2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup

The 2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup was the first edition of the CONCACAF Central American Cup, the first-tier annual international club football competition in the Central American region. It was contested by clubs whose football associations are affiliated with the Central American Football Union (UNCAF), a sub-confederation of CONCACAF.

2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup
Tournament details
Dates1 August – 7 December
Teams20 (from 7 associations)
Final positions
ChampionsCosta Rica Alajuelense (1st title)
Runners-upNicaragua Real Estelí
Tournament statistics
Matches played58
Goals scored166 (2.86 per match)
Top scorer(s)Argentina Agustín Auzmendi
(7 goals)
Best player(s)Costa Rica Aarón Suárez
Best young playerCosta Rica Doryan Rodríguez
Best goalkeeperCosta Rica Leonel Moreira
2024

The winners of the 2023 CONCACAF Central American Cup qualified to the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup Round of 16, and the second through sixth place teams qualified to Round One.[1]

Teams

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Twenty teams from the seven UNCAF member associations qualified for the tournament based on results from their domestic leagues.[2][3][4] For this edition only, Honduras and Costa Rica have been awarded an extra berth based on performance in the 2022 CONCACAF League.[5]

  • Costa Rica and Honduras: 4 berths
  • El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama: 3 berths
  • Nicaragua: 2 berths
  • Belize: 1 berth
Association Team Qualifying method
  Belize (1 berth) Verdes 2022–23 Premier League (Opening and Closing) champions.
  Costa Rica
(4 berths)
Saprissa 2022–23 Liga FPD Apertura and Clausura champions[6]
Herediano 2022–23 Liga FPD aggregate table best team not yet qualified[6]
Alajuelense 2022–23 Liga FPD aggregate table 2nd best team not yet qualified[6]
Cartaginés 2022–23 Liga FPD aggregate table 3rd best team not yet qualified[6]
  El Salvador
(3 berths)
FAS 2022–23 Primera División Apertura champions[7][8]
Jocoro 2022–23 Primera División Apertura runners-up[7][8][Note SLV]
Águila 2022–23 Primera División aggregate table best team not yet qualified[7][8]
  Guatemala
(3 berths)
Cobán Imperial 2022–23 Liga Nacional Torneo Apertura champions[9]
Xelajú 2022–23 Liga Nacional Torneo Clausura champions[9]
Comunicaciones 2022–23 Liga Nacional aggregate table best team not yet qualified[9]
  Honduras
(4 berths)
Olimpia 2022–23 Honduran Liga Nacional Apertura and Clausura champions[10]
Olancho 2022–23 Honduran Liga Nacional aggregate table best team not yet qualified[10]
Real España 2022–23 Honduran Liga Nacional aggregate table 2nd best team not yet qualified[10]
Motagua 2022–23 Honduran Liga Nacional aggregate table 3rd best team not yet qualified[10]
  Nicaragua
(2 berths)
Real Estelí 2022–23 Liga Primera Apertura and Clausura champions
Diriangén 2022–23 Liga Primera aggregate table best team not yet qualified
  Panama
(3 berths)
Independiente 2022 Liga Panameña Torneo Clausura and 2023 Liga Panameña Torneo Apertura champions[11][12]
Sporting San Miguelito 2022 Liga Panameña Torneo Clausura and 2023 Liga Panameña Torneo Apertura aggregate table best team not yet qualified[11][12]
Universitario 2022 Liga Panameña Torneo Clausura and 2023 Liga Panameña Torneo Apertura aggregate table 2nd best team not yet qualified[11][12]
Notes
  1. El Salvador (SLV): Originally, El Salvador's berths were reserved for the 2022 Apertura tournament champions, the 2023 Clausura tournament champions and the best team in the aggregate table,[13] however the Clausura tournament was terminated early without proclaiming a champion due to the events that occurred on 20 May 2023 during the match between Alianza and FAS at Estadio Cuscatlán. As a result, the Salvadoran Football Federation decided to reassign the Clausura champions' berth to the Apertura runners-up.[8]

Draw

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The draw for the group stage was held on 8 June 2023 in Miami, Florida, United States. The 20 involved teams were previously seeded into five pots of four teams each based on their CONCACAF Club Ranking as of 28 May 2023.[14][15]

Pot 1
Team Rank
  Olimpia 38
  Saprissa 47
  Comunicaciones 49
  Alajuelense 51
Pot 2
Team Rank
  Motagua 53
  Xelajú 57
  Herediano 58
  Cobán Imperial 59
Pot 3
Team Rank
  Real España 60
  Independiente 61
  Cartaginés 65
  Olancho 67
Pot 4
Team Rank
  Sporting San Miguelito 72
  Águila 79
  Universitario 95
  FAS 109
Pot 5
Team Rank
  Real Estelí 116
  Diriangén 118
  Jocoro 132
  Verdes 177

For the group stage, the 20 teams were drawn into four groups (Groups A–D) of five containing a team from each of the five pots. Teams from pot 1 were drawn first and were placed in the first position of their group, starting from Group A to Group D. The same procedure was followed for teams from pots 2, 3, 4 and 5, and they were placed in positions 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively, within the group to which they were drawn. Each group must contain no more than two clubs from the same national association.[16]

Schedule

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The schedule of the competition was as follows.[14]

Stage Round First leg Second leg
Group stage Matchday 1 1–3 August
Matchday 2 8–10 August
Matchday 3 15–17 August
Matchday 4 22–24 August
Matchday 5 29–31 August
Knockout stage Quarterfinals 26–28 September 3 October – 5 October
Semifinals and play-in 24–26 October 31 October – 2 November
Finals 28–30 November 5–7 December

Group stage

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In the group stage, each group is played on a single home-and-away round-robin basis, with teams playing against each other once, for a total of four matches per team (two home and two away). The winners and runners-up of each group advanced to the quarter-finals of the knockout stage.

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SAP CAR UNI COB JOC
1   Saprissa 4 3 1 0 10 0 +10 10 Advance to Quarter-finals 1–0 5–0
2   Cartaginés 4 2 1 1 8 3 +5 7 2–2 5–0
3   Universitario 4 1 3 0 6 3 +3 6 0–0 4–1
4   Cobán Imperial 4 1 1 2 4 7 −3 4 0–1 0–0
5   Jocoro 4 0 0 4 2 17 −15 0 0–4 1–4
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results (points, goal difference, goals scored); 5) Fair play points; 6) Drawing of lots.

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification IND EST OLI XEL FAS
1   Independiente 4 3 1 0 11 3 +8 10 Advance to Quarter-finals 2–1 5–0
2   Real Estelí 4 3 0 1 5 2 +3 9 1–0 1–0
3   Olimpia 4 2 1 1 7 4 +3 7 1–1 2–0
4   Xelajú 4 1 0 3 3 7 −4 3 1–3 2–1
5   FAS 4 0 0 4 3 13 −10 0 0–2 2–4
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results (points, goal difference, goals scored); 5) Fair play points; 6) Drawing of lots.

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification HER COM RES ÁGU DIR
1   Herediano 4 3 1 0 8 4 +4 10 Advance to Quarter-finals 3–2 2–0
2   Comunicaciones 4 3 0 1 9 4 +5 9 1–2 3–1
3   Real España 4 1 1 2 6 6 0 4 3–0 0–0
4   Águila 4 1 0 3 2 9 −7 3 1–4 1–0
5   Diriangén 4 0 2 2 1 3 −2 2 1–1 0–1
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results (points, goal difference, goals scored); 5) Fair play points; 6) Drawing of lots.

Group D

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification ALA MOT SSM OLA VER
1   Alajuelense 4 4 0 0 10 1 +9 12 Advance to Quarter-finals 5–1 1–0
2   Motagua 4 3 0 1 9 5 +4 9 2–0 1–0
3   Sporting San Miguelito 4 2 0 2 6 3 +3 6 0–1 4–0
4   Olancho 4 1 0 3 3 6 −3 3 0–2 3–2
5   Verdes 4 0 0 4 2 15 −13 0 0–3 0–5
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results (points, goal difference, goals scored); 5) Fair play points; 6) Drawing of lots.

Knockout stage

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The knockout stage was played on a single-elimination tournament with the following rules:[2]

  • Each tie was played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. The home team of the second leg in each tie was determined separately for each round as follows (Regulations Article 12.11):
    • In the quarter-finals, the group winners hosted the second leg.
    • In the semi-finals and play-in, the higher-ranked teams based on total points accumulated in the group stage and the quarterfinals hosted the second leg.
    • In the finals, the higher-ranked team based on total points accumulated in the group stage, quarterfinals, and semi-finals hosted the second leg.
  • In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, if tied on aggregate, the away goals rule would be used. If still tied, the penalty shoot-out would be directly used to determine the winners (Regulations Article 12.10.2).
  • In the play-in and finals, if tied on aggregate, the away goals rule would also be used. If still tied, 30 minutes of extra time would be played without the away goals rule during this time. If still tied after extra time, the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (Regulations Article 12.10.3).

Qualified teams

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The winners and runners-up of each of the four groups in the group stage advanced to the quarter-finals.

Group Winners Runners-up
A   Saprissa   Cartaginés
B   Independiente   Real Estelí
C   Herediano   Comunicaciones
D   Alajuelense   Motagua

Seeding

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Teams were seeded 1–8 based on results in the group stage and assigned a position in a fixed bracket. For example, the first semi-final was contested between the winner of the 1 vs. 8 quarter-final and the winner of the 4 vs. 5 quarter-final. For each round, the host of the second leg was determined based on performance in all previous rounds, including the group stage.

The following was the seeding for the quarter-finals round only:

Seed Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Matchups
1 D   Alajuelense 4 4 0 0 10 1 +9 12 Match QF1
2 A   Saprissa 4 3 1 0 10 0 +10 10 Match QF3
3 B   Independiente 4 3 1 0 11 3 +8 10 Match QF4
4 C   Herediano 4 3 1 0 8 4 +4 10 Match QF2
5 C   Comunicaciones 4 3 0 1 9 4 +5 9 Match QF2
6 D   Motagua 4 3 0 1 9 5 +4 9 Match QF4
7 B   Real Estelí 4 3 0 1 5 2 +3 9 Match QF3
8 A   Cartaginés 4 2 1 1 8 3 +5 7 Match QF1
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 (1 point for yellow card, 3 points for second yellow card/indirect red card, 4 points for direct red card, 5 points for yellow card and direct red card); 8) Drawing of lots (Regulations Article 12.11.4).[2]

Bracket

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The bracket was decided based on the quarter-finals seeding.

  1. Order of legs to be decided, with the higher-ranked team in each tie hosting the second leg.

Quarter-finals

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The first legs were played on 26–28 September, and the second legs were played on 3–5 October 2023.[17]

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Cartaginés   1–6   Alajuelense 1–3 0–3
Comunicaciones   2–3   Herediano 0–0 2–3
Real Estelí   3–2   Saprissa 1–0 2–2
Motagua   1–3   Independiente 1–1 0–2

Play-in

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The first legs were played on 24–25 October, and the second legs were played on 31 October – 1 November 2023.[18]

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Cartaginés   2–2 (4–5 p)   Comunicaciones 1–1 1–1 (a.e.t.)
Motagua   2–6   Saprissa 2–2 0–4

Semi-finals

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The first legs were played on 25–26 October, and the second legs were played on 1–2 November 2023.[18]

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Herediano   4–4 (4–5 p)   Alajuelense 2–2 2–2
Real Estelí   3–2   Independiente 1–0 2–2

Finals

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Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Real Estelí   1–4   Alajuelense 0–3 1–1


Top goalscorers

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  Team eliminated for this round.
  Team inactive for this round.
Rank Player Team GS1 GS2 GS3 GS4 GS5 QF1 QF2 PI1 PI2 SF1 SF2 F1 F2 Total
1   Agustín Auzmendi   Motagua 3 1 1 2 7
2   Carlos Small   Independiente 1 1 1 2 5
3   Javon East   Saprissa 1 2 1 4
  Marcel Hernández   Cartaginés 1 1 1 1
  Ariel Rodríguez   Saprissa 2 1 1
  Orlando Sinclair   Saprissa 2 1 1
  Aarón Suárez   Alajuelense 1 1 1 1
8   Jorman Aguilar   Comunicaciones 1 1 1 3
  Michael Barrantes   Alajuelense 1 1 1
  Jorge Benguché   Olimpia 1 2
  Joel Campbell   Alajuelense 1 1 1
  Jesús Godínez   Herediano 2 1
  Freddy Góndola   Alajuelense 1 1 1
  Yeison Mejía   Motagua 2 1
  Joshua Navarro   Alajuelense 2 1
  Ramiro Rocca   Real España 3
  Johan Venegas   Alajuelense 1 1 1

Awards

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The following awards were given at the end of the tournament:

Award Player Team
Golden Ball[19]   Aarón Suárez   Alajuelense
Golden Boot[19]   Agustín Auzmendi   Motagua
Golden Glove[19]   Leonel Moreira   Alajuelense
Best Young Player[20]   Doryan Rodríguez   Alajuelense
Fair Play Award[20]   Alajuelense
Team of the Tournament[19]
Position Player Team
GK   Leonel Moreira   Alajuelense
DF   Bancy Hernández   Real Estelí
  Evert Martínez   Real Estelí
  José Corena   Comunicaciones
MF   Celso Borges   Alajuelense
  Héctor Hurtado   CAI
  Harold Medina   Real Estelí
  Aarón Suárez   Alajuelense
FW   Joel Campbell   Alajuelense
  Agustín Auzmendi   Motagua
  Carlos Small   CAI

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Concacaf launches major expansion of its Champions League as part of new calendar of regional club competitions". Concacaf. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "CONCACAF Central American Cup 2023 Regulations" (PDF). CONCACAF. 17 July 2023 [Approved on 24 February 2023]. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Concacaf announces qualification criteria for Confederation's expanded Champions League starting in 2024". Miami: CONCACAF. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Four teams complete field for 2023 Central American Cup". Miami: CONCACAF. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Concacaf announces qualification criteria update for 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup". Miami: CONCACAF. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d "NORMAS DE COMPETICIÓN TEMPORADA 2022-2023" (PDF) (in Spanish). UNAFUT. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "BASES DE COMPETENCIA DE LA PRIMERA DIVISION DE FUTBOL PROFESIONAL TEMPORADA 2022-2023" (PDF) (in Spanish). Salvadoran Football Federation. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d "COMUNICADO OFICIAL ENTRE FESFUT Y PRIMERA DIVISIÓN" (PDF) (in Spanish). Salvadoran Football Federation. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Utrera, Alicia (10 May 2023). "Liga Nacional de Guatemala: estos serán los nuevos criterios para la clasificación a la Copa Centroamericana de la Concacaf" [Liga Nacional de Guatemala: these will be the new qualifying criteria for the CONCACAF Central American Cup] (in Spanish). República. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d "BASES DEL TORNEO DE APERTURA Y CLAUSURA 2022-2023 DE LA LIGA NACIONAL DE FUTBOL PROFESIONAL DE PRIMERA DIVISIÓN DE HONDURAS" (PDF) (in Spanish). Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional de Honduras. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  11. ^ a b c "REGLAMENTO COMPETENCIA LPF TEMPORADA - 2022" (PDF). lpf.com.pa (in Spanish). Liga Panameña de Fútbol. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  12. ^ a b c "REGLAMENTO COMPETENCIA LPF TEMPORADA - 2023" (PDF). lpf.com.pa (in Spanish). Liga Panameña de Fútbol. 27 December 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  13. ^ Viana, Diego (10 May 2023). "Águila clasificó a la Copa Centroamericana" [Águila qualified for the Central American Cup] (in Spanish). El Gráfico. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Draw details announced for inaugural Concacaf Central American Cup". CONCACAF. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Concacaf Club Ranking as of May 28, 2023". CONCACAF. 28 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Concacaf confirms 2023 Central American Cup draw details". CONCACAF. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  17. ^ "2023 Concacaf Central American Cup Quarterfinal matchups and schedule confirmed". CONCACAF. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  18. ^ a b "2023 Concacaf Central American Cup Semifinals and Play-In matchups and schedule confirmed". CONCACAF. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
  19. ^ a b c d "Borges, Medina headline Central American Cup Best XI". CONCACAF. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Alajuelense arrasó en los premios individuales de la Copa Centroamericana" (in Spanish). CRHoy.com. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2024.