Yup, Saprissa pulled out the win at home. So current seeding: 1. LA Galaxy 6pts +9 (2 played) 2. Club America 6pts +5 (2 played) 3. DC United 6pts +4 (2 played, 0 goal allowed - tie breaker w/Saprissa) 4. Saprissa 6pts +4 (2 played, 1 goal allowed) - will be interesting against Santos Laguna 5. Queretaro 4 pts +2 (2 played) 6. Seattle 4pts +1 (2 played) - playing in Honduras tomorrow 7. Municipal 4pts +0 (3 played) - should really be overtaken by RSL who has played 1 game 8. Herediano 3pts +3 (1 played) - game against UANL tomorrow I expect RSL to shove Municipal down. It would be very interesting if the Seattle/Vancouver group ends up last due to split points in that group. Another reason for us to want to end up seeded 1 because we would prefer to play another MLS side. Although the Saprissa/Santos Laguna group is also likely split points unless Saprissa wins in Mexico. But there are clubs that have dropped points, so it could be a very interesting seeding when all is said and done. I'll update this after tomorrow's games (games that matter in bold): Seattle vs. Olimpia (if Olimpia gets points it throws that group wide open and likely places this group in the 8th seed) Herediano vs. UANL in Costa Rica Quetetaro vs. San Francisco in Panama Communicaciones vs. Central (in our group, hopefully won't matter) Montagua vs. Walter Ferreti (also likely won't matter, America's group)
If Central FC and Communicaciones tie their next 2 games it automatically qualifies us. That means we'll be sending B or C teams down there and that may impact our seeding if we don't win. Still early to predict everything though.
Yup, Queretaro lost in Panama, and Seattle lost in Honduras (Olimpia 1 - Seattle 0). Plus, Herediano got a point. These results throw a little bit of space into the seeding. It throws Seattle's group into disarray and potentially makes the winner of that group the 8th seed. And San Francisco of Panama has a shot of going through (!) if they beat the team from Belize twice, bumping off a Mexican team. Updated results: Herediano 1 - UANL 1 San Francisco 2 - Queretaro 1 Central vs. Communicaciones & Walter Ferreti vs. Montagua tomorrow Updated Seeding: 1. LA Galaxy 6pts +9 (2 played) 2. Club America 6pts +5 (2 played) 3. DC United 6pts +4 (2 played, 0 goal allowed) 4. Saprissa 6pts +4 (2 played, 1 goal allowed) 5. UANL 4pts +1 (2 played, 2 goals allowed) - will come down to Herediano game in Mexico 6. Queretaro 4 pts +1 (3 played, 2 goals allowed) - may be overtaken by San Francisco 7. Municipal 4pts +0 (3 played, 3 goals allowed) - likely to be overtaken by RSL who have 3 games left, 2 at home 8. Seattle 4pts +0 (3 played, 3 goals allowed) - likely to be overtaken by Vancouver who have 3 games left RSL plays it's next game in El Salvador, so a blowout forcing it's way into the top 4 is unlikely. Staying in the #1 spot is good, because it likely gives us the winner from the Seattle/Vancouver/Olimpia group or the Queretaro/San Francisco group. Keep up the wins and the GD!!!!
Right now, at least in round 1 of finals, looks like 2 may have and easier path than 1. Either Vancouver and Seattle can be difficult for us on a given day.
But Vancouver and Seattle's form should be the same as ours in March/April. Delaying having to play a mid-season Mexican wide as long as possible is the key to making it far in the KO rounds.
Communicaciones beat Central 1-0, and Montagua beat Walter Ferreti 2-0. No change to seeding, and looks like we are not going to auto qualify since our group didn't tie. Next set of games is 9/15 - 9/24. We play Central on 9/23.
If we do our job, we'll get it. Frankly, we should get all 12 points with the possible exception of playing in Guatemala. Seeding concerns me more at this time.
DCU and RSL getting the job done tonight, DCU with a win, and RSL with a tie. Vancouver (and a bunch of other teams) play tomorrow. DCU is the first team to clinch progress to the quarterfinals! Updated Seeding: 1. DC United 9pts +6 (3 played) 2. LA Galaxy 6pts +9 (2 played) 3. Club America 6pts +5 (2 played) 4. Saprissa 6pts +4 (2 played, 1 goal allowed) 5. RSL 4pts +1 (2 played, 0 goals allowed) 6. UANL 4pts +1 (2 played, 2 goals allowed) - will come down to Herediano game in Mexico 7. Queretaro 4 pts +1 (3 played, 2 goals allowed) - may be overtaken by San Francisco 8. Seattle 4pts +0 (3 played, 3 goals allowed) - likely to be overtaken by Vancouver who have 3 games left Upcoming Games this Week: 9/16 Saprissa vs. W Connection - remember the final game in this group is against Santos Laguna 9/16 Club America vs. W. Ferreti 9/17 Isidro Metapan vs. Herediano 9/17 Queretaro vs. Verdes 9/17 Communicaciones vs. Central in our group 9/17 Vancouver vs. Olimpia Really the only nail biters are the last two. One because they are our group, and Vancouver is in the wildly contested Group F. Will update following each night.
CCL schedule change being discussed: http://www.mlssoccer.com/ccl/news/a...confirms-discussions-possible-schedule-change
Vancouver gets the job done with a 1-0 win over Olimpia putting them in the driver's seat for their group though they do have to play Seattle in Seattle. Saprissa manages to choke in T&T which likely gives Santos Laguna the advantage. Club America with their win catapults to the top of the seeds with a GD close to ours - something to keep an eye on though their final game is against a Honduran team. Updated Seeding: 1. Club America 9pts +7 (3 played) 2. DC United 9pts +6 (3 played) - ALREADY QUALIFIED 3. LA Galaxy 6pts +9 (2 played) 4. Saprissa 6pts +4 (3 played, 3 goals allowed) - going to come down to game vs. Santos Laguna in Mexico 5. RSL 4pts +1 (2 played, 0 goals allowed) 6. UANL 4pts +1 (2 played, 2 goals allowed) - will come down to Herediano game in Mexico 7. Queretaro 4 pts +1 (3 played, 2 goals allowed) - may be overtaken by San Francisco 8. Seattle 4pts +0 (3 played, 3 goals allowed) - next game against Vancouver to determine a lot, Vancouver below them due to giving up 1 away goal, but they have 2 games left opposed to Seattle's 1. We would help ourselves out a ton with a win next week. It's shaping up like an MLS team is likely going to be #8 (Seattle/Vancouver). Course, I say that now. 3 more games tomorrow.
I know you guys were waiting with baited breath for this!!! Central beat Communicaciones, which means we only need 1 point from our next two matches to win the group. But frankly, we should be paying attention to seeding. With only the 1 point being needed, pretty sure this means Bruce will play the backups. Three points in our next game would be a huge help in the seeding picture. Updated Seeding: 1. Club America 9pts +7 (3 played) 2. DC United 9pts +6 (3 played) - ALREADY QUALIFIED 3. Queretaro 7 pts +9 (4 played) - if Panama's San Francisco wins their next two games against Verdes, they are through instead and dump Queretaro, max points SF can have is 9 4. LA Galaxy 6pts +9 (2 played) 5. Saprissa 6pts +4 (3 played, 3 goals allowed) - going to come down to game vs. Santos Laguna in Mexico 6. RSL 4pts +1 (2 played, 0 goals allowed) 7. UANL 4pts +1 (2 played, 2 goals allowed) - Herediano choked tonight which means UANL is in the driver's seat and should take the group 8. Seattle 4pts +0 (3 played, 3 goals allowed) - next game against Vancouver will determine a lot Looking like MLS/Mexican teams rising to the top with potentially two exceptions: San Francisco (Panama) & Saprissa still with decent shots. SF more than Saprissa. Herediano still in the picture but it will be tough and requires help. Upcoming Games (key games bolded): 9/22 - Santos Laguna @W Connection (should be a win for Santos Laguna pulling them even on pts w/Saprissa) 9/22 - San Francisco @Verdes (should be a win for SF, but Queretaro went there and drew) 9/22 - DCU @Montego Bay United (for seeding only) 9/23 - LAG @central (1 point to clinch) 9/23 - Vancouver @seattle 9/24 - UANL @Isidro Metapan (should be a win for UANL but Herediano just lost there) 9/24 - Montagua vs. Walter Ferreti (whatever) 9/24 - Santa Tecla @RSL
This probably should go on a game thread, but since no one has created one yet, I'll put it here: Adam Serrano @LAGalaxyInsider 22m22 minutes ago Time for some stretching while the -#LAGalaxy's plane refuels in New Orleans en route to Trinidad & Tobago. #SCCL Nice to see we chartered a flight for this one. I'm assuming we see lots of Maganto, Walker, Mendiola, Meyer, Romney and Rowe, with some Gargan, Husidic, and Gordon/Buddle mixed in for veteran leadership.
I'm pretty sure we've been chartering flights to non MLS games for years. MLS limits that stuff during league play but for the CCL we're top notch all the way. I think at one point we were even using the Lakers' jet. If only Babayaro could see us now.
There are photos on the Galaxy Facebook page. I spied Gordon and Villarreal. Excited about the latter because hopefully that means he's back from injury. We could use some of him as a sub.
That's a loooonnnngggg flight. I couldn't find anything that indicated who stayed at home, but with our recent form and the importance of the game on Sunday I hope it's a long list.
DC United comes back from 3-0 down to tie 3-3. Nice comeback from them and a valuable point in terms of seeding, plus keeps their GD high. Santos Laguna gets the point in T&T as expected, but not a lot of goals (good for us). They won 1-0. San Francisco/Verdes kicking off now, will update seeding for tomorrow when the game is over.
Holy smokes, and San Francisco is toast. They just gave up a 2nd goal to Belize's Verdes in the 87th minute. That means Queretaro is through and has a shot at being the last place team. Big news for seeding. Updated seeding to come as soon as I crunch the numbers. Just... Oh Panama.
Updated Seeding: 1. DC United 10 pts +6 - QUALIFIED, all games complete 2. Club America 9pts +7 (3 played) - can get all 12 points, and are likely to 3. Queretaro 7 pts +9 - QUALIFIED, all games complete 4. LA Galaxy 6pts +9 (2 played) - can get all 12 points 5. Saprissa 6pts +4 (3 played) - game vs. Santos Laguna in Mexico on 10/20, big one! Max points of 9 6. RSL 4pts +1 (2 played, 0 goals allowed) - max points of 10, both games at home 7. UANL 4pts +1 (2 played, 2 goals allowed) - max points of 10 8. Seattle 4pts +0 (3 played, 3 goals allowed) - play Vancouver tomorrow, Vancouver max points of 10 Upcoming Key Games: 9/23 - LAG @central (1 point to clinch) 9/23 - Vancouver @seattle 9/24 - UANL @Isidro Metapan (should be a win for UANL but Herediano just lost there) 9/24 - Santa Tecla @RSL Starting to look like it's going to be Mexican/MLS teams though Costa Rican teams are hanging on. That's quite interesting for the region. And means seeding is going to be awfully interesting...