MIAMI, Florida – Moca of the Dominican Republic have qualified for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup after playing to a 1-1 draw with Jamaican side Harbour View in the second leg of the 2023 Concacaf Caribbean Cup Third-Place series on Tuesday night at the Estadio Cibao in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
The result earned Moca a 3-2 victory on aggregate and passage to Round One of the 2024 Champions Cup. It is their first Champions Cup qualification.
There was not much in the way of chances in the first 45 minutes. It was not until toward the end of the half that the best looks at goal arrived and they were both for Moca.
Victor Sanchez was in on goal but saw his effort denied by Harbour View GK Anthony Bennett. That was quickly followed by a swerving, dipping shot from Sebastian Valencia that sliced wide of net.
Harbour View started carving out some chances for themselves in the second half and Andre Fagan could only shake his head in disbelief after he missed on a header over the crossbar when left unmarked on a corner kick in the 56’.
Harbour View kept coming and their efforts bore fruit in the 64’ when a free kick was played deep into the Moca FC area and Ajuma Johnson came around the back end to volley in a shot to make it 1-0 to Harbour View in the match.
Still requiring another goal due to Moca owning the away goal tiebreaker, Harbour View needed to keep pushing, but Moca FC had other ideas and quickly evened the contest 1-1 when a ball from Sebastian Valencia went through a sea of players and into goal in the 68’.
Harbour View doubled down on attack and Moca FC GK Odalis Baez was summoned to make a big save in 78’ from Ajeanie Talbott.
Harbour View’s last push came in the waning seconds and a mad scramble in front of goal saw a shot ring off the crossbar and get eventually cleared, sealing the result for Moca.
