Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Copa Libertadores Qualifying

The second round of Copa Libertadores qualifying continued on Wednesday with two games.

At  Chapeco, Brazil:

Santiago Romero scored the only goal of the match in the 73rd minute as Uruguay's Club Nacional knocked off hosts Chapecoense 1-0 in the opening contest of their two-game series.

At Concepcion, Chile:

Evander da Silva Ferreira scored twice (2', 15') in the opening quarter-hour as Vasco da Gama all but locked up a berth in the final qualifying round with their series-opening 4-0 road demolition of Universidad de Concepcion.

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Copa Libertadores Quaifying

The second round of Copa Libertadores qualifying opened on Tuesday with three games.


At Merida, Venezuela:

Luis Mago scored the only goal of the match in the 18th minute as Carabobo took the opening game of their series with Club Guarani of Paraguay 1-0 at home.

At Banfield, Argentina:

Maximiliano Barreiro's successful penalty kick in the opening minute of second-half stoppage time to lift Independiente del Valle of Ecuador to gain a series-opening 1-1 road draw with Banfield.  

Dario Cvitanich converted a penalty kick in the 70th minute for the hosts.

At Valparaiso, Chile:

Bernardo Cuesta's equalizer in the second-minute of first-half stoppage time to carry Melgar of Peru to a 1-1 series-opening road draw with Santiago Wanderers.  

Rafael Viotti scored in the opening minute for the hosts.

AFC Champions League Qualifying

The third and final round of qualifying for the AFC Champions League took place on Tuesday with eight games.

EAST REGION:

At Suwon, South Korea:

Wagner da Silva Sousa scored twice (44', 49') as Suwon Samsung Bluewings dominated visiting FLC Thanh Hoa (Vietnam) 5-1 to advance to the group stage.  The South Korean club will join Sydney FC (Australia), Shanghai Shenhua (China), and Kashima Antlers (Japan) in Group H.

At Kashiwa, Japan:

Cristiano da Silva scored twice (51', 62') to carry Kashiwa Reysol to a 3-0 home domination of Thailand's Muangthong United.  The Japanese club will join South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Hong Kong's Kitchee SC, and China's Tianjin Quanjian in Group E.

At Shanghai, China:

Yu Hai scored the only goal of the match in the 48th minute as Shanghai SIPG defeated Chiangrai United of Thailand 1-0.  The Chinese club will join Kawasaki Frontale (Japan), Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea), and the Melbourne Victory (Australia) in Group F.

At Tianjin, China:

Anthony Modeste scored both goals (18', 57') in Tianjin Quanjian's 2-0 home blanking of Ceres-Negros from the Philippines.  The Chinese club will be playing in Group E.

For the record, Group G will consist of China's Guangzhou Evergrande, Japan's Cerezo Osaka, South Korea's Jeju United, and Thailand's Buriram United.



WEST REGION:

At Al Ain, United Arab Emirates:

Marcus Berg (53') and Caio Lucas Fernandes (61') each scored once as Al-Ain blanked visiting Malkiya from Bahrain 2-0.  The club from the Emirates will play in Group D alongside Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, Iran's Esteghlal, and Qatar's Al-Rayyan.

At Isfahan, Iran:

Morteza Tabrizi scored twice (83', 90'+3) as Zob Ahan knocked out visiting Aizawl of India 3-1.  The Iranian club will be joined in Group B by Al-Duhail (Qatar), Al-Wahda (UAE), and Lokomotiv Tashkent (Uzbekistan).

At Al Rayyan, Qatar: 

Wesley Sneijder (PK-21') and Diogo Amado (28') each scored once as Al-Gharafa defeated visiting Pakhtakor Tashkent (Uzbekistan) 21.  The Qatari club will be playing in Group A alongside Al-Jazira (UAE), Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia), and Tractor Sazi (Iran).

At Qarshi, Uzbekistan:

Bobir Abdixolikov scored what proved to be the game winner in the 49th minute as Nasaf Qarshi demolished visiting Al-Faisaly from Jordan 5-1.  The Uzbek club will be joined in Group C by Persepolis (Iran), Al-Saad  (Qatar), and Al-Wasi (UAE). 

Monday, January 29, 2018

At Long Last

Miami was finally awarded an MLS expansion franchise on Monday.

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Looks Like.......

That Miami group has finally gotten its' act together and it looks as if that MLS expansion franchise is finally going to be awarded this coming Monday.


Major League Soccer once has a franchise in Miami, but the Fusion, despite making the playoffs in three of its' four years of existence (and even having won the Supporters' Shield in 2001), closed up shop in January of 2002.

OFC Champions League Qualifying: Lupe o le Soaga Join Tupapa Maraerenga In Advancing To Group State

The qualifying round for group-stage berths in the OFC Champions League concluded on Saturday with two games contested at Pago Park Soccer Stadium in Pago Pago, American Samoa.


In the opener, Bird Vagaia (30', 39') and Darren Talilai (54', 84') each scored twice as Lupe o le Soaga destroyed Veitongo 6-0 to clinch a spot in the group stage of the tournament.


In the nightcap, Maro Bonsu-Maro (7', 59') and Geoffrey Strickland (12', 62') each scored a pair of goals (one in each half) as Tupapa Maraerenga locked up top spot in the qualifying group following their 5-0 fist-beating of Pago Youth.


Final Qualifying Round Standings:


1. Tupapa Maraerenga (GP: 3; GD: +13; PTS: 9)
2. Lupe o le Soaga (GP: 3; GD: +17; PTS: 6)
3. Veitongo (GP: 3; GD: -13; PTS: 1)
4. Pago Youth (GP: 3; GD: -17; PTS: 1)


Tupapa Maraerenga and Lupe o le Soaga advanced to the group stage.






Here's a look at the four four-team groups:


GROUP A (all games to be contested at Koman Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu, starting on February 10):


Toti City (Papua New Guinea)


Nalkutan FC (Vanuatu)


Ba FC (Fiji)


Tupapa Maraerenga (Cook Islands)






GROUP B (all games to be contested at Stade Pater, Pirae, Tahiti, starting on February 10):


Solomon Warriors (Solomon Islands)


AS Dragon (Tahiti)


AS Lossi (New Caledonia)


Erakor Golden Star (Vanuatu)






GROUP C (all games to be contested at The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand, starting on February 25):


Auckland City FC (New Zealand; defending champions)


Lautoka FC (Fiji)


Madang FC (Papua New Guinea)


As Venus (Tahiti)






GROUP D (all games to be contested at Lawson Tama Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands, starting on February 24):


Team Wellington (New Zealand)


AS Magenta (New Caledonia)


Lupe o le Soaga (Samoa)


Marist FC (Solomon Islands)















Friday, January 26, 2018

Copa Libertadores Qualifying: Olimpia, Deportivo Tachira, Oriente Petrolero Advance

The opening round of Copa Libertadores qualifying concluded on Friday with three games.


At Asuncion, Paraguay:

Nestor Camacho (55') and Oscar Gimenez (87') each scored once in the second half as Club Olimpia blanked visiting Montevideo Wanderers 2-0 in game two and ousted the Uruguayan club by that same score on aggregate.

Olimpia will take on Colombia's Atletico Junior in a two-match second-qualifying-round series which opens next Thursday in Asuncion.

At San Cristobal, Venezuela:

A 0-0 game-two home stalemate with CSD Macara enabled Deportivo Tachira to win their series with the Ecuadorian club on away goals with the aggregate score at 1-1.

Next up for the Venezuelan club, a second-qualifying-round matchup with Colombia's Independiente Santa Fe, set to open next Thursday in San Cristobal.

At Lima, Peru:

Jorge Paredes scored the series-winning goal in the 85th minute as Oriente Petrolero, despite dropping a 3-1 game-two road decision to Universitario de Deportes, still won their series with the Peruvian club on away goals, with the aggregate score at 3-3.

Next up for the Oriente Petrolero, a two-game series with fellow Bolivian club Jorge Wilstermann, set to open at home in Santa Cruz de la Sierra starting next Thursday,

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

OFC Champions League Qualifying: Tupapa Maraerenga (Who Advance To Group Stage), Lupe o le Soaga Grab Easy Wins

Two games were contested on Wednesday as action in the qualifying group in the OFC Champions League continued, with both matches taking place at Pago Park Soccer Stadium in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

In the opener, Sean Latimer (12', 22, 81') and Maro Bonsu-Maro (45'+3, 55', 90') each produced a hat trick while Hone Fowler added a double (45'+2, 90') as Tupapa Maraerenga destroyed nine-man Veitongo 9-2 to lock up a berth in the group stage.

In the nightcap, Suivai Ataga scored five goals (15', 34', 40', 48', 85')----count 'em-----five goals while Faafua Ataga added a a pair (69', 90'+4) as Lupe o le Soaga moved into second place in the qualifying group following their 13-1 nuking of Pago Youth.

Qualifying Round Standings:

1. x-Tupapa Maraerenga (GP: 2; GD: +8; PTS: 6)
2.    Lupe o le Soaga (GP: 2; GD: +11; PTS: 3)
3.    Veitongo (GP: 2; GD: -7; PTS: 1)
4.    Pago Youth (GP: 2; GD: -12; PTS: 1)

x-Clinched berth in group stage

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

AFC Champions League Qualifying: FLC Thanh Hoa, Muangthong United, Chiangrai United, Ceres-Negros Advance To Playoff Round

The second preliminary round of the AFC Champions League took place on Tuesday with four games, all of them in the East Region.


At Hong Kong:


Hoang Dinh Tung produced a hat trick (59', 60', 90'+6) as FLC Thanh Hoa (Vietnam) knocked off Eastern Sports Club 4-2 on the road.


At Bangkok, Thailand:


Heberty Fernandes de Andrade scored twice (PK-29', 63') as Muangthong United dominated visiting Jahor Darul Ta'zim (Malaysia) 5-2.


At Chiang Rai, Thailand:


After 90 minutes of scoreless regulation, Akarawin Sawasdee (94') and Pathompal Charoenrattanapriom (105') each scored an overtime goal as Chiangrai United held off visiting Bali United (Indonesia) 2-1.


At Brisbane, Australia:


Bienvenido Maranon scored twice (43', 65') as Ceres-Negros (Philippines) upended the Brisbane Roar 2-1 on the road.






The Playoff Round will take place next Tuesday with eight games, the winners of which will advance to the group stage.


EAST REGION:


At Suwon, South Korea:


Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea) vs. FLC Thanh Hoa (Vietnam)


At Kashiwa, Japan:


Kashiwa Reysol (Japan) vs. Muangthong United (Thailand)


At Shanghai, China:


Shanghai SIPG (China) vs. Chiangrai United (Thailand)


At Tianjin, China:


Tianjin Quanjian (China) vs. Ceres-Negros (Philippines)






WEST REGION:


At Al Ain, United Arab Emirates:


Al-Ain (UAE) vs. Malkiya (Bahrain)


At Isfahan, Iran:


Zob Ahan (Iran) vs. Aizawl (India)


At Al Rayyan, Qatar:


Al-Gharafa (Qatar)


At Qarshi, Uzbekistan:


Nasaf Qarshi (Uzbekistan) vs. Al-Faisaly (Jordan)











Monday, January 22, 2018

Copa Libertadores Qualifying Opens

The opening round of Copa Libertadores qualifying commenced on Monday with three games.

At Montevideo, Uruguay:

Paraguay's Club Olimpia held Montevideo Wanderers to a series-opening 0-0 stalemate in the Uruguayan capital.

At Ambato, Ecuador:

Edgar Perez Greco's equalizer in the 68th minute carried Venezuela's Deportivo Tachira to a series-opening 1-1 road draw with Marcara. 

Elvis Patta scored for the Ecuadoran club in the 16th minute.

At Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia:

Ronaldo Sanchez (27') and Maximiliano Freitas (79') each scored once as Oriente Petrolero blanked visiting Universitario of Peru 2-0 in the opening match of their two-game series.

Saturday, January 20, 2018

OFC Champions League Qualifying: Tupapa Maraernga Win Opener; Veitongo and Pogo Youth Draw

The qualifying stage for OFC Champions League group-stage berths opened on Sunday (local time) with two games, both contested at Pago Park Soccer Stadium in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

In the opener, Sean Latimer scored the only goal of the match in the 74th minute as Tupapa Maraerenga from the Cook Islands defeated Lupe o le Soaga from Samoa 1-0.

In the nightcap, Veitongo from Tonga and Pago Youth of American Samoa battled to a 1-1 stalemateVeitongo's Sione Uhatahi scored the equalizer in the 90th minute, after Nissan Silao had scored for the club from the host country at 28 minutes.

Qualifying Group Standings:

1. Tupapa Maraerenga (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Pogo Youth  (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. Veitongo (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. Lupe o le Soaga (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

The group winner would advance to Group A of the group stage (joining Papua New Guinea's Lae City Dwellers, Vanuatu's Nalkutan, and Fiji's Ba FC) while the runner-up would advance to Group D (joining Team Wellington of New Zealand, Magenta of New Caledonia, and Marist FC of the Solomon Islands); the other two groups have already been filled (Group B with Solomon Warriors of the Solomon Islands, AS Dragon from Tahiti, AS Lossi from New Caledonia, and Eraktor Golden Star from Vanuatu); Group C with Auckland City from New Zealand [the defending tournament champions], Lautoka from Fiji, Madang FC from Papua New Guinea, and Tahiti's AS Venus).

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

AFC Champions League Qualifying: Bali United, Ceres-Negros Advance

The qualifying stage for the AFC Champions League commenced on Tuesday with two games, both in the East Region.

At Gianyar Regency, Indonesia:

Ilija Spasojevic scored the winning goal in the 62nd minute as Bali United defeated visiting Tampines Rovers from Singapore 3-1 in an opening preliminary round match taking place in Section Three of the East Region.

Next Tuesday, the Indonesian club will to Chiang Rai in Thailand for a one-game playoff against Ghaingrai United.



At Yangon, Myanmar (a.k.a. Rangoon, Burma):

After 90 minutes of scoreless regulation, followed by 30 minutes of overtime in which each team scored once, Carli de Murga, Stephan Schrock, Mike Ott, and Bienvenido Maranon each converted a spot kick as visiting Ceres-Negros from the Philippines won the penalty-kick shootout, 4-3 over Shan United in an East Region, Section Three preliminary-round contest.

Next Tuesday, the Filipino club will travel to Australia for a second-preliminary-round clash with the Brisbane Roar.

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Friday, January 05, 2018

Timbers To Open Season Against Galaxy At StubHub Center

The Portland Timbers will open their 2018 Major League Soccer season at Carson, California against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday, March 4 at 7:00 PM Pacific Time on Fox Sports One.

The Timbers' home opener will be on Sunday, April 14 against Minnesota United at 7:30 PM Pacific Time.

You can find Portland's complete regular-season schedule here.