STRIPED GANG KNOCK OFF RSL ON THE ROAD TO SECURE CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CROWN

At Sandy, Utah:


Humberto Suazo scored the only goal of the match (45') as Monterrey knocked off Real Salt Lake 1-0 on the road Wednesday night in game two of their two-match CONCACAF Champions League to win the series 3-2 on aggregate.  The Striped Gang will represent CONCACAF in this coming December's FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.


The defeat ended RSL's 34-match home unbeaten streak in all competitions.

CONCACAF Champions League Final: RSL Gain 2-2 Draw In Monterrey In Series Opener

At Monterrey, Mexico:


Nat Borchers (34') and Javier Morales (88') each tallied what might turn out to be a precious away goal on Wednesday night as Real Salt Lake gained a series-opening 2-2 road draw in the opening match of the two-game CONCACAF Champions League final against Monterrey.  Jesus De Nigris (17') and Humberto Suazo (PK-62') each tallied once for the Striped Gang.  The return match will be played next Wednesday night at Sandy, Utah.

CONCACAF CL: It's RSL Vs. Monterrey For All The Marbles

At Mexico City:


Humberto Suazo provided the series-winning goal with his 80th-minute penalty kick on Wednesday night as Monterrey, with their 1-1 game-two road draw with Cruz Azul, won their two-game semifinal round series 3-2 on aggregate.  


The Striped Gang will take on Real Salt Lake in the CONCACAF Champions League's two-match final, which is scheduled to start on April 19 at Monterrey, Mexico, with the return match on April 26 at Sandy, Utah, with the winner moving on to this year's FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled for December in Japan. 

CONCACAF CL: Despite Road Setback, RSL Advances To Final

At San Jose, Costa Rica:


Despite dropping a 2-1 game-two decision on the road, Real Salt Lake won their two-game series with Deportivo Saprissa 3-2 on aggregate and became the first American-based club to reach the final of the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday (and the first since 2000 to reach the final of CONCACAF's biggest club competition, when the Los Angeles Galaxy won the CONCACAF Champions Cup title).  Jamison Olave scored the series-winning goal for RSL at 61 minutes.  RLS will face the winner of the Cruz Azul-Monterrey series in the two-match final.  The Striped Gang currently leads 2-1 on aggregate, with the second game to be played on Azul's home pitch in Mexico City.  

CONCACAF CL: Striped Gang Take Semifinal Series Opener But Azul Still Alive With Away Goal

At Monterrey, Mexico:

Neri Cardozo (9') and Sergio Santana (56') provided the scoring as Monterrey edged visiting Mexican club Cruz Azul 2-1 Wednesday in the opening game of their two-match CONCACAF Champions League semifinal series.  Adrian Cortes kept Azul alive in the series with what might still turn out to be a precious away goal at 48 minutes.

CONCACAF CL: RSL Take Semifinal Opener

At Sandy, Utah:

Alvaro Saborio (8') and Fabian Espindola (55') each scored once as Real Salt Lake took the opening match of their two-game CONCACAF Champions League semifinal series with Deportivo Saprissa 2-0 at home on Tuesday night.

CONCACAF CL: Saprissa To Get Shot At RSL

At Tegucigalpa, Honduras:


Armando Alonso (26') and Luis Cordero (63') each scored once as Deportivo Saprissa defeated CD Olimpia 2-1 on Thursday in game two of their two-match series and took the set 3-1 on aggregate as the quarterfinal round of the CONCACAF Champions League came to a close.


The semifinal round, with two two-game series, begins on March 15 as Real Salt Lake hosts Saprissa at Sandy, Utah in game one, with the return match on  April 5 in San Jose, Costa Rica.


The other semifinal series begins on March 16 at Monterrey, Mexico as Monterrey hosts their series opener with Cruz Azul.  The return match takes place in Mexico City on April 16.

CONCACAF CL: Striped Gang To Get Crack At Cruz Azul

At Monterrey, Mexico:


Neri Cardozo scored the lone goal of the match (88') on Wednesday as Monterrey handed visiting Toluca a second straight 1-0 setback in game two of their two-match CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal-round series.  The Striped Gang won the series 2-0 on aggregate and will face fellow Mexican club Cruz Azul in the semifinal round, with the opening contest in Monterrey in two weeks time.

CONCACAF CL: RSL and Cruz Azul Reach Semifinals

The second and final week of quarterfinal-round action in the CONCACAF Champions League commenced with two contests on Tuesday.


At Torreon, Mexico:


Emanuel Villa scored twice (36', 52') as Cruz Azul overpowered hosts Santos Laguna 3-1 in game two of their two-match series and won the series 5-1 on aggregate.  They will next take on the winner of the Monterrey-Toluca series (the Striped Gang lead 1-0 on aggregate).


At Sandy, Utah:


Javier Morales scored twice (35', 76') while Andy Williams added a goal (90'+5) and two assists as Real Salt Lake defeated the visiting Columbus Crew 4-1 in game two and won their two-match series 4-1 on aggregate.  The winner of the CD Olimpia (Honduras)-Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica) series (with Saprissa up 1-0 on aggregate) awaits RSL in the semifinal round.  RSL became the first US-based club to reach the semifinals in the three years since the reorganization of the old CONCACAF Champions Cup into the CONCACAF Champions League.

CONCACAF CL: Saprissa On Top After Game-One Win

The opening week of the CONCACAF Champions League's quarterfinal round concluded on Thursday with one game.


At San Jose, Costa Rica:


Armando Alonzo scored the only goal of the match (23') as Deportivo Saprissa took game one of their two-game series at home, 1-0, over CD Olimpia from Honduras.

CONCACAF CL: Road Win For Striped Gang

At Toluca, Mexico:


Osvaldo Martinez provided the only goal of the match (81') on Wednesday as Monterrey defeated Toluca 1-0 on the road in the opening game of their CONCACAF Champions League two-game series in the quarterfinal round.

CONCACAF CL: Goose Eggs In Columbus; Azul Top Santos In Series Opener

The knockout stage of the CONCACAF Champions League commenced on Tuesday with the opening contests of two quarterfinal two-game series.


At Columbus, Ohio:


The opening contest between two Major League Soccer clubs, Real Salt Lake and the homestanding Columbus Crew, a testy one with the Crew ending the game with ten men and RSL with nine, ended in a 0-0 deadlock.


At Mexico City:


Javier Orozco (56') and Christian Gimenez (67') provided the scoring that carried Cruz Azul to a 2-0 home win in game one against Santos Laguna.

CONCACAF CL: Crew Pummel Joe Public In Group Stage Finale

Group stage play in the CONCACAF Champions League concluded with one game on Thursday.

Group B:

At Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago:

Emilio Renteria scored twice (PK-49', 82') as the Columbus Crew, who had already clinched a berth in the quarterfinal round, manhandled hosts Joe Public FC 4-1.

FINAL GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. Santos Laguna (GP: 6; GD: +12; PTS: 13)
2. Columbus Crew (GP: 6; GD: +6; PTS: 12)
3. CSD Municipal (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 8)
4. Joe Public FC (GP: 6; GD: -14; PTS: 1)

Santos Laguna and the Columbus Crew advanced to the quarterfinal round.

CONCACAF Champions League: Monterrey Blank Marathon; Olimpia and Toluca Reach Quarterfinals, Islanders Eliminated

Three more games were played on Wednesday in CONCACAF Champions League group stage action.

Group C:

At San Pedro Sula, Honduras:

Sergio Santana scored the game's lone goal at 69 minutes as Monterrey defeated CD Marathon 1-0 on the road.

FINAL GROUP G STANDINGS:

1. Monterrey (GP: 6; GD: +7; PTS: 16)
2. Deportivo Saprissa (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
3. CD Marathon (GP: 6; GD: -6; PTS: 6)
4. Seattle Sounders FC (GP: 6; GD: -5; PTS: 3)

Monterrey and Deportivo Saprissa advanced to the quarterfinal round.

Group D:

At Toluca, Mexico:

Hector Raul Mancilla's hat trick (18', 55', 90') helped spark Toluca to a 5-0 home demolition of CD FAS that carried them into the quarterfinal round.

At Tegucigalpa, Honduras:

Roger Rojas scored twice in the second half (53', 77') as CD Olimpia laid claim to the Group D title with a 3-0 beatdown of the visiting Puerto Rico Islanders, eliminating the USSF D2 Pro League club from the tournament.

FINAL GROUP D STANDINGS:

1. CD Olimpia (GP: 6; GD: +5; PTS: 13)
2. Toluca (GP: 6; GD: +10; PTS: 10)
3. Puerto Rico Islanders (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 8)
4. CD FAS (GP: 6; GD: -13; PTS: 2)

CD Olimpia and Toluca advanced to the quarterfinal round. 

 

CONCACAF CL: Paulo Scores Twice As RSL Wins Group A Title; Santos Win Over Municipal Gives Mexican Club Group B Title---And Quarterfinal Berth To Columbus Crew; Suprissa In Knockout Stage, Too

The final week of group stage action in the CONCACAF Champions League commence with four games on Tuesday.

Group A:

At Toronto:

Nana Attakora-Gyan scored the only goal of the match at 30 minutes as Toronto FC defeated visiting Arabe Unido 1-0 in a match of two teams who are now finished with this competition.


At Sandy, Utah:


Paulo scored twice (42', 66') as Real Salt Lake captured the Group A crown with a 3-1 home win over Cruz Azul, who had also already qualified for the quarterfinal round.


FINAL GROUP A STANDINGS:


1. Real Salt Lake (GP: 6; GD: +6; PTS: 13)
2. Cruz Azul (GP: 6; GD: +6; PTS: 10)
3. Toronto FC (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 8)
4. Arabe Unido (GP: 6; GD: -10; PTS: 3)


Real Salt Lake and Cruz Azul advanced to the quarterfinal round.


Group B:

At Torreon, Mexico:


Daniel Luduena scored twice (26', 86') as Santos Laguna scored thrice in each half as they demolished visiting CSD Municipal 6-1 to claim the Group B crown.  The loss eliminated the visiting Guatemalan club from the tournament and clinched a berth in the quarterfinal round for the Columbus Crew.


Group C:

At Seattle:


Jairo Arrieta Ovando (25') and Josue Martinez (86') each tallied once as Deportivo Saprissa locked up a berth in the quarterfinal round with a 2-1 come-from-behind road win over the Seattle Sounders.

CONCACAF CL: Olimpia Dominates CD FAS In San Salvador To Move To Top Of Group D

Match Day #5 in CONCACAF Champions League group stage play concluded with one Thursday contest.

Group D:

At San Salvador, El Salvador:

CD Olimpia moved to the top of Group D with a 4-1 beatdown of hosts CD FAS, eliminating the Salvadoran club from contention in the process.  Ramiro (Don't Call Me Tedy) Bruschi scored twice (29', 45'+2) for the Honduran club.

GROUP D STANDINGS:

1. CD Olimpia (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 10)
2. Puerto Rico Islanders (GP: 5; GD: +1; PTS: 8)
3. Toluca (GP: 5; GD: +5; PTS: 7)
4. CD FAS# (GP: 5; GD: -8; PTS: 2)

#Eliminated from tournament.

CONCACAF CL: Crew Fall In Guatemala; Santos Maul Joe Public; Sounders Blank Marathon; Islanders Move Atop Group D

Four games were played on Wednesday as Match Day #5 in CONCACAF Champions League group stage play continued.

Group B:

At Guatemala City:

Guillermo Ramirez Ortega scored twice (18', 38') as CSD Municipal held off the visiting Columbus Crew 2-1 to stay alive in the race for a berth in the quarterfinal round.

At Torreon, Mexico:

Five different goal scorers----Jose Rodolfo Reyes (3'), Francisco Torres (13'), Carlos Quintero (60'), Jose Cardenas (67'), and Rafael Figueroa (78')----each tallied once as Santos Laguna horsewhipped visiting----and already eliminated----Joe Public 5-1.

GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. Santos Laguna (GP: 5; GD: +7; PTS: 10)
2. Columbus Crew (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 9)
3. CSD Municipal (GP: 5; GD: +1; PTS: 8)
4. Joe Public# (GP: 5; GD: -11; PTS: 1)

#Eliminated from tournament

Group C:

At Seattle:

Michael Fucito scored both goals (20', 68') as the Seattle Sounders hurt CD Marathon's advancement chances by knocking off the visiting Honduran club 2-0.

GROUP C STANDINGS:

1. Monterrey** (GP: 5; GD: +6; PTS: 13)
2. Deportivo Saprissa (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
3. CD Marathon (GP: 5; GD: -5; PTS: 6)
4. Seattle Sounders FC# (GP: 5; GD: -4; PTS: 3)

**Won Group C and clinched a berth in the quarterfinal round
#Eliminated from tournament

Group D:

At Bayamon, Puerto, Rico:

Second-half goals from David Foley (53') and David Horst (69', 90') enabled the Puerto Rico Islanders to erase a two-goal halftime deficit and knock off visiting Toluca 3-2, carrying the USSF D-2 Pro League club to take over the top spot in Group D.

CONCACAF CL: RSL, Cruz Azul, And Monterrey Clinch Berths In Quarterfinals; TFC, Arabe Unido, and Sounders Eliminated

Three games were played on Tuesday as Match Day #5 in CONCACAF Champions League group stage play commenced.

Group A:

At Toronto: 

Javier Morales scored the equalizer at 67 minutes as Real Salt Lake clinched a berth in the quarterfinal round with a 1-1 road draw with Toronto FC, eliminating the Reds from the tournament in the process.

At Mexico City:

Emanuel Villa's goal in the 1st minute, along with a successful penalty kick from Adrian Cortes at 48 minutes carried Cruz Azul to a 2-0 home win over Arabe Unido, clinching a berth in the quarterfinal round while eliminating the visiting Panamanian club in the process.

GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. Cruz Azul* (GP: 5; GD: +8; PTS: 10)
2. Real Salt Lake* (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 10)
3. Toronto FC# (GP: 5; GD: -3; PTS: 5)
4. Arabe Unido# (GP: 5; GD: -9; PTS: 3)

*Clinched berths in quarterfinal round.
#Eliminated from tournament.

Group C:

Visiting Monterrey and Deportivo Saprissa played to a 2-2 draw, clinching a berth in the quarterfinals for the visiting Striped Gang , putting the hosts in temporary possession of second place in Group C, and eliminating the Seattle Sounders from the tournament.  Luis Rodriguez Alanis (5') and Abraham Dario Carreno (31') each tallied once for Monterrey while the hosts got goals from Severo Meza (OG-16') and Jose Mena (65').

NOTE:  The draw assured Monterrey of finishing atop the Group C standings. 

CONCACAF CF: Wins for CSD Municipal and Olimpia

Match Day #4 of group stage play in the CONCACAF Champions League concluded with two games on Thursday.

Group B:

At Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago:

Guillermo Ramirez scored twice (17', 48') and Sergio Guevara scored the game winner (90'+2) as CSD Municipal placed Joe Public FC on the cusp of elimination with a 2-1 win on the road.

GROUP B STANDINGS:

1. Columbus Crew (GP: 4; GD: +4; PTS: 9)
2. Santos Laguna (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
3. CSD Municipal (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 5)
4. Joe Public FC (GP: 4; GD: -7; PTS: 1)

Group D:

At San Pedro Sula, Honduras:

Oscar Boniek Garcia (14') and Roger Rojas (25') each tallied once as CD Olimpia held off visiting Toluca 2-1.

GROUP D STANDINGS:

1. Toluca (GP: 4; GD: +6; PTS: 7)
2. CD Olimpia (GP: 4; GD: -1; PTS: 7)
3. Puerto Rico Islanders (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 5)
4. CD FAS (GP: 4; GD: -5; PTS: 2) 

 

CONCACAF CL: RSL Move Atop Group A; Striped Gang Erase 2-Goal Deficit To Beat Sounders; Marathon Top Saprissa At Home; Scorless In San Salvador

Four more games were played in the CONCACAF Champions League's group stage on Wednesday.

Group A:

At Panama City, Panama:

Will Johnson scored twice in the first half (10', 43') as Real Salt Lake defeated Arabe Unido 3-2 on the road.

GROUP A STANDINGS:

1. Real Salt Lake (GP: 4; GD: +4; PTS: 9)
2. Cruz Azul (GP: 4; GD: +6; PTS: 7)
3. Toronto FC (GP: 4; GD: -3; PTS: 4)
4. Arabe Unido (GP: 4; GD: -7; PTS: 3)

Group C:

At Monterrey, Mexico:

Aldo de Nigris (74'), Humberto Suazo (75'), and Luis Ernest Perez (PK-78') each delivered a goal as Monterrey erased a two-goal deficit at home to defeat the Seattle Sounders 3-2.

At San Pedro Sula, Honduras:

Esteban Sirias' own goal (64'), combined with Mario Barrios' tally at 49 minutes, lifted CD Marathon to a 2-1 home win over Deportivo Saprissa.

GROUP C STANDINGS:

1. Monterrey (GP: 4; GD: +6; PTS: 12)
2. Deportivo Saprissa (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
3. CD Marathon (GP: 4; GD: -3; PTS: 6)
4. Seattle Sounders FC (GP: 4; GD: -6; PTS: 0)

Group D:

The Puerto Rico Islanders held hosts CD FAS to a 0-0 stalemate.