The Concacaf League, the region's second-tier continental club competition, is finally set to return on October 20, with the preliminary round matches to be played as single-legged affairs rather than the usual two legs. It's a very weird time for any sort of international games in the Americas, and I really don't know if all of these games will be played, or if this tournament will ever finish, or if they will go into a bubble in the later rounds like the UEFA Champions League. We just don't know right now. But regardless, previewing the Concacaf League is a tradition of mine that predates the existence of this blog, so I'm going to do it anyway. There are a total of 6 matches slated for next week, with 10 countries represented.
Alajuelense 🇨🇷 vs Cibao 🇩🇴Cibao have been in the continental picture for a few seasons now, but they've never really been drawn against a team they could beat. The streak continues with this match against the Costa Rican giants Alajuelense, but at least in a one-legged affair they've got a chance. Cibao just started their domestic season last week, while Ala are 9 games in and boast the most impressive record in Central America right now with 8 wins and 1 draw. The ageless Alvaro Saborio leads the team in goals. I don't think they can completely look past a normally defensively sound Cibao side, but Alajuelense have to be thinking that they can go all the way this time.
FAS 🇸🇻 vs Managua 🇳🇮A year ago in this tournament Salvadoran teams made quite a splash, but FAS was not among that group. FAS recently returned to play in the El Salvador Primera last week, losing 3-1 to Isidro Metapán. The Salvadoran league, by the way, is playing in three separate geographic bubbles, before converging down to two geographic bubbles, before then meeting in one more serious bubble for the playoffs. One of the more unique ideas we've seen, but let's hope it works out alright. Veterans of the Concacaf League may recognize Raul Peñaranda for FAS, who has featured for both Alianza and Arabe Unido in the past. The Colombian striker scored the club's only goal in the season opener. Managua are the two-time regining runners-up in Nicaragua, having lost both finals to Real Estelí. They won their first game of the season 2-0, and the core of this team does have some good Concacaf experience having put up a great fight against Motagua a year ago. FAS are the favorites, but this one could get interesting.
Motagua 🇭🇳 vs Comunicaciones 🇬🇹If you like brand names, this is your match. Two of the biggest clubs in Central America going at it in a do or die showdown? That's good eats. Motagua are 3-0 in their return to play so far in Honduras, but the results have been a little shaky to get them there. They have conceded in all three matches, and two of them were against teams that failed to make the playoffs a year ago. On the flip side though, this Motagua team has been here before, going all the way to the finals last year before falling to Saprissa. The club also recently signed Argentine journeyman Gonzalo Klusener, who already has made his impact felt with two goals in league play. Across from them is the 30-time champions of Guatemala and current co-leaders in their domestic group (they also have a game in hand), Comunicaciones. Earlier this year Los Cremas took Club América all the way to penalties in the CCL, and they've got great momentum after a big win over rivals Antigua yesterday. Quality wise, this is the best game of the preliminaries, for sure.
Arcahaie 🇭🇹 vs Verdes 🇧🇿Conversely, quality wise, this is likely to be the worst game of the preliminaries. Certainly on paper it looks that way. But this match-up between Haiti's most recent champions and Belize's most recent champions is a real chance for the little guys. Looking ahead on the bracket you have Waterhouse of Jamaica meeting the winner of this game. That means a team from Belize or the Caribbean is guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals; a fantastic achievement for all three clubs. Verdes have recently resumed play, but Arcahaie have had more time to get back into a groove, having played seven games so far this season. I don't have much to say about these teams but I am really excited to see one of them advance.
Municipal Limeño 🇸🇻 vs Forge FC 🇨🇦Municipal Limeño
(legendary crest) are traditionally one of those mid-tier teams in El Salvador that qualify for the playoffs and then get knocked out by one of the big boys. But times have changed for Los Chancheros. This team is looking more like the Limeño side that reached two finals back around the turn of the millenium, and their Concacaf debut is a huge moment for the club. They will face Forge FC from Hamilton, Ontario, the two-time reigning Canadian Premier League champions. Forge just finished a very impressive campaign up in the CPL's bubble, gaining steam as the tournament went on and closing it out with a 2-0 victory in the final. Fans may recognize their 2020 top scorer Kyle Bekker from his MLS days. Limeño lost their first game of the season to Aguila 2-1, but La Selecta veteran Edwin Sánchez did at least get on the board for them.
Independiente 🇵🇦 vs Antigua 🇬🇹Independiente secured their place in Concacaf lore when they dismantled Toronto FC in the Champions League two years ago. They did fine enough in the Concacaf League last year; there's no shame in losing to Saprissa, but this club can smell revenge. If they can get there, a rematch with the Costa Rican giants will likely be waiting for them in the quarterfinals. But play has not yet resumed in Panama, and CAI were floundering in the league before it was suspended, so they've got a long way to go before they need to worry about the quarterfinals. Antigua are putting up a meh campaign so far in Guatemala, but games are always better than no games. CAI have played some friendlies and a handful of the players have been at national team camps, but jumping straight into a continental match will not be easy. I don't want to call either of these teams washed up, but I think two or three years ago this match would've been a lot more compelling.
