CONCACAF Champions League: Cruz Azul Overtake Aztec Dogs, Get Crack At Toluca For Tourney Title

At Mexico City:

Thanks to goals from Javier Guemez (OG-3') and Julio Dominguez (51'), Cruz Azul overcame their series-opening road defeat of last week and blanked visiting Club Tijuana 2-0 in game two and won their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal series 2-1 on aggregate.

Cruz Azul will host fellow Mexican club Toluca in the two-match final beginning next week, with the return match at Toluca.  The winner would advance to this coming December's FIFA Club World Cup, to be played in Morocco.

CONCACAF Champions League: Toluca Finish Off Alajuelense, Set Stage For All-Mexican Final

At Toluca, Mexico:

Carlos Esquivel (35') and Juan Manuel Salgueiro (62') each scored a goal on Tuesday night as Toluca defeated visiting Alajuelense 2-0 in game two of their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal series and won their two-match series 3-0 on aggregate.

With the Toluca victory, the final will be an all-Mexican affair with Toluca taking on the winner of the Club Tijuana-Cruz Azul series (which the Aztec Dogs lead 1-0 on aggregate after their opening-game home win).

CONCACAF Champions League: Toluca (Away) and Aztec Dogs (Home) Take Series Openers

The semifinal round of the CONCACAF Champions League got underway on Tuesday with two games.

At Alajuela, Costa Rica:

Paulo Da Salva scored the only goal of the match in the 71st minute as Toluca took the opening contest of their two-game series with LD Alajuelense 1-0 on the road.

At Tijuana, Mexico:

Cristian Pellerano's successful penalty kick in the 78th minute carried Club Tijuana to a 1-0 series-opening home win over fellow Mexican club Cruz Azul.

CONCACAF Champions League: Alajuelense Advance To Semfinals

At Panama City, Panama:

Jerry Palacios (6') and Jonathan McDonald (58') each tallied once on Thursday as LD Alaquelense blanked Arabe Unido 2-0 on the road in the second game of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal-round series and won the two-match set by that same score on aggregate.

Match-ups for the semifinal round, with the game-one hosts listed first:

LD Alajuelense (Costa Rica) vs. Toluca (Mexico)

Club Tijuana (Mexico) vs. Cruz Azul (Mexico)

The opening games would take place during the period of April 1-3, with the return contests to take place April 8-10.

CONCACAF Champions League: No MLS Clubs Left

The quarterfinal round of the CONCACAF Champions League continued on Wednesday with two games.

At Toluca, Mexico:

After a 1-1 regulation draw in game two, which deadlocked the two-games series at 2-2 on aggregate, followed by 30 minutes of scoreless overtime, Wilson Mathias converted the winning spot kick as Toluca defeated the visiting San Jose Earthquakes 5-4 in the penalty-kick shootout which lasted six rounds.  The Quakes' Shea Salinas had a chance to send the shootout into a seventh round, but his spot kick bounced off the crossbar.

At Mexico City:

Mariano Pavone delivered a hat trick (2', 24', 55') as Cruz Azul overturned their series-opening defeat and defeated visiting Sporting Kansas City 5-1 in game two and won their series 5-2 on aggregate.

CONCACAF Champions League: Aztec Dogs Overcome Game-One Defeat, Oust Galaxy

At Tijuana, Mexico:

Jaime Ayovi (2', 9'), Dario Benedetto (26'), and Richard Ruiz (86') provided the scoring as Club Tijuana overcame a 1-0 game-one road defeat and downed the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy 4-2 in game two of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal-round series on Tuesday and won the series 4-3 on aggregate.

CONCACAF Champions League: Series-Opening Home Wins For SKC, Galaxy

The quarterfinal round of the CONCACAF Champions League reached the midway point on Wednesday with two games.

At Kansas City, Kansas:

Kevin Ellis scored the only goal of the match in the 17th minute as Sporting Kansas City blanked visiting Cruz Azul 1-0 in the opening game of their two-match series.

At Carson, California:

In the opening contest of their two-game series, Samuel scored in the 11th minute to carry the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 1-0 home victory over Club Tijuana.

CONCACAF Champions League: Stoppage-Time Goal Salvages Series-Opening Home Draw For Quakes

At Santa Clara, California:

Alan Gordon's goal at the death (90'+4) enabled the San Jose Earthquakes to salvage a series-opening 1-1 draw home draw with Toluca in the lone Tuesday contest from the quarterfinal round of the CONCACAF Champions League. Raul Nava Lopez scored what could to be a key road goal for the Mexican club in the 66th minute.

CONCACAF Champions League: Goose Eggs In Alajuela

At Alajuela, Costa Rica:

Arabe Unido of Panama held hosts Alajuelense to a gameone 0-0 stalemate on Monday as the knockout stage of the CONCACAF Champions League commenced with the quarterfinal round.

CONCACAF Champions League: Arabe Unido Knock Out Dynamo, Advance To Quarterfinals

Group-stage play in the CONCACAF Champions League concluded on Thursday with two games.

Group One:

At Panama City, Panama:

Jose Gonzalez scored the only goal of the match in the 62nd minute as Arabe Unido won the Group One title and a berth in the quarterfinal round with their 1-0 home win over the Houston Dynamo.

FINAL GROUP ONE STANDINGS:

1. Arabe Unido (GP: 4; GD: +4; PTS: 9)
2. Houston Dynamo (GP: 4; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
3. W Connection (GP: 4; GD: -6; PTS: 1)

Arabe Unido won Group One and advanced to the quarterfinal round.

Group Eight:

At San Salvador, El Salvador:

Nicolas Munoz scored all four goals (29', 31', 33', 41') in the first half of Isidro Metapan's 4-0 home demolition of the quarterfinal-round-bound Los Angeles Galaxy.

FINAL GROUP EIGHT STANDINGS:

1. Los Angeles Galaxy (GP: 4; GD: +2; PTS: 9)
2. Isidro Metapan (GP: 4; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. CS Cartagines (GP: 4; GD: -3; PTS: 4)

The Los Angeles Galaxy won Group Eight and advanced to the quarterfinal round.

CONCACAF Champions League: SKC, Quakes Advance To Quarterfinals; Toluca, Too

Four games were played in the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday.

Group Two:

At Kansas City, Kansas:

Despite being held to a 0-0 home stalemate by CD Olimpia, Sporting Kansas City won Group Two and a berth in the quarterfinal round.

FINAL GROUP TWO STANDINGS:

1. Sporting Kansas City (GP: 4; GD: +4; PTS: 8)
2. CD Olimpia (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 7)
3. Real Esteli FC (GP: 4; GD: -4; PTS: 1)

Sporting Kansas City advanced to the quarterfinal round.

Group Five:

At Santa Clara, California:

Chris Wondolowski scored the only goal of the match in the 62nd minute as the San Jose Earthquakes, despite finishing the contest with ten men, defeated visiting Heredia 1-0 to win Group Five and gain passage to the quarterfinal round.

FINAL GROUP FIVE STANDINGS:

1. San Jose Earthquakes (GP: 4; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
2. Montreal Impact (GP: 4; GD: -1; PTS: 6)
3. Heredia (GP: 4; GD: -1; PTS: 6)

The San Jose Earthquakes advanced to the quarterfinal round.

Group Six:

At Toluca, Mexico:

Raul Nava (6', 89') and Edgar Benitez (23', 72') each scored a goal in each half as Toluca locked up the Group Six crown and the Champions League quarterfinal-round berth that goes with it with a 5-1 home domination of Comunicaciones.

FINAL GROUP SIX STANDINGS:

1. Deportivo Toluca FC (GP: 4; GD: +11; PTS: 12)
2. CSD Comunicaciones (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 6)
3. Caledonia AIA (GP: 4; GD: -11; PTS: 0)

Deportivo Toluca FC advanced to the quarterfinal round.

Group Seven:

At La Ceiba, Honduras:

Anel Canales scored twice (68', 81') as CD Luis Angel Firpo knocked off CD Victoria 4-1 on the road.

FINAL GROUP SEVEN STANDINGS:

1. Club Tijuana (GP: 4; GD: +8; PTS: 10)
2. Club Deportivo Luis Angel Firpo (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
3. CD Victoria (GP: 4; GD: -11; PTS: 0)

Club Tijuana advanced to the quarterfinal round.

CONCACAF Champions League: Cruz Azul, Aljuelense Advance To Quarterfinals

The final week of group-stage play in the CONCACAF Champions League commenced on Tuesday with two games.

Group Three:

At Heredia, Costa Rica:

Jesus Lara scored the winning goal in the 89th minute as Cruz Azul won Group Three and advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 2-1 road win over CS Herediano.

FINAL GROUP THREE STANDINGS:

1. Cruz Azul (GP: 4; GD: +8; PTS: 12)
2. CS Herediano (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
3. Valencia FC (GP: 4; GD: -11; PTS: 0)

Cruz Azul won Group Three and advanced to the quarterfinal round.


Group Four:

At Mexico City:

Jerry Palacios scored the only goal of the match in the 54th minute as LD Alajuelense won Group Four and a berth in the knockout stage with a 1-0 road win over Club America.

FINAL GROUP FOUR STANDINGS:

1. LD Alajuelense (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 9)
2. Club America (GP: 4; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
3. Sporting San Miguelito (GP: 4; GD: -5; PTS: 3)

LD Alajuelense won Group Four and advanced to the quarterfinal round.

CONCACAF Champions League: Herculez Delivers Hat Trick For Aztec Dogs; Alajuelense Eliminate Sporting San Miguelito

Two games were played in the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League on Thursday.

Group Four:

At Alajuela, Costa Rica:

Jerry Palacios (62') and Alejandro Alpizar (76') delivered the scoring that carried LD Alajuelense to a 2-0 home win over Sporting San Miguelito, eliminating the Panamanian club from the tournament.

GROUP FOUR STANDINGS:

1.     Club America (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
2.     LD Alajuelense (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
3. z-Sporting San Miguelito (GP: 4; GD: -5; PTS: 3)

z-Eliminated from tournament

Group Seven:

At Tijuana, Mexico:

Herculez Gomes delivered a second-half natural hat trick (60', 68', 85') as Club Tijuana, who already locked up a berth in the quarterfinal round, demolished visiting CD Victoria 6-0.

GROUP SEVEN STANDINGS:

1. x-Club Tijuana (GP: 4; GD: +8; PTS: 10)
2. z-CD Luis Angel Firpo (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
3. z-CD Victoria (GP: 3; GD: -8; PTS: 0)

x-Won Group Seven and advanced to the quarterfinal round

z-Eliminated from tournament

CONCACAF Champions League: Galaxy Clinch Berth In Quarterfinals; Dynamo Move To Top Of Group One; Comunicaciones Stay Alive

Group-stage play continued in the CONCACAF Champions League with three games on Wednesday.

Group One:

At Houston:

Jason Johnson (40') and Bobby Boswell (51') each scored a goal as the Houston Dynamo moved to the top of Group One with one game remaining after their 2-0 home blanking of W Connection.

GROUP ONE STANDINGS:

1.     Houston Dynamo (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 7)
2.     Arabe Unido (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
3. z-W Connection (GP: 4; GD: -6; PTS: 1)

Group Six:

At Guatemala City:

Jairo Arreola (29') and Joel Benitez (41') each delivered a goal as Comunicaciones stayed alive in the tournament with their 2-0 home win over Caledonia AIA.

GROUP SIX STANDINGS:

1.      Toluca (GP: 3; GD: +7; PTS: 9)
2.     CSD Comunicaciones (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 6)
3. z-Caledonia AIA (GP: 4; GD: -11; PTS: 0)

Group Eight:

At San Jose, Costa Rica:

Jack McBean (5'), Chandler Hoffman (19'), and Laurent Courtois (30') each scored a goal during the first half-hour as the Los Angeles Galaxy claimed the Group Eight title and a berth in the quarterfinal round (becoming the first US club to do so) following a 3-0 road domination of Cartagines.

GROUP EIGHT STANDINGS:

1. x-Los Angeles Galaxy (GP: 3; GD: +6; PTS: 9)
2. z-Cartagines (GP: 4; GD: -3; PTS: 4)
3. z-Isidro Metapan (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 1)

x-Won Group Eight and advanced to the quarterfinal round

z-Eliminated from tournament

CONCACAF Champions League

Three games were played in the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday.

Group Two:

At Tegucigalpa, Honduras:

CD Olimpia, thanks to Antony Lorenzo's goal in the 67th minute, remained alive for a berth in the quarterfinal round after their 1-0 home win over Real Esteli.

GROUP TWO STANDINGS:

1.     Sporting Kansas City (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 7)
2.    CD Olimpia (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 6)
3. z-Real Esteli FC (GP: 4; GD: -4; PTS: 1)

z-Eliminated from tournament

Group Three:

At Mexico City:

Achille Emana's natural hat trick (6', 32', 75') provided all the scoring in Cruz Azul's 3-0 home domination of already-eliminated Valencia FC, placing the hosts on the cusp of advancing to the quarterfinal round.

GROUP THREE STANDINGS:

1.     Cruz Azul (GP: 3; GD: +7; PTS: 9)
2.    CS Herediano (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 6)
3. z-Valencia FC (GP: 4; GD: -11; PTS: 0)

z-Eliminated from tournament

Group Five:

At Montreal:

Daniele Paponi (5') and Andrew (Don't Call Me Arsene) Wenger (51') each delivered a goal as the Montreal Impact blanked visiting Heredia 2-0 but were still eliminated from the tournament.

GROUP FIVE STANDINGS:

1.     CD Heredia (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 6)
2. z-Montreal Impact (GP: 4; GD: -1; PTS: 6)
3.     San Jose Earthquakes (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 6)

z-Eliminated from tournament

CONCACAF Champions League: Arabe Unido Eliminates W Connection; LA Firpo Tops CD Victoria, Clinching Quarterfinal-Round Berth For Aztec Dogs

Two games in CONCACAF Champions League group-stage action were played on Thursday.

Group One:

At Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago:

Luis Fraiz (28') and Abdiel Arroyo (60') each scored a goal as Arabe Unido climbed to the top of the Group One standings by eliminating the W Connection 2-0 on the road.

GROUP ONE STANDINGS:

1.     Arabe Unido (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
2.    Houston Dynamo (GP: 2; GD: +1; PTS: 4)
3. z-W Connection (GP: 3; GD: -4; PTS: 1)

z-Eliminated from tournament

Group Seven:

At San Salvador, El Salvador:

Erick Rivera scored the winning goal in the 82nd minute as CD Luis Angel Firpo knocked off visiting CD Victoria 2-1, handing the Group Seven crown and a quarterfinal-round berth to Club Tijuana.

GROUP SEVEN STANDINGS:

1. x-Club Tijuana (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
2. z-CD Luis Angel Firpo (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
3. z-CD Victoria (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

x-Won Group Seven, advanced to quarterfinal round

z-Eliminated from tournament

CONCACAF Champions League: Wins For Galaxy, Toluca, Herediano; Valencia, Caledonia AIA, Isidro Metapan Eliminated

Group-stage play continued in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday with three games.

Group Three:

At Alajuela, Costa Rica:

Olman Vargas (1'), Minor Diaz (6'), Jose Sanchez (51'), and Anllel Porras (76') each delivered a goal as Herediano eliminated Valencia FC from the tournament, doubling up the visiting Haitian club 4-2.

GROUP THREE STANDINGS:

1.    CS Herediano (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 6)
2.    Cruz Azul (GP: 2; GD: +4; PTS: 6)
3. z-Valencia FC (GP: 3; GD: -8; PTS: 0)

z-Eliminated from tournament

Group Six:

At Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago:

Raul Nava scored twice (18', 66') as Club Toluca all but locked up a berth in the quarterfinal round with their 5-1 road demolition of Caledonia AIA as the hosts found themselves eliminated from the tournament.

GROUP SIX STANDINGS:

1.    Club Toluca (GP: 3; GD: +7; PTS: 9)
2.    CSD Comunicaciones (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
3. z-Caledonia AIA (GP: 3; GD: -9; PTS: 0)

z-Eliminated from tournament

Group Eight:

At Carson, California:

Laurent Courtois scored the only goal of the match in the sixth minute as the Los Angeles Galaxy blanked visiting Isidro Metapan 1-0, eliminating the Salvadorian club from the tournament.  A draw in either of their remaining two games would carry the Galaxy into the quarterfinal round.

GROUP EIGHT STANDINGS:

1.    Los Angeles Galaxy (GP: 2; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
2.    CS Cartagines (GP: 3; GD: 0; PTS: 4)
3. z-Isidro Metapan (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 1) 

z-Eliminated from tournament

CONCACAF Champions League: Quakes Rattle Visiting Impact; SKC Settle For Home Draw; Dominating Win For Club America

Three games were played in the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday.

Group Two:

At Kansas City, Kansas:

Jacob Peterson's equalizer in the 78th minute enabled Sporting Kansas City to salvage a 1-1 home draw with Real Esteli.  Rodel Calero scored for the now-eliminated Nicaraguan club in the 54th minute.

GROUP TWO STANDINGS:

1.    Sporting Kansas City (GP: 3; GD: +4; PTS: 7)
2.    CD Olimpia (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 3)
3. z-Real Esteli (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 1)

z-Eliminated from tournament

Group Four:

At Mexico City:

Raul Jimenez scored twice (40', 77') as Club America dominated visiting Sporting San Miguelito 3-0.

GROUP FOUR STANDINGS:

1. Club America (GP: 3; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
2. LD Alajuelense (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
3. Sporting San Miguelito (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 3)

Group Five:

At Santa Clara, California:

Chris Wondolowski (21'), Marvin Chavez (58'), and Shea Salinas (85') each scored a goal as the San Jose Earthquakes dominated the visiting Montreal Impact 3-0.

GROUP FIVE STANDINGS:

1. Club Deportivo Heredia (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
2. San Jose Earthquakes (GP: 3; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Montreal Impact (GP: 3; GD: -3; PTS: 3)

CONCACAF Champions League: Thursday Wins For Alajuelense, Comunicaciones

Two games were played in the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Group Four:

At Alajuela, Costa Rica:

Alvaro Sanchez converted a penalty kick in the 83rd minute as Alajuelense defeated visiting Club America 1-0.

GROUP FOUR STANDINGS:

1. Club America (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
2. Sporting San Miguelito (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
3. LD Alajuelense (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)

Group Six:

At Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago:

Paolo Suarez delivered a natural hat trick (10', 62', 90'+2), which provided all the scoring as CSD Comunicaciones dominated Caledonia AIA 3-0 on the road.

GROUP SIX STANDINGS:

1. Toluca (GP: 2; GD: +3; PTS: 6)
2. CSD Comunicaciones (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
3. Caledonia AIA (GP: 2; GD: -5; PTS: 0)

CONCACAF Champions League: Cruz Azul, Heredia, Tijuana Post Wednesday Wins

Group-stage play in the CONCACAF Champions League continued on Wednesday with three games.

Group Three:

At Port-au-Prince, Haiti:

Jesus Lara scored the winning goal in the 85th minute as Cruz Azul defeated Valencia FC 2-1 on the road.

GROUP THREE STANDINGS:

1. Cruz Azul (GP: 2; GD: +4; PTS: 6)
2. CS Herediano (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
3. Valencia FC (GP: 2; GD: -6; PTS: 0)

Group Five:

At Guatemala City:

Enrique Miranda scored the only goal of the match in the 68th minute as CD Heredia defeated the visiting San Jose Earthquakes 1-0.

GROUP FIVE STANDINGS:

1. CD Heredia (GP: 2; GD: +2; PTS: 6)
2. Montreal Impact (GP: 2; GD: 0; PTS: 3)
3. San Jose Earthquakes (GP: 2; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

Group Seven:

At Tijuana, Mexico:

Fidel Martinez scored the only goal of the match in the 81st minute as Club Tijuana blanked visiting CD Luis Angel Firpo 1-0, placing the Aztec Dogs on the cusp of advancing to the quarterfinal round.

GROUP SEVEN STANDINGS:

1. Club Tijuana (GP: 3; GD: +2; PTS: 7)
2. CD Luis Angel Firpo (GP: 2; GD: -1; PTS: 1)
3. CD Victoria (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)