Oh well, we are going through. We basically scored one and parked the bus. Don't like it, but it's valid.
Also, Olimpia showed extraordinary heart to pull back from 4-2 down for a 4-4 draw. Not good enough for them...but they took points from Pachuca and guaranteed that Vancouver and Árabe Unido will be the #1 and #2 ranked teams for the knockout round (respectively).
I don't know who Portland's starters are, but http://us.soccerway.com/teams/united-states/portland-timbers-mls/17501/squad/ has their statistics, so you can see for yourself. Assuming Pumas wins tonight (the Bet365 odds give them an 82.3 percent chance of beating W Connection), the seeds will be: 1. Vancouver: 12 points, +8 2. Arabe Unido: 12 points, +7 3. Pachuca: 10 points 4. and 5. Tigres and Pumas: 9 points each, which seed is which depends on how many goals Pumas wins by 6. Saprissa: 8 points, +8 7. New York Red Bulls: 8 points, +4 8. FC Dallas or Suchitepequez: 6 points (if they draw) or 8 points (if there is a winner). They both have a +1, and if one of them wins by 3 or more goals, they would be the 7 seed and the Red Bulls would be the 8 seed, but I don't expect that to happen. If Suchitepequez wins, it will be the second time in three CCLs that only one out of four American clubs reached the Quarterfinals.
So, assuming Pumas win and Suchitepequez do not, that would mean 1 all-MLS QF (1v8) and one all-LMX quarterfinal (4v5), with the winners of those facing off in the SF. The other SF could be an MLS-LMX affair as well if Pachuca and the #7 seed win their respective QFs. Seems like a fairly good bracket to me.
By my calculations, Saprissa's pretty much guaranteed a quarterfinal against Pachuca. Good luck - although I know el monstruo morado is up to the challenge. Btw, everyone: assuming Pumas UNAM win tonight, 3/4 of the bracket is set (first team hosts second leg). (1) Vancouver Whitecaps [CAN] vs. (8) New York Red Bulls [USA] (4/5) Pumas UNAM/Tigres UANL - If Pumas win by three, they host the 2nd leg; win by 1 or 2 - Tigres hosts 2nd leg --- (2) Árabe Unido [PAN] vs. (7) FC Dallas [USA] (3) CF Pachuca [MEX] vs. (6) Deportivo Saprissa [CRC]
By scoring in the 87th and 90th minutes to win 5:2, FC Dallas got the 7 seed by having more goals scored than the Red Bulls. If Pumas wins, it will be the first time since the CCL changed to 8 groups of 3 that every group winner had at least 8 points.
Where? CCL statistics aren't as easy to find as for some other competitions. http://us.soccerway.com/matches/201...ue/bayamon-fc/club-de-futbol-america/1760607/ says Club America had more shots on target in the game Paul Calixte said, 5 to 1. Assuming that the shots on target excludes the goals, Club America had 10 + 5 = 15 shots, which is fewer than the 18 for Pumas.
And you were right, of course. Pachuca is going to be tough. But if we manage to scrape through, we'd arguably be favorites to reach the final. I mean no disrespect towards FC Dallas and Árabe Unido, but we definitely have one of the best home advantages in the region. For whatever reason, Saprissa Stadium doesn't get to Mexicans as much, though.
A few interesting facts: - Since the turn of the Millenium, Saprissa has faced Mexican opposition in the QFs 3 times. Lost to America on 14/15, defeated Atlante on 08/09 and brought down Pachuca on 04/05. - Pachucha has only faced Costa Rican opposition once in CONCACAF QFs, on the previously mentioned 04/05 match-up against Saprissa. - Last time Saprissa met Pachuca was in the 2008 Final. 1-1 draw at Saprissa Stadium and a 2-1 victory for Los Tuzos in Hidalgo, who lifted the trophy at home with that result. - Together, these teams amount to 7 CONCACAF Championships in 9 finals. Pachuca won the 2002, 2007, 2008 and 2010 editions, while Saprissa lifted the trophy in 1993, 1995 and 2005 (plus runner-up finishes for The S on 2004 and 2008). - Overall Head-to-Head record reads 2 wins for Pachuca, 1 win for Saprissa and 1 draw, with 5 goals scored by Los Tuzos and 4 by El Monstruo Morado.
it also depends on how the teams look next season, Pachuca may sell some important players and the same goes for Saprissa.