Houston Dynamo 8/20 at W Connection; 8 pm ET, in Trinidad and Tobago 8/27 vs. Árabe Unido; 8 pm ET, BBVA Compass Stadium 9/25 vs. W Connection; 8 pm ET, BBVA Compass Stadium 10/24 at Árabe Unido; 8 pm ET, in Panama Source.
Came one week from my dream of having Dynamo in Panama same week as USMNT. As it is the games are 8 days apart. Hmm .... eight days in Panama?
Here is the full group stage schedule: WEEK 1 Tuesday, August 6 Deportivo Toluca FC (MEX) v. Caledonia AIA (TRI) 7:00 pm CD Luis Angel Firpo (SLV) v. CD Tijuana Xolos (MEX) 9:00 pm Wednesday, August 7 Montreal Impact (CAN) v. San Jose Earthquakes (USA) 7:00 pm Sporting San Miguelito (PAN) v. Club America (MEX) 9:00 pm Real Esteli (NCA) v. Sporting Kansas City (USA) 9:00 pm Thursday, August 8 Valencia FC (HAI) v. CS Herediano (CRC) 7:00 pm Isidro Metapan (SLV) v. CS Cartagines (CRC) 9:00 pm CD Arabe Unido (PAN) v. DIRECTV W Connection FC (TRI) 9:00 pm WEEK 2 Tuesday, August 20 DIRECTV W Connection FC (TRI) v. Houston Dynamo (USA) 7:00 pm Los Angeles Galaxy v. CS Cartagines (CRC) 9:00 pm CD Victoria (HON) v. Club Tijuana Xolos (MEX) 9:00 pm Wednesday, August 21 CD Heredia (GUA) v. Montreal Impact (CAN) 9:00 pm Real Esteli FC (NCA) v. CD Olimpia (HON) Thursday, August 22 Cruz Azul FC (MEX) v. CS Herediano (CRC) 7:00 pm Comunicaciones FC (GUA) v. Deportivo Toluca FC (MEX) 9:00 pm Sporting San Miguelito (PAN) v. LD Alajuelense (CRC) 9:00 pm WEEK 3 Tuesday, August 27 Houston Dynamo v. CD Arabe Unido (PAN) 7:00 pm CD Olimpia (HON) v. Sporting Kansas City (USA) 9:00 pm CS Cartagines (CRC) v. Isidro Metapan (SLV) 9:00 pm Wednesday, August 28 Valencia FC (HAI) v. Cruz Azul FC (MEX) 7:00 pm CD Heredia (GUA) v. San Jose Earthquakes (USA) 9:00 pm Club Tijuana Xolos (MEX) v. CD Luis Angel Firpo (SLV) 9:00 pm Thursday, August 29 Caledonia AIA (TRI) v. Comunicaciones FC (GUA) 7:00 pm LD Alajuelense (CRC) v. Club America (MEX) 9:00 pm WEEK 4 Tuesday, September 17 Sporting Kansas City (USA) v. Real Esteli FC (NCA) 7:00 pm Club America (MEX) v. Sporting San Miguelito (PAN) 9:00 pm San Jose Earthquakes (USA) v. Montreal Impact (CAN) 9:00 pm Wednesday, September 18 Caledonia AIA (TRI) v. Deportivo Toluca (MEX) 7:00 pm Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) v. Isidro Metapan (SLV) 9:00 pm CS Herediano (CRC) v. Valencia FC (HAI) 9:00 pm Thursday, September 19 DIRECTV W Connection FC (TRI) v. CD Arabe Unido (PAN) 7:00 pm CD Luis Angel Firpo (SLV) v. CD Victoria (HON) 9:00 pm WEEK 5 Tuesday, September 24 Cruz Azul FC (MEX) v. Valencia FC (HAI) 7:00 pm Montreal Impactd (CAN) v. CD Heredia (GUA) 7:00 pm CD Olimpia (HON) v. Real Esteli FC (NCA) 9:00 pm Wednesday, September 25 Houston Dynamo (USA) v. DIRECTV W Connection (TRI) 7:00 pm CS Cartagines (CRC) v. Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) 9:00 pm Comunicaciones FC (GUA) v. Caledonia AIA (TRI) 9:00 pm Thursday, September 26 LD Alajuelense (CRC) v. Sporting San Miguelito (PAN) 9:00 pm Club Tijuana Xolos (MEX) v. CD Victoria (HON) 9:00 pm WEEK 6 Tuesday, October 22 Club America (MEX) v. LD Alajuelense (CRC) 7:00 pm CS Herediano (CRC) v. Cruz Azul (MEX) 9:00 pm Wednesday, October 23 Sporting Kansas City (USA) v. CD Olimpia (HON) 7:00 pm Deportivo Toluca FC (MEX) v. Comunicaciones FC (GUA) 7:00 pm San Jose Earthquakes (USA) v. CD Heredia (GUA) 9:00 pm CD Victoria (HON) v. CD Luis Angel Firpo (SLV) 9:00 pm Thursday, October 24 CD Arabe Unido (PAN) v. Houston Dynamo (USA) 7:00 pm Isidro Metapan (SLV) v. Los Angeles Galaxy 9:00 pm
Looking at the schedule for the MLS teams: Montreal is done by September 24 so they don't have to worry about a CCL game right before the playoffs start. All four of the USA teams again have games on Matchday 6 just like last year. Houston and LA have to go on the road for their final games. San Jose and Kansas City both have two road games and then two home games. They need to pick up at least a point in one of those road games to avoid really being in a hole in their groups before they return home. LA has the slowest schedule. They don't start until Matchday 2 and then have games on Matchdays 4,5, and 6. They also start with two home games and finish with two road games. I'd say they have the worst schedule.
Given where we stand in the table now. Given how competitive the East is up top. Given that schedule. I give us a lower than usual chance in this CCL as at that point we will likely be in a fight for the playoffs.
My first reaction to seeing the last game at Panama right before the playoffs/final week was "reserve squad"
Eight days in Panama. How many times am I going to go look at a canal? I'd miss an important home Dynamo game. I'm thinking of going to T&T for the W Connection game and skipping Panama this time -- or perhaps going to one of the two Panama games. Though the Hex games looks to be an unimportant one as the US may have qualified by then.
A couple of Costa Rican papers speculating before the full schedule got released stated that LA had asked CONCACAF for a light schedule to start so that they could be free for international friendlies, so it looks like the Bruce got what he wanted. Btw, I forgot to tell you guys about one important vulnerability of the current Árabe Unido. I don't know how many of you followed the Caribbean Cup last year, but the Dominican Republic absolutely should have qualified for the Gold Cup instead of Trinidad and Tobago. The main reason they did not was their keeper, Miguel Lloyd (starting netminder for Árabe). He was directly responsible for the last three goals the Dominicans received in that tournament: he completely misjudged a bouncing ball in the area, allowing Jean-Philippe Peguero to beat him to it and put away a game-winner for Haiti. Then, against the Trinis, he fumbled a shot into his own net in the first half and gave away an easy rebound in the 2nd for Trinidad and Tobago to steal a 2-1 win. Whoever starts up front for the Dynamo would be wise to follow-up on every shot, because Lloyd blatantly struggles with the fundamentals of his job.
I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate Paul's updates on Caribbean and CA soccer. Having said that ... I do not believe for a second that Costa Rican newspapers have any information what-so-ever on what Bruce Arena wants. The guy doesn't talk. So mindless, groundless speculation on their part is no evidence whatsoever. To conclude that Arena got what he wants is pure speculation. Might be true -- might not be true. No information or evidence either way has been provided. It is the equivalent of my saying it is clear that CONCACAF, on behalf of Paul Calixte, clearly and intentionally screwed MLS teams with unfavorable schedules.
What can I say? I like to keep things interesting. But you have a point: the original articles from Al Día and elsewhere had simply asserted that LA lobbied for a light schedule without any direct quotes or other corroborating information.
That's not much different from Houston Chronicle reporting on soccer - when they cover it. Never can tell personal opinion and bias piece from actual reporting
hi.. Arabe supporter here... Miguel Lloyd has upside, but is inconsistent, tho he mostly goaltends well. Saying that, i'll still make the trip out to houston to see Arabe win.
You can visit our canal, it is called a bayou and as well you can visit our dike, it is called mayor.
The CCL gets underway on August 6 so I was checking the TV listings. It looks like Fox Soccer Channel will not be carrying the games. At least to start. The Week 1 games with MLS teams are now scheduled to be on Fox Soccer Plus on August 7. That is not good. I can't see subscribing to Fox Soccer Plus for $15 a month just to watch the CCL. The only Week 1 game showing up on my Uverse channel guide at the moment is the America v. San Miguelito game on Galavision on Wednesday, August 7. The Univision channels are notoriously slow about updating so I'd guess more will show up on their channels eventually.
Can anyone think of bars that carry FSC+? I know the Firkin and Richmond Arms have FSC. Not sure about Lucky's (I recall Ponce and I trying to find a road game there last year and not seeing it, but I've also watched Gold Cup games there in the last month). But FSC+?
Woo Hoo!!! Looks like some of the CCL games will be on the new mothership, Fox Sports 1. http://msn.foxsports.com/other/page/foxsports-schedule Tuesday 8/20/2013 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: PLAY-OFFS - 1st Leg 2pm ET – Live CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE - MATCH DAY 2: DirecTV W Connection (TRI) vs Houston DynamoS (USA) 8pm ET – LiveA) 8pm ET – Live ET – Livem ET – Live Tuesday 8/27/2013 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS - 2pm ET – Live CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE - MATCH DAY 3: Houston Dynamo (USA) v Arabe Unido (PAN) 8pm ET – Live (USA) 8pm ET – Live