CCL: Three MLS sides set to begin continental adventure Seattle, Toronto, FC Dallas open preliminary-stage series this week Just over two months ago, Real Salt Lake came agonizingly close to becoming the first MLS side to win the CONCACAF Champions League. They fell in final to Mexican side Monterrey, losing out on a chance to represent the region at the Club World Cup this December in Japan. Now, it’s time to do it all again. This week, three MLS teams — the Seattle Sounders, Toronto FC and FC Dallas — begin their CCL campaigns with the first leg matches of their preliminary stage series. Preliminary Round Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg Motagua – Municipal Jul 28 Aug 4 Morelia –Tempête Jul 28 Aug 3 Isidro Metapán – Puerto Rico Islanders Jul 27 Aug 3 Santos Laguna – Olimpia Jul 27 Aug 3 Alianza – FC Dallas Jul 28 Aug 3 Toronto FC – Real Estelí Jul 27 Aug 2 San Francisco -Seattle Sounders FC Jul 26 Aug 3 Herediano – Alpha United Jul 26 Aug 4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011–12_CONCACAF_Champions_League
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League Tough draw for the Galaxy. Would be surprised to see them make it through the group. Colorado should be favored to make it through if they take the competition seriously. I like the odds of Seattle and Dallas winning their play-in matches and qualifying out of their groups too.
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League San Francisco FC 1, Sounders FC 0 San Francisco FC takes the first leg of the aggregate goal series 1-0 off a 1st half PK. 2nd leg at CenturyLink Field on August 3rd. Former MLSer Roberto Brown buried a penalty kick in the 27th minute and the San Francisco FC defense did the rest on Tuesday night, as the Panamanian club downed the Seattle Sounders 1-0 in the opening leg of the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round in Panama City. The two teams will wrap up the two-game aggregate-goal series in Seattle on Aug. 3, with the winner of the series advancing to the CCL group stage. http://www.soundersfc.com/Matchday/Matches/2011/Season/CONCACAF-01-at-San-Francisco.aspx
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League CCL Recap: TFC ride Plata brace to 2-1 win over Real Estelí Second-half sub bags pair as Toronto win first leg of prelim series TORONTO — Joao Plata scored twice in the second half as Toronto FC defeated Real Estelí 2-1 on Wednesday at BMO Field in their first-leg match of the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round. The Reds looked headed for an easy, convincing victory after Plata's brace, but conceded an invaluable away goal to their Nicaraguan visitors off a goalkeeping error by Milos Kocic nine minutes from time that gives Estelí a glimmer of hope heading into the second leg next week. http://www.mlssoccer.com/ccl/news/a...tfc-ride-plata-brace-2-1-win-over-real-estelí
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League The PR Islanders Lose 2-0 in CONCACAF The Puerto Rico Islanders were defeated in El Salvador tonight by Isidro Metapan 2-0. This represents the first time in four appearences in the CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Stage where the Islanders have lost the away leg of the two leg tie. The Islanders must overcome a two goal deficit in order to advance to the group stages of the 2011-2012 tournament. http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=940
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League Big First Step Jackson strikes late in 2nd half to give FCD valuable 1st-leg win In a physical, rain-soaked match at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador, El Salvador, FC Dallas defeated Alianza FC 1-0 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League play-in match thanks to Jackson Gonçalves. After gathering a majority of the second half scoring opportunities, FC Dallas’ Mr. Do-it-all Brazilian made it official in the 70th minute, taking a flick from compatriot Ricardo Villar and driving by defender Edwin Martínez before slotting it by a helpless Jimmy Cuellar for the game's only goal. http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-07-28-alianza-vs-fc-dallas/recap
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League Movin' On Johnson's brace lifts TFC into group stage with 4-2 win on agg. Ryan Johnson scored two goals and Toronto FC’s defense did the rest on Tuesday night, as the Reds topped Real Estelí 2-1 in the second game of the teams’ CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round series in Estelí, Nicaragua to advance to the tournament’s group stage. Johnson scored on a gorgeous strike from distance in the 37th minute and then buried a breakaway chance after Real Estelí goalkeeper Carlos Mendieta muffed a clearance in the 47th minute to help TFC lock down a 4-2 series win on aggregate goals. The Reds won the two-game series opener 2-1 last week at BMO Field. http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-08-02-real-esteli-vs-toronto-fc/recap
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League CCL Recap: Ihemelu goal enough to see Dallas through FCD overcome heat to get beat Alianza, next up a trip to Mexico City FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas advanced to the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time in franchise history Wednesday night, defeating Salvadoran side Alianza FC 1-0 and 2-0 on aggregate goals. Ugo Ihemelu headed in the games only goal in the 36th minute on a Ricardo Villar kick and FC Dallas maintained nearly three-fourths of the possession to hold off a resilient Alianza side. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/08/03/ccl-recap-ihemelu-goal-enough-see-dallas-through
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League Safe And Sound Fernandez, Jaqua help Seattle fight back, defeat San Francisco for CCL spot http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-08-03-seattle-sounders-vs-san-francisco/highlights
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League A bittersweet victory PR Islanders out of the CONCACAF Champions League Posted on Wed, Aug 3, 2011 The Puerto Rico Islanders fought all the way to the dying seconds of Wednesday’s match but in the end failed to advance to the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. Salvadorian club Isidro Metapan managed to advance due to the away goals rule on a 3-3 aggregate score. Nicholas Addlery slotted home a low blast to the far post in the fifth and final minute of added time, making it 3-1 for the Puerto Rico Islanders and evening the two match series. Seconds after the ensuing kickoff, the referee blew the full-time whistle. http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=992
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage Complete CCL Group Stage schedule (All times Eastern) Round 1 Tuesday, August 16 Santos Laguna (MEX) vs. Real España (HON), 8 p.m. LA Galaxy (USA) vs. Motagua (HON), 10 p.m. Alajuelense (CRC) vs. Morelia (MEX), 10 p.m. Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Comunicaciones (GUA), 10 p.m. Wednesday, August 17 Herediano (CRC) vs. Monterrey (MEX), 8 p.m. Pumas UNAM (MEX) vs. FC Dallas (USA), 10 p.m. Colorado Rapids (USA) vs. Metapán (SLV), 10 p.m. Thursday, August 18 Tauro (PAN) vs. Toronto FC (CAN), 8 p.m. Round 2 Tuesday, August 23 Monterrey (MEX) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA), 8 p.m. Real España (HON) vs. Colorado Rapids (USA), 10 p.m. Comunicaciones (GUA) vs. Herediano (CRC), 10 p.m. Wednesday, August 24 Toronto FC (CAN) vs. FC Dallas (USA), 8 p.m. Metapán (SLV) vs. Santos Laguna (MEX), 10 p.m. Thursday, August 25 Tauro (PAN) vs. Pumas UNAM (MEX), 8 p.m. LA Galaxy (USA) vs. Alajuelense (CRC), 10 p.m. Morelia (MEX) vs. Motagua (HON), 10 p.m. Round 3 Tuesday, September 13 Morelia (MEX) vs. LA Galaxy (USA), 8 p.m. Real España (HON) vs. Metapán (SLV), 10 p.m. Colorado Rapids (USA) vs. Santos Laguna (MEX), 10 p.m. Wednesday, September 14 FC Dallas (USA) vs. Tauro (PAN), 8 p.m. Pumas UNAM (MEX) vs. Toronto FC (CAN), 8 p.m. Herediano (CRC) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA), 10 p.m. Comunicaciones (GUA) vs. Monterrey (MEX), 10 p.m. Thursday, September 15 Motagua (HON) vs. Alajuelense (CRC), 10 p.m. Round 4 Tuesday, September 20 Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Tauro (PAN), 8 p.m. Monterrey (MEX) vs. Comunicaciones (GUA), 8 p.m. Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Herediano (CRC), 10 p.m. Wednesday, September 21 FC Dallas (USA) vs. Pumas UNAM (MEX), 8 p.m. Colorado Rapids (USA) vs. Real España (HON), 10 p.m. Alajuelense (CRC) vs. LA Galaxy (USA), 10 p.m. Thursday, September 22 Santos Laguna (MEX) vs. Metapán (SLV), 8 p.m. Motagua (HON) vs. Morelia (MEX), 10 p.m. Round 5 Tuesday, September 27 Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Pumas UNAM (MEX), 8 p.m. Comunicaciones (GUA) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA), 10 p.m. Monterrey (MEX) vs. Herediano (CRC), 10 p.m. Wednesday, September 28 Real España (HON) vs. Santos Laguna (MEX), 8 p.m. Tauro (PAN) vs. FC Dallas (USA), 8 p.m. LA Galaxy (USA) vs. Morelia (MEX), 10 p.m. Metapán (SLV) vs. Colorado Rapids (USA), 10 p.m. Thursday, September 29 Alajuelense (CRC) vs. Motagua (HON), 10 p.m. Round 6 Tuesday, October 18 Morelia (MEX) vs. Alajuelense (CRC), 8 p.m. FC Dallas (USA) vs. Toronto FC (CAN), 8 p.m. Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Monterrey (MEX), 10 p.m. Wednesday, October 19 Santos Laguna (MEX) vs. Colorado Rapids (USA), 8 p.m. Pumas UNAM (MEX) vs. Tauro (PAN), 10 p.m. Herediano (CRC) vs. Comunicaciones (GUA), 10 p.m. Thursday, October 20 Metapán (SLV) vs. Real España (HON), 8 p.m. Motagua (HON) vs. LA Galaxy (USA), 10 p.m.
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League Opening Shots Cristman, Donovan strike as Galaxy top Motagua in CCL opener CARSON, Calif. — Adam Cristman and Landon Donovan scored goals on either side of halftime as the LA Galaxy got off to a triumphant start in CONCACAF Champions League, beating Honduran side Motagua by 2-0 at the Home Depot Center on Tuesday. The Galaxy shot to the top of Group A with the win, tied with Costa Rican side Alajuelense with three points apeice. The teams will face each other at the Home Depot Center on Aug. 25, with a chance to take a stranglehold on what Donovan called the toughest group in the tournament. HIGHLIGHTS: LA 2, Motagua 0 http://www.concacafchampions.com/page/CL/Video/HighlightsDetail2/0,,12856~2422642,00.html Force Field F uciito brace powers Seattle to comeback win in Group D opener SEATTLE — Mike F uciito scored twice for 10-man Seattle as the Sounders defeated visiting CSD Comunicaciones 4-1 at CenturyLink Field on Tuesday night in the first round of CONCACAF Champions League group-stage play. After Lamar Neagle’s red card in the 55th minute put Seattle down a man, ***ito scored in the 61st and 67th minutes to give Seattle the victory. ***ito also earned the assist on Seattle’s first goal, by Brad Evans, which equalized the score after a great start from the visitors. HIGHLIGHTS: Seattle 4, Comunicaciones 1 http://www.concacafchampions.com/page/CL/Video/HighlightsDetail2/0,,12856~2422647,00.html
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League History Made FC Dallas beat Pumas 1-0, become first MLS club to win in Mexico 2010 MLS Cup runners-up FC Dallas defeated defending Mexican champions Pumas UNAM 1-0 in the first game of CONCACAF Group C play to become the first MLS side in 25 attempts to grab three points on Mexican soil. http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-08-17-pumas-unam-vs-fc-dallas/recap Hungry Kandji has dream return for Rapids Lanky striker saves Colorado from defeat in 3-2 win vs. Metapán COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Although unsatisfied with their performance in their 3-2 win over Isidro Metapán on Wednesday, the Colorado Rapids walked out of the match with two major positives: The return of Macoumba Kandji, and their first three points ever in the CONCACAF Champions League. “Mac Kandji scores two goals, that’s probably the biggest thing,” said Jeff Larentowicz, who served as captain for the night. “Everybody’s been waiting for him to come back and he’s had nothing but a positive attitude, like he showed tonight. That’s a big positive.” http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2011/08/hungry-kandji-has-dream-return-rapids
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League Toronto Takes Three At Tauro Reds win Champions League match 2-1, moves atop Group C. Ryan Johnson and Julian de Guzman each scored a goal in the first half and the Toronto FC defense held on just long enough to finish the job as the Reds posted a 2-1 win over Tauro FC in the CONCACAF Champions League Group C opener for both teams on Thursday night in Panama City, Panama. Luis Moreno scored the lone goal for Tauro FC from the penalty spot in the 76th minute, but it wasn’t enough to salvage a result against Toronto, who have now won both of their games away from home in this year’s tournament. They also topped Real Estelí in Nicaragua during the second leg of the preliminary round. The win not only helped Toronto keep pace with three points atop Group C with fellow MLS side FC Dallas, but also gave MLS a perfect 5-0 record during this week’s group play openers. The victory at Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City extended Toronto’s unbeaten run to six games in all competitions (four wins and two ties). http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-08-18-tauro-vs-toronto-fc/recap
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League CCL Recap: Seattle hold on for historic win at Monterrey Fernández's goal helps Sounders make it 2-for-2 for MLS in Mexico The Seattle Sounders made it two-for-two for MLS teams in Mexico in the CONCACAF Champions League with a massive 1-0 victory at Monterrey on Tuesday night in both teams’ second Group D match. In the 39th minute, Pat Noonan threaded a beautiful ball through to Álvaro Fernández, who beat two defenders and coolly finished past Jonathan Orozco for a 1-0 lead. Seattle held down enormous pressure from the defending CCL champions in the second half. Goalkeeper Terry Boss nearly gave Monterrey a gift when he failed to clear the ball cleanly in the 66th minute, giving Aldo de Nigris a golden opportunity on an empty net before losing the ball on the end line. But the Sounders emerged victorious for the historic win, following up FC Dallas’ victory at Pumas UNAM last week. http://www.mlssoccer.com/ccl/news/article/2011/08/23/ccl-recap-sounders-hold-historic-win-monterrey
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League CCL Recap: Colorado hold on for 1-1 tie at Real España First-half goal from Larentowicz gives Rapids a point on the road The Colorado Rapids coughed up a 1-0 lead, but still came away with a valuable road point with a 1-1 draw in San Pedro Sula against Real España in CONCACAF Champions League Group B action. The Rapids took the lead in first-half stoppage-time through Jeff Larentowicz, but spent much of the second half on the back foot as La Maquina surged forward looking for the equalizer. They eventually got it after a poor clearance from Kosuke Kimura fell to Julio Rodriguez inside the six-yard box in the 86th minute. Colorado now have four points from the first two Champions League match days. http://www.mlssoccer.com/ccl/news/article/2011/08/23/ccl-recap-rapids-hold-1-1-draw-real-españ
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League CCL Recap: Stewart goal enough as FCD top TFC in replay After Weds. night rain cancellation, FCD do just enough to win at BMO Field TORONTO – Jack Stewart scored in first-half stoppage time and FC Dallas defeated Toronto FC, 1-0, on Thursday morning in the replay of their CONCACAF Champions League Group C match. http://www.mlssoccer.com/ccl/news/a...cap-stewart-goal-enough-dallas-top-tfc-replay
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League Top Of The Heap Galaxy strengthen hold on Group A with 2-0 win vs. Alajuelense CARSON, Calif. — Omar Gonzalez buried a first-half header and Chad Barrett added an insurance goal with less than a quarter-hour remaining as the LA Galaxy silenced Costa Rican champions Alajuelense by 2-0 at The Home Depot Center on Thursday. The Galaxy's win strengthened their hold on Group A. Morelia beat Motagua at home handily to give LA a three-point edge over both Morelia and Alajuelense, while the Honduran side sits at the bottom with no points from two games. The Galaxy's next CCL date is at Morelia on Sept. 13, and a victory there would give the Galaxy a firm grasp on the group http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-08-25-la-galaxy-vs-alajuelense/recap
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League So Close Two late goals overturn Keane strike, rob Galaxy of rare three points in Mexico A rare three points in Mexico was there for the taking for the LA Galaxy. But an error from goalkeeper Josh Saunders on an 83rd-minute freekick from Morelia's Adrian Aldate and a stoppage-time header from Mexican international Miguel Sabah gave the hosts an unlikely come-from-behind 2-1 win at the Estadio Morelos. Robbie Keane scored for the Galaxy in the 52nd minute, after taking a long ball from Landon Donovan, rounding a defender, and beating goalkeeper Federico Vilar with a well-placed shot. http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-09-13-morelia-vs-la-galaxy/recap
Re: 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League CCL: Colorado simply "taken apart" by a strong Santos On back foot early, Rapids not strong enough to get back in match COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — No matter how motivated the Colorado Rapids went into the match, they were just overpowered by a deadly Santos Laguna, who made the home side pay once and again en route to a comfortable 4-1 win in CONCACAF Champions League play on Tuesday. “We were taken apart,” Rapids midfielder Brian Mullan, who scored his team’s only goal of the night in the 77th minute, put it simply. Maybe it was because, as Mullan said, first-time CCL participants Colorado just aren’t used to playing Mexican teams and might have been surprised by the quality Santos showed. But whatever the reason, defender Drew Moor and head coach Gary Smith made no excuses for the defeat, instead choosing to give credit where credit is due http://www.mlssoccer.com/ccl/news/article/2011/09/14/ccl-colorado-simply-taken-apart-strong-santos
