MIAMI, Florida – Violette AC of Haiti will be seeking to make more history on Tuesday night when they visit Austin FC in the second leg of the 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 on Tuesday night at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Violette became the first Haitian club to win a match in the SCCL era with their 3-0 triumph last Tuesday in the first leg in the Dominican Republic. Now they will be aiming to become the first Caribbean side to win a knockout round series in the tournament since the Puerto Rico Islanders eliminated the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2010-11 Preliminary Round.
Miche-Naider Chery was the hero of the night for Violette in the first leg with a pair of goals, while Roberto Louima and Denilson Pierre each contributed assists. Another key cog in the Violette wheel was MF Steeven Saba, who completed 32 of his 35 passes.
Austin FC will need to summon their very best in front of the home fans to try to reach the next phase and they have the talent to do it.
Attacker Sebastian Driussi, who did not play in the first leg, scored 22 goals last season in MLS and will be on the hunt for his first Concacaf goal.
FW Maximiliano Urruti has five career SCCL goals and will likely be called on to supply more for the Texan side.
While coming back from a 3-0 deficit is a tall task, SCCL history shows that it is doable. In the 2014-15 semifinals, Mexico’s Club America rallied from a 3-0 first leg defeat to eliminate Herediano of Costa Rica 6-3 on aggregate.
Last season in the quarterfinal stage after absorbing a 3-0 first leg defeat to the New England Revolution, Pumas struck back for a 3-0 second leg win at home and eventually advanced via a penalty shootout.
A quick start for Austin FC could be just the recipe for another dramatic SCCL comeback.
