1997–98 Torneo Grandes de Centroamérica

The 1998 Torneo Grandes de Centroamérica was the 16th edition of the UNCAF Club Tournament and the third and last under this name. Costa Rican Deportivo Saprissa obtained its 4th regional title.

1998 Torneo Grandes de Centroamérica
Tournament details
Dates29 October 1997 – 23 September 1998
Teams9 (from 4 associations)
Final positions
ChampionsCosta Rica Saprissa (4th title)
Runners-upGuatemala Municipal
Tournament statistics
Matches played28
Goals scored50 (1.79 per match)
1997
1999

Teams

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Association Team Qualifying method App. Previous best
  Costa Rica Saprissa 1996–97 Runners-up 12th Champions (1972, 1973, 1978)
Herediano 1996–97 Semifinalist 6th 3rd (1971, 1975)
  El Salvador Águila 1996–97 Regular season winners 10th Runners-up (1973)
  Guatemala Comunicaciones 1996–97 Champions 15th Champions (1971, 1983)
Aurora 1996–97 Runners-up 10th Champions (1976, 1979)
Municipal 1996–97 Third place 11th Champions (1974, 1977)
  Honduras Olimpia 1996–97 Champions 4th Champions (1981)
Real España Invitee 4th Champions (1982)
Motagua Invitee 3rd Group stage (1979, 1997)

Qualifying

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Honduras

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Olimpia 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 4 Advance Final Tournament
2 Real España 2 0 2 0 3 3 0 2
3 Motagua 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 1 Advance to Play-offs
Updated to match(es) played on 8 October 1997. Source: Diario Diez
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
17 September 1997 Motagua 1–1 Real España
Roberto Asprilla   Washington Hernández  
1 October 1997 Olimpia 2–2 Real España
Wilmer Velásquez   76'   78' TBD  
TBD  

Play-off

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6 November 1997 2nd leg Comunicaciones   0–0
(0–0 agg.)
(3–4 p)
  Motagua Guatemala City, Guatemala
Nil Nil Stadium: Estadio Mateo Flores

Group phase

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Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Municipal 6 4 1 1 8 4 +4 14[a] Qualified to Semifinals
2 Olimpia 6 4 0 2 11 7 +4 12
3 Herediano 6 3 0 3 8 5 +3 9
4 Águila 6 0 1 5 2 13 −11 1
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ Municipal one (+1) point added
As of 17 December 1997
Home \ Away ÁGU HER MUN OLI
Águila 0–2 1–1 0–3
Herediano 3–0 0–1 2–1
Municipal 2–0 1–0 1–0
Olimpia 2–1 2–1 3–2
Source: RSSSF
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
  • Águila 2–3 Municipal on penalty shootouts.


October 22, 1997 Águila 0-2 Herediano
Nil Rolando Corella   50'
Marcelo Saravia   58'
Attendance: 3,166
October 23, 1997 Olimpia 3-2 Municipal
TBD       TBD    
October 29, 1997 Herediano 2-1 Olimpia
TBD     TBD  
October 29, 1997 Municipal 2-0 Águila
TBD     Nil
November 5, 1997 Municipal 1-0 Herediano
Ariel Beltramo   71' Nil
December 4, 1997 Águila 0-3 Olimpia
Nil TBD  
TBD  
TBD  
November 13, 1997 Herediano v Águila
TBD   TBD  
November 13, 1997 Municipal 1-0 Olimpia
TBD   Nil
November 19, 1997 Olimpia 2-1 Herediano
TBD  
TBD  
TBD  
November 19, 1997 Águila 1-1 Municipal
TBD   TBD  
December 10, 1997 Herediano 0-1 Municipal
Nil TBD  
December 17, 1997 Olimpia 2-1 Águila
TBD  
TBD  
TBD  

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Saprissa 6 2 3 1 6 3 +3 11[a] Qualified to Semifinals
2 Real España 5 2 3 0 2 0 +2 11[b]
3 Aurora 5 0 3 2 2 6 −4 5[c]
4 Motagua 4 0 3 1 2 3 −1 3
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ Saprissa two (+2) points added
  2. ^ Real España two (+2) points added
  3. ^ Aurora two (+2) points added
As of 11 December 1997
Home \ Away AUR MOT RES SAP
Aurora 1–1 0–0 1–4
Motagua 1–1
Real España 1–0 0–0 1–0
Saprissa 0–0 1–0 0–0
Source: RSSSF
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
  • Saprissa 4–3 Aurora on penalty shootouts.
  • Motagua 3–4 Saprissa on penalty shootouts.
  • Saprissa 3–5 Real España on penalty shootouts.
  • Aurora 4–2 Motagua on penalty shootouts.
  • Saprissa 3–5 Real España on penalty shootouts.
  • Real España 5–4 Motagua on penalty shootouts.
  • Aurora 5–3 Real España on penalty shootouts.
  • Motagua's remaining matches were not played.
October 29, 1997 Real España 1-0 Saprissa
TBD   Nil
October 29, 1997 Motagua v Aurora
TBD   TBD  
November 6, 1997 Saprissa 0-0 Aurora
Nil Nil
November 6, 1997 Motagua v Real España
TBD   TBD  
November 12, 1997 Real España 1-0 Aurora
Mario Rodríguez   Nil
November 12, 1997 Motagua 1-1 Saprissa
Amado Guevara   32' Alejandro Larrea   18'
November 20, 1997 Saprissa 0-0 Real España
Nil Nil
November 20, 1997 Aurora 1-1 Motagua
TBD   TBD  
November 26, 1997 Aurora 1-4 Saprissa
TBD   TBD  
TBD  
TBD  
TBD  
November 29, 1997 Real España 0-0 Motagua
Nil Nil
December 3, 1997 Aurora 0-0 Real España
Nil Nil
December 11, 1997 Saprissa 1-0 Motagua
Wright  

Final round

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Semifinals

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  • Municipal won 3–1 on aggregate score.

  • The last suggested dates by Saprissa for the semifinals (19 and 23 August) were not accepted by Olimpia due to league obligations. UNCAF decided to award Saprissa a walkover.

Final

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18 September 1998 1st leg Saprissa   2 – 1   Municipal San José, Costa Rica
 
 
  Stadium: Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá

23 September 1998 2nd leg Municipal   1 – 1   Saprissa Guatemala City, Guatemala
    Stadium: Estadio Mateo Flores
  • Saprissa won 3–2 on aggregate score.


 Torneo Grandes de Centroamérica
1998 champion 
Saprissa
4th title