LD Alajuelense, FC Motagua kick off Central American Cup Quarter Finals | OneFootball

MIAMI – The 2025 Concacaf Central American Cup resumes with the start of the Quarter Finals as defending champions Liga Deportiva Alajuelense host FC Motagua in the opening leg of their series on Tuesday at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

The encounter presents a meeting between the only two teams to reach the Quarter Finals in the first three editions of the Central American Cup.

LD Alajuelense continues its title defense after finishing second in Group A with nine points and a 3-0-1 record. The winner of the first two editions of the CCAC will aim to keep its perfect run in the Quarterfinals, after winning 6-1 on aggregate against CS Cartaginés in 2023, and 3-2 on aggregate against Comunicaciones FC in 2024.

FC Motagua secured its Quarter Finals berth by claiming first place in Group C with an unbeaten 2-2-0 record for a total eight points. El Ciclón Azul will look to advance past the Quarterfinals for the first time.

The meeting will be the second in Central American Cup history and eight overall between the sides. LD Alajuelense remains unbeaten in the series to date with six wins and a draw.

Historical series

LD Alajuelense and FC Motagua will meet for the second time in the Concacaf Central American Cup. Their first encounter took place in Group D on August 31, 2023, at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, with a 5-1 win for LD Alajuelense thanks to a brace from Joshua Navarro, plus goals from Doryan Rodríguez, Michael Barrantes, and Johan Venegas. For the Honduran side, Agustín Auzmendi found the net.

The champion looks to keep a perfect run in the Quarterfinals

LD Alajuelense is contesting the CCAC Quarterfinals for the third straight time, having won the previous two series: in 2023 against CS Cartaginés with a 6-1 aggregate and in 2024 against Comunicaciones FC with a 3-2 aggregate.

FC Motagua aiming for first-ever Quarterfinals series win

Like the defending champion, FC Motagua is also in the Quarterfinals for the third consecutive time but was eliminated in the previous two editions: in 2023 by Club Atlético Independiente C.A.I. with a 3-1 aggregate and in 2024 by CS Herediano with a 2-2 aggregate (eliminated on the away goals rule).

LD Alajuelense unbeaten in head-to-head history against Motagua

LD Alajuelense has faced FC Motagua seven times in international tournaments and has never lost, earning six wins and one draw.

The last time they met in a two-legged series was in the second round of Group I of Central America in the 1992 Concacaf Champions Cup.

April 25, 1992, Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, Alajuela (CRC), LD Alajuelense 3-1 with goals from Richard Smith (2) and Alfonso Durán, while Fabricio Pérez scored for Motagua.

April 29, 1992, Estadio Nacional Chelato Uclés, Tegucigalpa (HON), FC Motagua 0 LD Alajuelense 2 with goals from Alexander Víquez and Juan Carlos Arguedas. Alajuelense won the series with a 5-1 aggregate.

LD Alajuelense dominates series against Honduran rivals

LD Alajuelense has faced Honduran clubs in 11 two-legged series in international tournaments, advancing six times (55%) and being eliminated five times (45%). The last time Alajuelense played a Honduran club in a two-legged series was against CD Olimpia in the Final of the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf League, which they lost 5-4 on aggregate.

Motagua with negative record in knockout series against Costa Rican rivals

FC Motagua has faced Costa Rican clubs in 12 two-legged series in international tournaments, including finals (2018 vs CS Herediano and 2019 vs Deportivo Saprissa in the Scotiabank Concacaf League). They have been eliminated 10 times and advanced only twice: a 3-0 aggregate vs CS Cartaginés in the 1974 Concacaf Champions Cup and a 2-1 aggregate vs Deportivo Saprissa in the Final of the 2007 Copa Interclubes.