CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage Begins Tuesday
The group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League begins Tuesday night with 16 teams looking to advance to the quarterfinal round. Five MLS teams are competing in the group stage this year — the LA Galaxy, Colorado Rapids, Seattle Sounders, FC Dallas and Toronto FC, while four FMF teams — Pumas UNAM, Santos Laguna, Morelia and last year’s champion, Monterrey, are also involved. No Caribbean side is represented in this year’s group stage, as the Puerto Rico Islanders were eliminated by Isidro Metapan on an away goal. Also missing from this year’s group stage are such traditional CONCACAF powers as Saprissa, Toluca, Marathon, Olimpia and Cruz Azul, along with last year’s Real Salt Lake squad that lost to Monterrey in the finals.
The first round kicks off Tuesday evening with Santos Laguna hosting Group B rival Real Espana at 8:00 pm EDT (Galavision) while Landon Donovan and his LA Galaxy friends will host another Honduran side, Motagua, at 10:00 pm EDT (televised at 12:30 am Wed on Fox Soccer Channel). The match between Alajuelense and Monarcas Morelia begins at 10:00 pm EDT (Gala) while the Seattle Sounders host Comunicaciones at 10:00 pm EDT (FSC).
On Wednesday, Costa Rican side Herediano host holders Monterrey at 8:00 pm EDT while Isidro Metapan visit the Colorado Rapids, with kick off at 10:00 pm EDT (FSC). Pumas UNAM host FC Dallas at the same time, with television coverage beginning at 11:00 pm on Galavision and 12:30 am EDT on FSC. On Thursday, Toronto FC plays in Panama against Tauro at 8:00 pm EDT (Galavision, televised on FSC beginning at 10:00 pm EDT). The second phase of the group stage round begins next week Tuesday, and will offer more tasty matchups including Monterrey-Seattle Sounders, MLS clubs FC Dallas and Toronto FC going head to head and the Rapids traveling to Honduras to face Real Espana.
Group A – Los Angeles Galaxy (U.S.), Alajueleuse (Costa Rica), Morelia (Mexico), Motagua (Honduras)
Group B – Colorado Rapids (U.S.), Real Espana (Honduras), Santos Laguna (Mexico), Isidro Metapan (El Salvador)
Group C - Pumas (Mexico), FC Tauro (Panama), FC Dallas (U.S.). Toronto FC (Canada)
Group D – Monterrey (Mexico), Seattle Sounders (U.S.), Comunicaciones (Guatemala), Herediano (Costa Rica)
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