MIAMI, Florida – An epic clash between storied rivals is on the docket on Wednesday night, as Honduran clubs Olimpia and Motagua meet in the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf League quarterfinals at the Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
While these two clubs have faced off many times in the Liga Nacional of Honduras, Wednesday’s match marks their first ever Concacaf meeting, and the stakes could not be any bigger with the winner securing a place in next year’s Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.
2017 SCL champions Olimpia stormed into the final eight of the tournament with a convincing 6-0 victory over Nicaraguan side Managua. Six different players found the back of the net for Los Albos, including Michaell Chirinos, who also registered three assists on the evening.
Another member of the Olimpia squad to watch will be FW Yustin Arboleda, who has two career SCL goals in just three matches.
Motagua’s path to the quarterfinals has taken many twists and turns. In the Preliminary Round, they had to overcome a 2-0 second half deficit to force a 2-2 draw against Guatemalan side Comunicaciones, resulting in a record-setting penalty shootout that lasted 18 rounds before Motagua emerged victorious, 15-14.
There would be more drama in the Round of 16, as Motagua needed a second half stoppage time goal from Hector Castellanos to force a 1-1 draw with Alianza of El Salvador and another penalty shootout. Motagua would once again pull through in spot kicks, 4-3.
Matias Galvaliz has been one of the key men for the 2018 and 2019 SCL finalists, with a goal and an assist in the tournament, while GK Jonathan Rougier has been a rock, making a total of three penalty saves.
Kick-off is scheduled for 10:15 PM ET and can be seen via TSN.ca/TSN App (Canada), TUDN (USA-Spanish), FS1 (USA-English), ESPN 2 (Central America) and Fox Sports 2 (Mexico).