September 2 – Costa Rica’s men’s national may have been knocked off their dominance of the Central American region by Panama, but their clubs have taken a grip on the 2024 Concacaf Central America Cup.
All three Costa Rican sides – CS Herediano, LD Alajuelense and Deportivo Saprissa – topped their groups and were seeded into the quarter finals meaning that none could meet each other before the semi-final stage.
That leaves the very real prospect of three teams in the quarter finals of the Central American Cup as they chase not just regional bragging rights but a spot in Concacaf’s 2025 Champions Cup.
LD Alajuelense, who won the 2023 Central American Cup with a 4-1 win over Nicaragua’s Real Esteli, qualified as the highest seeds and have been drawn against Comunicaciones FC from Guatemala.
Real Esteli have avoided Costa Rican opposition in the quarter final, being drawn against El Salvador’s CD Aguila, who won their group.
Guatemala have two teams in the last eight with Antigua FC facing legendary Costa Rican club Deportivo Saprissa.
The four quarter final winners will automatically qualify for the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup, while the four losing quarter finalists will progress to a Central American Cup Play-in, where they will play off for the two remaining slots in next year’s Champions Cup.
QF1: LD Alajuelense vs Comunicaciones FC
QF2: Deportivo Saprissa vs Antigua FC
QF3: CD Aguila vs Real Estelí FC
QF4: CS Herediano vs FC Motagua
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