FC Motagua, Antigua GFC seek comebacks in Champions Cup Round One | OneFootball

MIAMI – The 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup continues with second leg matches in Round One on Wednesday that will fill three more spots in the Round of 16.

MLS sides will host the day’s three encounters. FC Motagua and Antigua GFC seek comeback efforts in their ties with FC Cincinnati and Seattle Sounders FC, respectively. CS Herediano looks to break a deadlock against Real Salt Lake.

In the case of a draw on aggregate, away goals would decide the series. If teams are still tied, extra time and penalty kicks are the following procedures to determine a winner.

FC Cincinnati vs. FC Motagua

FC Cincinnati hosts FC Motagua at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The MLS side won the first leg, 4-1, in Honduras.

The newcomers stood out for FC Cincy in as Kévin Denkey and Evander were catalysts of the victory. Cincy became the first MLS team to win a Champions Cup game in Honduras since Sporting Kansas City beat Olimpia 2-0 in 2013. Pavel Bucha, who recorded a brace, will aim to continue his scoring form. Bucha’s goal in the 78th minute for FC Cincinnati became the 550th goal scored by MLS clubs in the CCC since the 2008/09 season

For Motagua, Rodrigo Auzmendi and Yeison Mejía stood out in attack, but the Central American side has a steep hill to climb to erase the deficit on aggregate.

The winner of this series will play Mexican side Tigres UANL in the Round of 16.

Real Salt Lake vs. CS Herediano

Real Salt Lake welcomes CS Herediano to America First Field in Sandy, Utah, USA. Everything is up for grabs in this clash after the nil-nil draw in Costa Rica.

Real Salt Lake hopes to have star Diego Luna back on the field after missing the first leg recovering from a broken nose.

The MLS side has kept clean sheets in seven of its last 10 CCC matches (5-4-1), conceding just four goals. Defensively, they were solid against Elías Aguilar and Herediano, but Pablo Mastroeni’s squad needs a spark on offense.

This will be the fourth encounter ever between these teams in the tournament, as Herediano remains unbeaten with a win and two draws.

The winner of this game will move on to face the 2024 MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy in the Round of 16.

Seattle Sounders vs. Antigua GFC

Seattle Sounders take on Antigua GFC at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, USA.

The Sounders’ 3-1 victory in Guatemala extended the club’s unbeaten streak in the Concacaf Champions Cup to 11 games (W5, D6), the longest by any MLS club in the tournament's history.

Newcomers Paul Arriola and Jesús Ferreira had an instant impact in leg one, linking up for the opening goal three minutes in. Seattle also got contributions from other key players like Pedro de la Vega and Albert Rusnák, while Stefen Frei was solid in the net.

Seattle, winner of the 2022 edition, is targeting another strong run, but Óscar Santis and Antigua will be in pursuit of cutting into the aggregate and attempting a comeback.

Mexican side Cruz Azul awaits the winner of this series in the Round of 16.