2019 CONCACAF Champions League Thread

Huh? No, they don't.

 

That hasn't been true for years.

Neither has this.

 

Right not twice, there are 23 teams. But they play each other once.

And besides USOC granting a ticket to CCL what makes it so different from Copa MX? Besides the format, 1st division teams dont put to much interest in it till the later rounds.

 

Yes, my mistake. They don't play ALL teams twice, they do play some but not all. Point being that they play everyone so having a single table will be better to see who are the best teams instead of separating them by conference.

 

Some of these games were aired on Univision Deportes. I watched the 2nd leg of the Portmore/Guapiles match there last week. And the shootout was awesome!

 

If they go to 32 teams, they will play each other once still as there are 34 games played. The remaining games will play against teams that are closer maybe? But a single table, like the Supporters shield table used is a better option to determine the stronger teams.

 

32 teams absolutely does not mean that every team plays everyone once. The NFL sure doesn't do that, and wouldn't even if they had a 31-game schedule.

The format is a huge difference. The fact that it's twice a year is an even bigger one.

 

So if MLS goes to 32 teams they will follow something similar to the NFL schedule? I doubt it as NFL runs only on a 17 week schedule for 32 teams not a 34 weeks schedule like MLS.

Assuming MLS does go to 32 teams they can play each other once just as they do now. No point in having teams not play each other during the season.

 

We are getting a bit off track here. The balance of the regular season schedule is not really relevant to the CCL. The qualifying scheme is the qualifying scheme, regardless of the schedule. Let's move on. We are veering into "You be the Don" thread territory.

 

My main point wasn't the schedule. My point was that IMO the USOC grants a ticket to CCL to a team who might be "weak" as will be the case next year. Also that instead of the USOC winner, give the spot to a team who finished better positioned on the table. (Supporter Shield plus runner up) But it is what it is, I don't see that changing at all.

 

The Open Cup winner is really the United States's Soccer Federation's representative in the CONCACAF Champions League. It represents both professional teams, leagues and other organizations outside of the professional ranks and of course all the administrators and volunteers who make soccer happen.

In Europe cup winners represent their associations in the Europa League.

 

UPDATED to fix a couple of errors. I could still be wrong on some of the game times but this matches up with the CONCACAF website.

2018 CONCACAF League
Quarterfinals
Home team first, times are EDT

First Leg :
Tuesday, August 21
FAS (SLV) v. Arabe Unido (PAN) 10:00 pm

Wednesday, August 22
Herediano (CRC) v. UD Universitario (PAN) 10:00 pm

Thursday, August 23
Tauro (PAN) v. Walter Ferretti (NCA) 8:00 pm
Motagua (HON) v. Portmore United (JAM) 10:00 pm

Second Leg:
Tuesday, August 28
Arabe Unido (PAN) v. FAS (SLV) 10:00 pm

Wednesday, August 29
UD Universitario (PAN) v. Herediano (CRC) 10:00 pm

Thursday, August 30
Walter Ferretti (NCA) v. Tauro (PAN) @ Heredia, CRC 8:00 pm
Portmore United (JAM) v. Motagua (HON) 10:00 pm

The Semifinals start on September 18.

 

Nice goal by Arabe Unido last night, about 40 seconds into the highlights:

 

2018 CONCACAF League
Quarterfinals
Home team first, times are EDT

First leg results:

First Leg :
Tuesday, August 21
FAS (SLV) 0-1 Arabe Unido (PAN)

Wednesday, August 22
Herediano (CRC) 3-0 UD Universitario (PAN)

Thursday, August 23
Motagua (HON) 3-2 Portmore United (JAM)
Tauro (PAN) 3-1 Walter Ferretti (NCA)


Second Leg:
Tuesday, August 28
Arabe Unido (PAN) v. FAS (SLV) 10:00 pm

Wednesday, August 29
UD Universitario (PAN) v. Herediano (CRC) 10:00 pm

Thursday, August 30
Walter Ferretti (NCA) v. Tauro (PAN) @ Heredia, CRC 8:00 pm
Portmore United (JAM) v. Motagua (HON) 10:00 pm

The Semifinals start on September 18.

 

Someone needs to clarify CCL qualification to the folks at ESPN. I have recently heard Herc/Bretos and Taylor Twellman suggest that Toronto's MLS Cup win got them into the next CCL.

 

2018 CONCACAF League
Quarterfinals
Home team first, times are ET

Second Leg results:

First Leg :
Tuesday, August 21
FAS (SLV) 0-1 Arabe Unido (PAN)

Wednesday, August 22
Herediano (CRC) 3-0 UD Universitario (PAN)

Thursday, August 23
Motagua (HON) 3-2 Portmore United (JAM)
Tauro (PAN) 3-1 Walter Ferretti (NCA)


Second Leg:
Tuesday, August 28
Arabe Unido (PAN) 3-1 FAS (SLV)
Arabe Unido advances on aggregate, 4-1

Wednesday, August 29
UD Universitario (PAN) 1-2 Herediano (CRC)
Herediano advances on aggregate, 5-1.

Thursday, August 30
Walter Ferretti (NCA) 0-4 Tauro (PAN)
Tauro advances on aggregate, 7-1.
Portmore United (JAM) 0-2 Motagua (HON)
Motagua advances on aggregate, 5-2.

The Semifinals start on September 20.

 

2018 CONCACAF League
Semifinals
Home team first, times are ET

As usual, I'm not 100% on the game times.

First Leg :

Thursday, September 20
Tauro (PAN) v. Motagua (HON) 8:00 pm
Herediano (CRC) v. Arabe Unido (PAN) 10:00 pm

Second Leg:

Thursday, September 27
Arabe Unido (PAN) v. Herediano (CRC) 8:00 pm
Motagua (HON) v. Tauro (PAN) 10:00 pm


The Finals start on October 25.

 

Those are actually pretty good matchups for being the "lesser" bracket of the tournament; probably what most considered the top four of these teams...Herediano v Motagua in the final? I feel like the Panamian teams have been skating by against lesser opponents.

 

There is so much ignorance in thispost, it is almost incomprehensible. Do you follow MLS at all? Do you follow the USOC at all? wow.

 

Shit league, not much to follow. Trying too but shit nonetheless.

 

And what is your point? It is a shit league regardless of me knowing all the rules. Knowing all the rules doesn't change a damn league how good or bad it is and MLS is bad. I am not the only one that says it either. So you can keep all the knowledge of MLS it doesn't make it better anyways. You can say things like, no they don't play each other twice, at least not all. And you can say USOC is by the USSF, it doesn't make it any better.