One year after making its debut in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL), Plaza Amador will compete in the first-ever Scotiabank CONCACAF League.

In 2016/17 SCCL play, the Leones posted a 1W-1D-2L record (3GF, 6 GA).  That lone win came against eventual runner-up Tigres, 1-0 at home September 28, 2016.  Ricauter Barsallo (37’) scored the game’s only goal.

Over the last 12 months domestically, Plaza Amador has found Arabe Unido to be a stumbling block, falling to the Expreso Azul in the 2016 Apertura final (0-2) and the 2017 Clausura semifinals (agg: 1-2).  Defense is Plaza’s strength, conceding only 18 total goals during the 2016/17 regular seasons (2016 Apertura: 8; 2017 Clausura: 10).

One current was on Panama’s roster for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup: Valentin Pimentel (midfielder).

Plaza Amador has won six Panamanian league crowns (1988, 1990, 1992, 2002, 2005, 2016 Clausura).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Valentin Pimentel, Midfielder: after making five appearances in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the 26-year-old made one in the 2017 edition, coming on as a second-half substitute for the injured Miguel Camargo in quarterfinal v Costa Rica (0-1 loss) … played only 20 minutes in lone 2016 Copa America Centenario appearance, before suffering a hip injury against Argentina on June 10, 2016, and being replaced by Miguel Camargo … played for Colombia’s La Equidad in 2016, before returning for his second stint with Plaza Amador

Sergio Ortega, Defender: the 27-year-old Panamanian has been a key member of Plaza Amador’s staunch defensive unit … played every minute of Plaza’s four matches in 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) campaign … scored Plaza Amador’s first-ever SCCL goal in 12th minute of 1-1 home draw v Herediano on August 4, 2016

Ernesto Sinclair, Forward: his 24th minute goal in a 1-0 win over Chorrillo FC in the 2016 Panamanian Clausura final earned Plaza Amador its first-ever Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League berth and its first domestic crown since 2005

Eric Hughes, Goalkeeper: the 31-year-old is a veteran of Panamanian league play … also played for Independiente, Tauro and San Francisco