Central FC became the third and final Caribbean side to bow out of the Scotiabank CONCACAF League, losing 3-0 in the second leg round-of-16 series against hosts CD Árabe Unido who progressed on a 5-1 aggregate on Thursday at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama.
Renan Addles scored twice in the first half before substitute Carlos Small completed the Árabe Unido rout which meant that all three Panamanian sides, including Chorrillo FC and CD Plaza Amador, earned quarterfinal places.
In contrast, all Caribbean clubs are out: San Juan Jabloteh lost 2-1 on Tuesday in their second leg clash with Santos de Guapiles – the Costa Ricans advancing with an 8-3 aggregate – and Jamaica's Portmore United narrowly out on a quarterfinal place 5-4 on penalties against Plaza Amador who won 1-0 on Wednesday to tie the aggregate 1-1.
Central were they last effort of hope for the Caribbean, in the newest addition to the club competitions platform of CONCACAF featuring veteran stars and rising talent from Central America and the Caribbean.
“We came here hoping to get a much better result,” said Central FC captain Sean De Silva in the post-game. “(…) at least something for ourselves out of the game [but] we were definitely outplayed by Árabe tonight and I guess better team won today.
“…tactically we need to improve [at the CONCACAF level] as well as the simple things, completing simple passes and taking our chances when it comes.”
It was a comprehensive performance by Árabe Unido, a side that reached the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals earlier this year.
Addles struck for his first goal in the third minute, when he held off defender Taryk Sampson to run onto a perfectly weighted pass by Jose Gonzalez and beat goalkeeper Stephon Seepersad with the outside of his right foot from 14-yards out.
A relentless Addles then completed his double in the 23rd minute to put Arabe with a 2-0 cushion. The 27-year-old forward took a one-touch pass from Enrico Small and saw his left-footed shot be blocked by Seepersad, who was way off his line. Sampson miskicked the ball in an attempt to clear, giving Addles an easy tap-in.
Seepersad, however, who executed a share of saves, gave Central something to cheer about in the 39th minute when he denied Addles’ bid for a hat-trick by making his second Allstate Save of the Game.
However substitute Carlos Small completed the score-line in the 68th minute. An Addles cross from the left was misplayed by Seepersad, which gave Leslie Heraldez an opportunity to get a slight touch on the ball. It fell to Small, who pounded it home from one yard.
Seepersad, who joined Central from Morvant Caledonia this season, blanked Carlos Small a second in stoppage-time after José González shot in the 84th minute had cannoned off the upright.
Arabe Unido will face El Salvador’s Aguila on August 16 and 23 in the home-and-away quarterfinal round series.
Elsewhere Alajuelense, the Costa Rican club of Trinidad and Tobago international forward Jamille Boatswain, and Honduras Progreso, the club of Trinidadian forward Jerrel Britto, also bowed out of the competition with narrow 1-0 return leg losses.
Semi-final playoffs among the quarterfinal winners are scheduled for September. The championship home-and-away final of the Scotiabank CONCACAF League is scheduled for October.
In addition to raising the inaugural SCL trophy, the tournament champion earns a ticket to join 15 additional club qualifiers from across the region – including Canada, Mexico and the United States, in the revamped Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League.
The 2018 edition of the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League kicks off in February of next year, featuring the winner of the 2017 Scotiabank CONCACAF League and 15 more of the best clubs from the entire CONCACAF region, including the Caribbean and Central America, plus Mexico, the United States and Canada. The champion of that competition will represent the region in the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup.
Results
Club Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN) 3 (Renán Addles 3', 23', Carlos Small 69') v Central FC (TRI) 0, at Rommel Fernandez Stadium, Panama.
Teams
CD Arabe Unido - 1.Miguel Lloyd; 8.Ángel Patrick, 15.Cristhian Valencia, 12.Roberto Chen, 29.Daniel Ortíz, 90.Nelson Barahona, 25.Abdiel Macea (capt), 5.Leslie Heráldez, 10.José González, 11.Enrico Small, 80.Renán Addles.
Unused substitutes: 26.Adán Córdoba (GK); 13.Gabriel Pino, 20.Alejandro Hincapié, 24.Emanuel Mena.
Coach - Juan Guzmán (COL).
Central FC - 1.Stephon Seepersad; 5.Keston George (Yellow 54), 24.Jules Lee, 12.Taryk Sampson, 15.Kaydion Gabriel, 8.Sean De Silva (capt), 19.Nathaniel García, 26.Mickaeel Jem Gordon, 18.Tyrik John, 10.Johan Peltier, 7.Jason Marcano.
Unused substitutes: 30.Prince Walter (GK); 13.Rhondel Gibson, 17.Jesse Joseph.
Coach - Dale Saunders (TRI).
Referee - Erik Miranda Galindo (MEX).
Videos -
Full Game - Arabe Unido v Central FC
CD Arabe Unido v Central FC Highlights