JustSports24 is back with another epic and most thrilling moment in football history only for you all to enjoy. This time, we look back at the inaugural edition of what has become professional club soccer’s premiere tournament in North and Central America plus the Caribbean: today’s 1961/62 CONCACAF Champions Cup. The first season of this prestigious competition, in 1962, paved the way for a generation-long competitive football rivalry between some of the premier clubs in and around CONCACAF.
The Beginning of a New Era
To provide a path for clubs in the region — spanning North and Central America, as well as the Caribbean islands — an opportunity to play at its highest level, we have today’s CONCACAF Champions Cup. Organized parallel to the European and South American club competitions, it was a contest intended to determine which continent had fielded the best football team from their clubs.
The inaugural 1962 competition, albeit a precursor to the Intercontinental Cup which also commenced in 1960 and other Titles played between teams from different continents or regions including Brazilian Tournaments featuring foreign clubs), was contested by representative Clubs of leagues across Various Regions (not necessarily nations/continents) marking The Origins Of International Club Competition. Sure, the format was then much simpler (fewer teams and straight knockout), but as each club fought to be crowned CONCACAF Champions League for the very first time that competitive spirit hung in anticipation of what we see today.
Key games in the 1962 CONCACAF Champions Cup
Octavos de Final Tec first leg CD Guadalajara vs. Comunicaciones FC
A scorching first day of action in the inaugural CONCACAF Champions Cup featured a nail-biter between CD Guadalajara from Mexico and Comunicaciones FC out of Guatemala. Promoter qualification: CD Guadalajara, one of the biggest and most successful football clubs in Mexico was an early favorite to win it all. Estadio Chivas in Guadalajara was the site of la primera vuelta, with los de casa handily prevailing by a 3-0 scoreline on account of their front-running tridente.
The Guadalajara defense would hold on and the club booked its passage to Group D with a 2-1 aggregate win. Both teams eventually scored a goal in the second half, but it was Guadalajara who advanced to the next stage after claiming an aggregate 4-1 win following their first-leg triumph over Comunicaciones.
CONCACAF Champions Cup: Deportivo Saprissa vs. SV Transvaal
One of the most thrilling second-round encounters witnessed Costa Rican champions Deportivo Saprissa squaring off against Suriname… The first leg seemed to be over early after Saprissa, whose quick and attacking play had made them title favorites from the very start of this season, won 4-2 in their home stadium San José. The star of the match was Saprissa’s forward Edgar Marín who scored two goals in his team winning.
Suriname hosted the next game in what would be an even closer contest. Transvaal did what they could to battle back, but Saprissa’s defense was impregnable. The second leg was a 2-2 draw which saw Deportivo Saprissa advance with the Uruguayan team for an aggregate score of 6-4.
Semifinal: CD Guadalajara 2-0 Deportivo Saprissa
CD Guadalajara versus Deportivo Saprissa, a semi-final that had been lined up for well over a year with both teams considered the best in their region. It was replaced by a tense decider in Costa Rica, which ended tightly matched 0-0. In the only match to end with a scoreline in single digits, Deportivo Saprissa used their home-field advantage as they took down Plaza Manjinas Hernadez 2-1 on Saturday. The key for Saprissa was the performance of Jose Rafael Meza, who helped orchestrate a bulk of their attack as well as finding his way onto the scoresheet with a second tally.
All was not lost, however, as things were a bit better at the return leg in Guadalajara. CD Guadalajara, with the support of their vociferous fans behind them, started on an aggressive note. Sure enough, Saprissa could not handle the constant stress and ultimately fell in the second leg 3-0 as Guadalajara advanced to the final with a 4-2 aggregate win.
CONCACAF Champions Cup Finale → CD Guadalajara vs. CD Olimpia
The final of the first-ever CONCACAF Champions Cup was won by Mexico’s CD Guadalajara at the expense of CD Olimpia (HON). CD Olimpia had worked through the tournament admirably, exhibiting resilience and fortitude to get to this final. Still, they were met by an in-form CD Guadalajara side that had been unstoppable for the vast duration of their tournament run.
Playing the first leg of the final in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, CD Olimpia put up a worthy fight against their Mexican counterparts. Despite a valiant performance from Olimpia, Guadalajara emerged unscathed with a drawn result and will now return home needing only to win by any score or even draw 0-0 in order to advance.
The return leg in Guadalajara was an exhibition of attacking football by the hosts. CD Guadalajara dominated the entire encounter with Sabás Ponce and Salvador Reyes spearheading their attack. Olimpia found it difficult to deal with the Mexicans and went down 2-0 in what is considered by many fans as a classic rivalry, Guadalajara prevailed over Olimpia sealing their one of three titles, coming back from a 1-nil deficit.
First CONCACAF Champions Cup Key Players
Numerous players had standout games during the first season of the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup play to aid their teams or draw attention.
D: Sabás Ponce (CD Guadalajara):A bright spot for Chivas most of the tournament. He scored twice and led his side on the field to glory in that competition.
Edgar Marín (Deportivo Saprissa): The offensive right back was a driving force in D. One of the most impressive attackers in the tournament and topped off some key goals his side’s offense
José Rafael Meza (Deportivo Saprissa): Another key player in the midfield of Deportivo with great influence on creativity and possession, combined perfectly with Barrantes to create many goal opportunities. In the semi-final against Guadalajara, his influence saw Saprissa secure a famous first-leg win.
Salvador Reyes, CD Guadalajara: Another key player for Chivas. His past and knack for scoring goals at vital moments endeared him to fans without question; his experience was beneficially put to use.
Legacy of the Original Champions Cup
The CONCACAF Champions Cup was launched in 1962, and the inaugural edition proved to be a hit — one that would serve as an appropriate prologue for what has since established itself on its perch. The win by CD Guadalajara in season 1 of the tournament launched them as one of the new continent’s elite clubs and would ultimately become the CONCACAF Champions Cup region’s leading club competition.
The CCL as we know it today has grown, adding more teams and a sterner format. Nonetheless, the ethos of that inaugural event remains as teams across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean vie for regional supremacy.
Conclusion
Historically, the first iteration of the 1961/62 CONCACAF Champions Cup took place in 1962. The tournament helps set a ground for the success that it would go on to bring as well as encourage some TV rivalry in different clubs. Over 50 years later, the CONCACAF Champions Cup is as enthralling as ever.
