referee: Adonai Escobedo (Mexico)

Saprissa won 2–1 on aggregate.


More information Comunicaciones, 2–1 ...
More information Guastatoya, 0–0 ...

Comunicaciones won 2–1 on aggregate.


More information Forge FC, 1–0 ...
Referee: José Raúl Torres (Puerto Rico)
More information Olimpia, 4–1 ...

Olimpia won 4–2 on aggregate.

Quarter-finals

In the quarter-finals, the matchups were determined as follows:

  • QF1: Winner R16-1 vs. Winner R16-2
  • QF2: Winner R16-3 vs. Winner R16-4
  • QF3: Winner R16-5 vs. Winner R16-6
  • QF4: Winner R16-7 vs. Winner R16-8

The winners of round of 16 matchups 1, 3, 5, 7 hosted the second leg.

Summary

The first legs were played on 24–26 September, and the second legs were played on 1–3 October 2019.[20]

More information Team 1, Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score ...

Matches

More information Waterhouse, 0–2 ...
Referee: Reon Radix (Grenada)
More information Motagua, 0–0 ...

Motagua won 2–0 on aggregate.


More information Alianza, 2–0 ...
More information San Carlos, 1–0 ...

Alianza won 2–1 on aggregate.


More information Saprissa, 3–2 ...
More information Independiente, 0–1 ...

Saprissa won 4–2 on aggregate.


More information Olimpia, 2–0 ...
More information Comunicaciones, 0–0 ...

Olimpia won 2–0 on aggregate.

Semi-finals

In the semi-finals, the matchups were determined as follows:

  • SF1: Winner QF1 vs. Winner QF2
  • SF2: Winner QF3 vs. Winner QF4

The semi-finalists in each tie which had the better performance in previous rounds (excluding preliminary round) hosted the second leg.

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Away goals scored; 5) Wins; 6) Away wins; 7) Disciplinary points; 8) Drawing of lots (Regulations II, Article I).[3]

Summary

The first legs were played on 24 October, and the second legs were played on 31 October 2019.[21]

More information Team 1, Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score ...

Matches

More information Alianza, 1–1 ...
Referee: José Kellys (Panama)
More information Motagua, 3–0 ...

Motagua won 4–1 on aggregate.


More information Olimpia, 2–0 ...
More information Saprissa, 4–1 ...

Saprissa won 4–3 on aggregate.

Final

Christian Bolaños with the ball during the second leg of the final

In the final (Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2), the finalists which had the better performance in previous rounds (excluding preliminary round) hosted the second leg.

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Away goals scored; 5) Wins; 6) Away wins; 7) Disciplinary points; 8) Drawing of lots (Regulations II, Article I).[3]

Summary

The first leg was played on 7 November, and the second leg was played on 26 November 2019.[22]

More information Team 1, Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score ...

Matches

More information Saprissa, 1–0 ...
Referee: Daneon Parchment (Jamaica)
More information Motagua, 0–0 ...

Saprissa won 1–0 on aggregate.

Top goalscorers

  Team eliminated or inactive for this round.
More information Rank, Player ...

Qualification to CONCACAF Champions League

Starting from the round of 16, teams were ranked based on their results (excluding preliminary round) using the following criteria (Regulations II, Article I):[3]

  1. Points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss, except that teams advancing via a penalty shootout were considered to have won the match and thus earned 3 points);
  2. Goal difference;
  3. Goals scored;
  4. Away goals scored;
  5. Wins;
  6. Away wins;
  7. Disciplinary points (1 point for yellow card, 3 points for indirect red card, 4 points for direct red card, 5 points for yellow card and direct red card);
  8. Drawing of lots

Based on the ranking, the top six teams, i.e., champions, runners-up, both losing semi-finalists, and best two losing quarter-finalists, qualified for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League.[21]

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Away goals scored; 5) Wins; 6) Away wins; 7) Disciplinary points; 8) Drawing of lots (Regulations II, Article I).[3]
Notes:
  1. Disciplinary points: Águila –2, Tauro –4.
  2. Disciplinary points: Robinhood –1, Managua –5.

Awards

Following their victory in the final, Saprissa players Manfred Ugalde, Michael Barrantes and Johan Venegas (left to right) pose with the Best Young Player, Fair Play Award, Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards, respectively.

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament:[23]

More information Award, Player ...

See also

Notes

  1. Round of 16 home matches of Honduran clubs Olimpia and Motagua were moved from Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino, Tegucigalpa to Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, and required by CONCACAF to be played behind closed doors, after incidents before the domestic league match between the two teams on 17 August 2019 at the Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino.[19]

References

  1. "Details revealed for newly launched Scotiabank CONCACAF League". CONCACAF League. 8 May 2017. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  2. "Concacaf Announces Scotiabank Concacaf League Expansion". www.concacafleague.com. 11 February 2019. Archived from the original on 23 June 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  3. "Scotiabank CONCACAF League 2019 Regulations" (PDF). CONCACAF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  4. "Canada Soccer continues to provide expanded international opportunities with two spots on the path to Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League". Canadian Soccer Association. 12 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 April 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  5. "A guide to the format for the 2019 season". Canadian Premier League. 25 April 2019.
  6. "Stage Set for Miami Draw for Second Edition of the Scotiabank Concacaf League". Scotiabank CONCACAF League. 18 May 2018. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  7. Concacaf (11 February 2019), New Scotiabank Concacaf League Format Explained, retrieved 11 February 2019
  8. "2019 Scotiabank Concacaf League Quarterfinal Matchups and Schedule Confirmed". CONCACAF League. 30 August 2019. Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  9. "2019 Scotiabank Concacaf League Final Set". CONCACAF League. 1 November 2019.
  10. "TSG announces the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf League individual awards". concacafleague.com. Concacaf. 27 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.

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