Only one spot remains in the 2019 Concacaf Champions League after Costa Rica’s Heredanio won the 2018 Concacaf League on Thursday night. The 16th and final spot in next spring’s tournament will be filled by this year’s MLS Cup winner.
Herediano won their place with by a 3-2 scoreline over two legs against Motagua of Honduras. The Costa Ricans jumped out to a 2-0 lead after their home leg on October 25, but Motagua stormed back to level the tie just before the hour mark. With the teams looking destined for extra time, midfielder Jimmy Marin broke the deadlock in the 85th minute in favor of Herediano.
The draw to determine bracket pairings for the Concacaf Champions League will take place in December after the final team earns their place at MLS Cup. The first round matchups will take place in February. Clubs are seeded according to the Concacaf Club Index, which is based on the on-field performance of teams that have occupied the respective qualifying slots in the last five editions of the tournament. The Dynamo, by qualifying as 2018 Open Cup champions, are in the “USA4” slot and seeded seventh.
The top eight seeded are placed in Pot 1 for the draw, and remaining teams go in Pot 2. Teams are then drawn at random from the two pots, as well as their place in the tournament bracket.
Pot 1 |
Pot 2 |
|---|---|
Monterrey (MEX3) |
Independiente (PAN1) |
Tigres UANL (MEX1) |
<em>2018 MLS Cup winner</em> (USA2) |
Santos Laguna (MEX2) |
Saprissa (CRC1) |
Toronto FC (CAN1) |
Marathón (HON1) |
Sporting KC (USA3)* |
Guastatoya (GUA1) |
Toluca (MEX4) |
Alianza (SLV1) |
Houston Dynamo (USA4) |
Atlético Pantoja (CCC1)† |
Atlanta United (USA1) |
Herediano (SCL1)§ |
*Sporting KC can still qualify as USA2
†2018 Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship winner; from Dominican Republic
§2018 Concacaf League winner; from Costa Rica
