TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica are champions of the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf League after holding off Honduran club Motagua FC 0-0 in the second leg of the 2019 SCL Final on Tuesday night at the Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
The result earned the Monstruo Morado a 1-0 victory on aggregate, with Johan Venegas’s goal in the first leg the difference between the two teams.
It was an energetic start, with chances for both teams throughout the first half with Motagua looking to strike on the counterattack, but it was Saprissa coming closest to a goal with chances through Christian Bolanos and Johan Venegas, but were denied by Motagua GK Jonathan Rougier.
The intensity only increased at the start of the second half and Motagua’s Roberto Moreira was left frustrated when he failed to put a header on target shortly after the restart.
The momentum stayed with Motagua and next it was Juan Pablo Montes almost scoring, only for Saprissa GK Aaron Cruz to make an excellent save.
Yet David Ramirez almost then gave Saprissa a crucial second goal, but his effort bounced off the post.
It all made for a dramatic finale and despite the overwhelming pressure from the hosts, including a last-second shot off the crossbar, Saprissa held on to secure the result and the title.