MIAMI, Florida – The quarterfinals of the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League concluded this week with the four second leg matches. There were a number of memorable moments over the course of the games, but here are the five that stood out the most.
Suarez goal the exclamation point for Alajuelense
2020 champions Alajuelense capped an excellent quarterfinal round versus Alianza of El Salvador with a goal from Aaron Suarez for a 2-0 second leg triumph and a 3-0 win on aggregate. The 20-year-old Suarez has emerged as one of the best young players in Costa Rica and his one-timer off a pass from 2020 SCL Golden Ball winner Alexander Lopez, his sixth career SCL assist, was the exclamation point on a commanding performance.
Rougier saves the day for Motagua
It was fitting that GK Jonathan Rougier would be the one to come up with the decisive play to send Motagua to the semifinals. The veteran Motagua shot-stopper, who already is the SCL’s all-time leader in saves (76) and clean sheets (16), soared to his left to deny Tauro’s Richard Rodriguez from the spot to give Motagua the place in the final four. Rougier now has nine saves in the 2022 edition and more importantly, kept the three-time SCL runners-up alive in their quest for a first title.
Montes, Lopez secure series for Real Espana
It is never easy to play away to any of the Costa Rican teams in the SCL, but Real Espana of Honduras handled matters with aplomb thanks in large part to DF Getsel Montes and GK Luis Lopez, respectively. The Real Espana center back rose above the fray to smack in a header off a corner kick to stun the home fans in San Jose’s Estadio Nacional with three minutes not even having ticked off the clock. From there, Lopez took over and outside of a late Herediano goal, he was once again superb in making a number of saves to ensure an easy passage to the semifinals.
Benguche goal caps Olimpia rally
Diriangen of Nicaragua were giving home side Olimpia of Honduras all sorts of fits for the first hour of their second leg on Thursday night. The visiting Pinoleros held a 1-0 lead and were threatening to cut more into the 4-1 aggregate deficit, but Olimpia’s championship pedigree would take over. Following a Jerry Bengtson header to equalize, Jorge Benguche came off the bench again to supply a key goal, scoring the winner in the 81’ on what turned out to be a 3-1 win. It showed that even despite a slow start, Olimpia can turn things on in a flash and show why they are a title candidate.
Storied Central American clubs in semifinals
Each of the four teams remaining in the SCL have a decorated past in Concacaf. Olimpia have won two Concacaf Champions Cup and were the inaugural winners of the SCL in 2017. Alajuelense have a pair of Concacaf Champions Cup trophies in their collection, along with an SCL crown from 2020. While Motagua have yet to win a major Concacaf trophy, it is a club that has reached the Final of the SCL three times (2018, 2019, 2021), and no doubt they feel like this is their moment to claim their first piece of Concacaf hardware. Real Espana have always been a competitive side when it comes to Concacaf competition, along with their 12 domestic trophies. Needless to say, all four semifinalists boast a very rich history and will be eager to add to that legacy in the upcoming weeks.