MIAMI, Florida – It will be a rematch of the 2019 Concacaf League Final when Honduran side Motagua meet Saprissa of Costa Rica in the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup Play-In, with the first leg set for Wednesday at the Estadio Nacional Chelato Ucles in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Four years ago in that Final, Saprissa narrowly edged Motagua 1-0 over two legs and no doubt another hotly contested 180 minutes can be expected between these two teams who will try to emerge with a ticket to the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Saprissa won that Concacaf League Final in 2019 thanks to a 0-0 draw in the return leg in Honduras and they will be keen to keep the home side off the scoreboard again.
GK Esteban Alvarado, who has 24 saves in the tournament, will need to be ready to help the visiting Ticos.
Saprissa can also turn to a star-studded attack for goalscoring relief in the form of Javon East and Orlando Sinclair. East leads the team in scoring in the competition with four goals, giving him seven goals in his Concacaf career.
Sinclair has also provided a big boost, scoring three goals and contributing an assist in six appearances.
Goal scorers certainly are not lacking for Motagua, either. Look no further than Agustin Auzmendi, who is tied with Carlos Small of CAI for the most goals in the Central American Cup with five.
Yeison Mejia has been excellent as well, with three goals and an assist, while Walter Martinez has chipped in with a pair of assists.
In the back, Motagua know they are always in good hands with GK Jonathan Rougier, no stranger to big-time Concacaf nights. The veteran shot-stopper has three clean sheets and 13 saves in the tournament.
Referees FC Motagua (HON) vs Deportivo Saprissa (CRC)
REF: DANIEL QUINTERO (Mexico)
AR1: MICHEL ESPINOZA (Mexico)
AR2: LEONARDO CASTILLO (Mexico)
4TH: OLIVER VERGARA (Panama)
