The "Quarterfinal Focus" video for Cruz Azul has been posted. http://www.concacaf.com/page/CL/NewsDetail/0,,12813~2289510,00.html is titled "Central American "clasico" awaits in CCL QFs." http://www.concacaf.com/page/CL/NewsDetail/0,,12813~2289480,00.html is titled "Road to the Champions League...Central America and the USA."
http://www.concacaf.com/page/CL/NewsDetail/0,,12813~2290414,00.html is titled "RSL tweaks, Crew overhauls for CCL quarters."
Well, here's updates from Crewland. The Crew have made some signings, but nothing earthshaking. Sebastian Miranda (RB) brought in to fill Hejduk's spot from Union Espanola. We picked up the soon to be all-time MLS leading goal scorer Jeff Cunningham in the re-entry draft. Also picked up what looks to be a solid defender in Rich Balchan in the draft. And last year's top pick, Duka, has played well in the pre-season and on a trip to Spain. We look to play with two true forwards. 4-4-2. Danny O'Rourke would probably be our starter at DM, has been out and will not be back for the first leg, at least. Also, Eddie Gaven picked up an ankle knock and we haven't had an update on his situation. Here's what I think we'll go with: -------------Hesmer------------- Miranda--Marshall--Iro--Francis -------------Balchan------------ Gaven--------Ekpo--------Rogers --------Renteia----Mendoza------ Duka for Gaven if he can't go. Possibly that Burns starts instead of Balchan for the injured O'Rourke. Also wouldn't be shocked if Cunningham started up top. Still give RSL the edge, but I voted for my Crew.
http://www.concacaf.com/page/CL/NewsDetail/0,,12813~2295001,00.html is titled "Road to the Champions League…A look at Mexico." A "Quarterfinal Focus - Preview" video has been posted.
http://www.hexagonalblog.com/2011/02/saprissa-olimpia-ccl-quarterfinal-preview.html is about the Saprissa-Olimpia series.
http://www.hexagonalblog.com/2011/02/columbus-real-salt-lake-ccl-quarterfinal-preview.html is about the Columbus-Real Salt Lake series. http://www.hexagonalblog.com/2011/02/cruz-azul-santos-ccl-quarterfinal-preview.html is about the Cruz Azul-Santos Laguna series.
And history repeats itself: just as during the knockout round of the CCL two years ago, Santos Laguna decides that a coaching change is in order, dismissing Rubén Omar Romano after losing 2-0 at home to Querétaro. I'm guessing they'll make an in-house hire, 'cause they only have two days to get ready for the away leg @ Cruz Azul.
Injury updates from the land of the Crew. Picked up some dings in pre-season, and it isn't pretty. http://www.crewxtra.com/live/content/stories/mitchell-twitter.html Probable: Eddie Gaven (ankle) Questionable: Dily Duka (abdomen) Out: LB Shaun Francis, CM Kevin Burns, D/M Danny O'Rourke, GK Andy Gruenebaum, F Tom Heinemann, Starting GK Will Hesmer is still recovering from a shoulder fracture, and is ready for the bench, but not to start. Have signed vet GK Ray Burse to 10 day contract, and he'll likely start. Real issues at LB and CM, where Balchan can only fill one spot, and we are likely to see new player start at the other spot (LM = Gardner/Wiliams, DM = Grossman/Williams). ----------Burse--------- Miranda--Iro--Marshall--Gardner ----------Balchan------ Gaven-----Ekpo-----Rogers ----Renteria----Mendoza---- Bench: Hesmer; Williams, Nyamekye; Grossman, Griffit; Cunningham, Meram.
Steve Davis of Sports Illustrated has written up his preview of the CCL quarterfinals, while Randy Davis of MLSSoccer.com investigates the existence of a "budding rivalry" between the two remaining US teams in the competition. And in Costa Rica, the writers for La Nación are less than enthusiastic about Saprissa's chances on Thursday after the team barely scraped out a victory over Puntarenas on the weekend.
Many thanks to various people on the Crew and RSL boards for pointing out this video: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBZSw9IlJnY"]YouTube - Champions League 360 - Real Salt Lake - The Quarterfinals - Part 1[/ame] In re: Tony Beltran's comments (5:45 - 6:18), my thoughts exactly.
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1385095.html is titled "Sprint of champions begins in CONCACAF." It says something I don't believe is true: "With a format change in place from previous editions to ensure that two teams from the same country will not meet up in the final" If all four Mexican clubs win their groups in a future CCL and every quarterfinal had a first place club against a second place club it would be impossible to bracket the tournament so that there couldn't be an all-Mexican final.
I think the concacaf people got huge wood when Cruz azul and Toluca failed to win their group, they knew the fix was going to be in.
http://www.concacaf.com/page/CL/NewsDetail/0,,12813~2298948,00.html RSL 0 - Crew 0 Blue cross is up 1-0
Well, Cruz Azul well on their way of putting Santos out of their misery. And a nil-nil draw I would have taken gladly before the game for my new-look injury-riddled Crew. But after playing better for the first 45 and then being up a man for so long in the second (11 v. 10 or 10 v. 9) I'm not quite so happy. Especially with the news Chad Marshall is suffering concussion symptoms (again) and is out indefinitely. Do away goals count this year? If so, I'd feel a bit better about 0-0.
hey I heard some dudes in the Crew vs SL game were given red cards...any footage of what transpired??
http://www.concacafchampions.com/page/CL/Video/HighlightsDetail2/0,,12856~2300012,00.html has highlights.
They're 90 minutes away from making their 3rd straight CONCACAF semifinal. I don't think any team in history has qualified for 3 straight semifinals before. Yeah, they do.
cool to have seen the legend himself score the game opener 11 goals this season First player to be a 2 time CCL goalscoring champion
MLS Soccer has gone out of its way to cover the RSL-Crew series. And in Costa Rica, La Nación actually has a whole series of articles written up about the CCL quarterfinalists (look at the "Notas Relacionadas" tab below the picture from the Seattle Sounders-Saprissa game).