2018 CONCACAF League final

The 2018 CONCACAF League Final was the final round of the 2018 CONCACAF League, the second edition of the CONCACAF League, the secondary club football tournament organised by CONCACAF, the regional governing body of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.^[1]

2018 CONCACAF League Final

Event	2018 CONCACAF League
Herediano Motagua 3 2
on aggregate
First leg
Herediano Motagua 2 0
Date	25 October 2018 (2018-10-25)
Venue	Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero, Heredia
Referee	Marco Antonio Ortiz (Mexico)
Second leg
Motagua Herediano 2 1
Date	1 November 2018 (2018-11-01)
Venue	Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino, Tegucigalpa
Referee	Mario Escobar (Guatemala)
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The final was contested in two-legged home-and-away format between Herediano from Costa Rica and Motagua from Honduras. The first leg was hosted by Herediano at the Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero in Heredia on 25 October 2018, while the second leg was hosted by Motagua at the Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino in Tegucigalpa on 1 November 2018.^[2]

Herediano won the final 3–2 on aggregate for their first CONCACAF League title.^[3][4]

Teams

Team	Zone	Previous final appearances (bold indicates winners)
Herediano	Central America (UNCAF)	None
Motagua	Central America (UNCAF)	None

For the second consecutive season, the final of the CONCACAF League was competed between teams from Costa Rica and Honduras.

Venues

Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero in Heredia, Costa Rica, hosted the first leg.

Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, hosted the second leg.

Road to the final

Further information: 2018 CONCACAF League

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

Herediano				Round	Motagua
Opponent	Agg.	1st leg	2nd leg	2018 CONCACAF League	Opponent	Agg.	1st leg	2nd leg
Santa Tecla	2–2 (a)	1–0 (H)	1–2 (A)	Round of 16	Belmopan Bandits	3–0	2–0 (H)	1–0 (A)
Universitario	5–1	3–0 (H)	2–1 (A)	Quarter-finals	Portmore United	5–2	3–2 (H)	2–0 (A)
Árabe Unido	2–1	2–0 (H)	0–1 (A)	Semi-finals	Tauro	3–2	1–2 (A)	2–0 (H)

Format

The final was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, with the team with the better performance in previous rounds hosting the second leg.

The away goals rule would not be applied, and extra time would be played if the aggregate score was tied after the second leg. If the aggregate score was still tied after extra time, the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (Regulations II, Article G).^[1]

Performance ranking

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Host
1	Motagua	6	5	0	1	11	4	+7	15	2nd leg
2	Herediano	6	4	0	2	9	4	+5	12	1st leg

Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Away goals scored; 5) Wins; 6) Away wins; 7) Disciplinary points; 8) Drawing of lots (Regulations II, Article H).^[1]

Matches

First leg

Herediano	2–0	Motagua
Marín 23' Cruz 62'	Report

25 October 2018 (2018-10-25)

20:00 UTC−6

Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero, Heredia

Referee: Marco Antonio Ortiz (Mexico)

Herediano

Motagua

GK 1 Leonel Moreira RB 99 Keyner Brown CB 37 Keysher Fuller  46' CB 26 Leonardo González  76' LB 21 Pablo Salazar (c)  48' CM 8 Allan Cruz CM 11 Jimmy Marín CM 12 Randall Azofeifa RF 77 José Ortiz  70' CF 7 Yendrick Ruiz LF 14 Berny Burke  58' Substitutes: GK 20 Daniel Cambronero DF 42 Heyreel Saravia  46' MF 5 Óscar Granados  58' MF 23 Édgar Lugo MF 27 Alberth Villalobos  70' FW 3 Antonio Pedroza FW 17 Aldo Magaña Manager: Jafet Soto[note 1]

GK 19 Jonathan Rougier RB 2 Juan Montes (c) CB 3 Henry Figueroa  71' CB 17 Denil Maldonado  61' LB 24 Omar Elvir CM 10 Matías Galvaliz  58' CM 16 Héctor Castellanos CM 21 Roberto Moreira  68'  77' RW 6 Reinieri Mayorquín  78' LW 34 Kevin López  32' CF 9 Román Castillo Substitutes: GK 25 Marlon Licona DF 5 Marcelo Pereira DF 18 Wilmer Crisanto DF 31 Carlos Sánchez MF 8 Walter Martínez  58' MF 12 Marcelo Santos  78' FW 22 Javier Estupiñán  77' Manager: Diego Vásquez

Assistant referees:[6] José Luís Camargo (Mexico) Marvin Torrentera (Mexico) Fourth official:[6] Fernando Guerrero (Mexico)

Match rules[1] 90 minutes. Seven named substitutes, of which up to three may be used.

Second leg

Motagua	2–1	Herediano
Castillo 45+1', 58'	Report	Marín 85'

1 November 2018 (2018-11-01)

20:00 UTC−6

Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino, Tegucigalpa

Referee: Mario Escobar (Guatemala)

Motagua

Herediano

GK 19 Jonathan Rougier RB 17 Denil Maldonado  86' CB 3 Henry Figueroa CB 2 Juan Montes (c)  72' LB 24 Omar Elvir CM 10 Matías Galvaliz CM 12 Marcelo Santos CM 21 Roberto Moreira  74' RW 6 Reinieri Mayorquín  51'  54' LW 34 Kevin López CF 9 Román Castillo Substitutes: GK 25 Marlon Licona DF 4 Sergio Peña DF 5 Marcelo Pereira DF 18 Wilmer Crisanto  86' DF 31 Carlos Sánchez MF 8 Walter Martínez  54' FW 22 Javier Estupiñán  74' Manager: Diego Vásquez

GK 1 Leonel Moreira RB 42 Heyreel Saravia CB 99 Keyner Brown CB 21 Pablo Salazar (c) LB 26 Leonardo González CM 8 Allan Cruz  89' CM 11 Jimmy Marín CM 5 Óscar Granados RF 77 José Ortiz  88'  88' CF 7 Yendrick Ruiz  90'  90' LF 9 Omar Arellano  69' Substitutes: GK 20 Daniel Cambronero DF 53 Christian Reyes  90' MF 16 Youstin Salas  88' MF 23 Édgar Lugo MF 27 Alberth Villalobos  69' FW 3 Antonio Pedroza FW 17 Aldo Magaña Manager: Rolando Villalobos[note 2]

Assistant referees:[8] Juan Zumba (El Salvador) Ronald Bruna (Panama) Fourth official:[8] John Pitti (Panama)

Match rules[1] 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if tied on aggregate (no away goals rule applied). Penalty shoot-out if still tied after extra time. Seven named substitutes, of which up to three may be used, with a fourth allowed in extra time.

See also

• 2019 CONCACAF Champions League

Notes

1. Herediano manager Jafet Soto was expelled by the referee in the 37th minute. Assistant manager and compatriot Rolando Villalobos filled in as manager for the remainder of the match.^[5]
2. Herediano manager Jafet Soto was given a two-match touchline ban in CONCACAF competitions following the first leg of the final. Assistant manager and compatriot Rolando Villalobos filled in as manager.^[7]