MIAMI.-  Panama’s Arabe Unido, Honduras’ FC Motagua and El Salvador’s CD FAS had winning starts in their first leg encounters in the Round of 16 of the Scotiabank Concacaf League (SCL) on Tuesday.

At the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, Árabe Unido was too good for Jamaican outfit Arnett Gardens, turning back the visitors 3-0.

Árabe Unido got its goals courtesy of a brace from Chin Hormechea (58’ and 81’) and Jonathan Murillo (90+7’).

Arnett Gardens will have it all to do in trying to overturn the deficit in the decisive leg of the home-and-away knockout tournament in Kingston’s National Stadium on Thursday, August 9. Match time is 9:00 pm.

Meanwhile, FC Motagua put in a solid performance at home to blank Belize’s Belmopan Bandits 2-0 at the Tiburcio Carias Andino. The win was made safe by strikes from Kevin Lopez (47’) and Matías Galvaliz (78’). The Belizean club had Hector Martinez sent off late in the contest after picking up a second yellow card.

Their return fixture is set for 7:00 pm at the Isidoro Beaton Stadium in Belize on Tuesday, August 7.

In the other match of the opening salvo of the Scotiabank CONCACAF League, CD FAS of El Salvador continued the vast fortunes of home teams when it edged Costa Rican side Pérez Zeledón 2-1 at the Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador. Víctor Calcedo (57th minute) and Guillermo Stradella (80th) got essential rallying goals after Lauro Cazol gave Perez Zeledón the lead after only the second minute. 

The two Central American outfits meet again for the return leg at the Alejandro Morera Soto in Costa Rica on Tuesday, August 7, at 9:00 pm.

In games scheduled for Wednesday, August 1, Martinique’s Club Franciscain will host Nicaragua’s CD Walter Ferretti at the Stade Pierre Aliker at 7:00 pm. 

Also Nicaraguan champs Diriangén will host Panama’s CD Universitario at the Eladio Rosabal Cordero in Costa Rica at 7:00 pm. Finally, Costa Rican side and 2017 CONCACAF League runner-up Santos De Guápiles welcomes Jamaica’s Portmore United at the Estadio Nacional in Costa Rica. Kickoff is set for 9:00 pm.