The lag is going away. This year is a long delay for MLS/USSF teams since the 2017 MLS Cup and Open Cup winners won't start CCL play until February of 2019 but it will get better. The 2018 MLS Cup and Open Cup winners will have a short delay since they will also play in the 2019 spring tournament. The East and West "Shield" winners won't qualify for this year or next. Then in 2019 all four normal USSF entrants will finish the league season in the fall and then go into the spring CCL.
Ah, good. I did wonder why they weren't biting the bullet for a period and catching up. Even though we actually do have a fair amount of qualifiers trip right back over their feet the next spring -- what I see as a function of internal parity playing out regionally -- our best chance is still probably to have the previous fall's best teams playing the following spring. Good that good sense won out. I still think that the format destroys interest in the tournament in the bye countries until the spring and at that juncture is probably hopeful that they care and come back. TV might have been fading away and interest might have become lower but now there is little reason to care at all. I would not be surprised if, as with a great many historical things, this ends up cycled back around to a neutral site final 8 over a period of 9 days or so.
2017 CONCACAF League Quarterfinals Home team first, CT First leg results: First Leg Tuesday, August 15 (1) Chorrillo FC (PAN) 0-1 Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) Wednesday, August 16 (2) CD Aguila (SLV) 0-2 Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN) Thursday, August 17 (4) CD Walter Ferretti (NCA) 0-0 CD Plaza Amador (PAN) (3) Alianza FC (SLV) 1-0 CD Olimpia (HON) Second Leg Tuesday, August 22 (1) Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) v. Chorrillo FC (PAN) 9:00 pm Wednesday, August 23 (2) Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN) v. CD Aguila (SLV) 9:00 pm Thursday, August 24 (4) CD Plaza Amador (PAN) v. CD Walter Ferretti (NCA) 7:00 pm (3) CD Olimpia (HON) v. Alianza FC (SLV) 9:00 pm The semifinals are in September. They will be the winners of QF1 v. QF2 and QF3 v. QF4. Teams with the better records in the tournament get the 2nd leg at home
2017 CONCACAF League Quarterfinals Home team first, CT Second leg results: First Leg Tuesday, August 15 (1) Chorrillo FC (PAN) 0-1 Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) Wednesday, August 16 (2) CD Aguila (SLV) 0-2 Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN) Thursday, August 17 (4) CD Walter Ferretti (NCA) 0-0 CD Plaza Amador (PAN) (3) Alianza FC (SLV) 1-0 CD Olimpia (HON) Second Leg Tuesday, August 22 (1) Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) 1-0 Chorrillo FC (PAN) Santos de Guapiles advances on aggregate, 2-0 Wednesday, August 23 (2) Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN) 0-1 CD Aguila (SLV) Deportivo Arabe Unido advances on aggregate, 2-1 Thursday, August 24 (4) CD Plaza Amador (PAN) 2-1 CD Walter Ferretti (NCA) CD Plaza Amador advances on aggregate, 2-1 (3) CD Olimpia (HON) 3-1 Alianza FC (SLV) CD Olimpia advances on aggregate, 3-2 Quarterfinals Dates TBA (September 12-21) Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) v. Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN) CD Olimpia (HON) v. CD Plaza Amador (PAN)
2017 CONCACAF League Semifinals Home team first, CT First Leg Wednesday, September 13 Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN) v. Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) 9:00 pm Thursday, September 14 CD Plaza Amador (PAN) v. CD Olimpia (HON) 9:00 pm Second Leg Thursday, September 21 Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) v. Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN) 7:00 pm CD Olimpia (HON) v. CD Plaza Amador (PAN) 9:00 pm The final is October 17-26.
2017 CONCACAF League First leg results: Semifinals Home team first, CT First Leg Wednesday, September 13 Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN) 0-0 Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) Thursday, September 14 CD Plaza Amador (PAN) 1-7 CD Olimpia (HON) Second Leg Thursday, September 21 Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) v. Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN) 7:00 pm CD Olimpia (HON) v. CD Plaza Amador (PAN) 9:00 pm The final round is October 17-26.
2017 CONCACAF League Second leg results: Semifinals Home team first, CT First Leg Wednesday, September 13 Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN) 0-0 Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) Thursday, September 14 CD Plaza Amador (PAN) 1-7 CD Olimpia (HON) Second Leg Thursday, September 21 Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) 1-0 Deportivo Arabe Unido (PAN) Santos de Guapiles advances on aggregate, 1-0. CD Olimpia (HON) 1-1 CD Plaza Amador (PAN) CD Olimpia advances on aggregate, 8-2. The final round is October 17-26. Santos de Guapiles has the better record in the tournament so they will host the second leg of the final.
2017 CONCACAF League Finals Home team first, CT First Leg Thursday, October 19 CD Olimpia (HON) v. Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) 9:00 pm Second Leg Thursday, October 26 Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) v. CD Olimpia (HON) 9:00 pm The winner advances to the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League.
2017 CONCACAF League Finals Home team first, CT First Leg Thursday, October 19 CD Olimpia (HON) 0-1 Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) Second Leg Thursday, October 26 Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) v. CD Olimpia (HON) 9:00 pm The winner advances to the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League.
2017 CONCACAF League Finals Home team first, CT First Leg Thursday, October 19 CD Olimpia (HON) 0-1 Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) Second Leg Thursday, October 26 Santos de Guapiles FC (CRC) 0-1 (pks 1-4) CD Olimpia (HON) Olimpia wins the inaugural CONCACAF League. They will take part in the CCL next spring. The complete list of CCL teams: MEX 1: Tigres UANL MEX 2: Club America MEX 3: Guadalajara MEX 4: Tijuana ------------------- USA 1: Seattle Sounders USA 2: FC Dallas USA 3: NY Red Bulls USA 4: Colorado Rapids ------------------- CAN 1: Toronto FC ------------------- CRC 1: Saprissa CRC 2: Herediano ------------------- HON 1: Motagua HON 2: Olimpia ------------------- PAN 1: Tauro ------------------- SLV 1: Santa Tecla ------------------- CFU 1: Cibao (DOM) The tournament starts in February, 2018.
CONCACAF has announced the pots for the draw and the match windows for the 2018 CCL: https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/11/29/concacaf-announces-draw-procedure-2018-champions-league The draw is Monday, December 18. It will be a fixed bracket once drawn. Pot 1 teams will automatically get the second leg at home. 2018 CCL Pots Pot 1: Toronto FC (CAN); CD Guadalajara (MEX); Club America (MEX); Tigres UANL (MEX); Club Tijuana (MEX); FC Dallas (USA); New York Red Bulls (USA); Seattle Sounders FC (USA) Pot 2: Deportivo Saprissa (CRC); CS Herediano (CRC*); Cibao FC (DOM); FC Motagua (HON); Club Deportivo Olimpia (HON); Tauro FC (PAN); Santa Tecla FC (SLV); Colorado Rapids (USA) Pot A: A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8 Pot B: B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8 2018 CCL Match Windows Round of 16: Feb. 20-22 and Feb, 27-March 1 Quarterfinals: March 6-8 and March 13-15 Semifinals: April 3-5 and April 10-12 Finals: April 17-19 and April 24-26 Pots 1 and 2 were determined by the new CONCACAF Club Index. http://www.concacaf.com/article/qa-club-index-for-2018-scotiabank-concacaf-champions-league-draw The Index is based on the last 5 years of the CCL. It is interesting that they broke down the results by slot, not by club or country overall. As a result, the best performing USA team is slot USA3 which has mostly been filled by the conference winner opposite the Supporter Shield winner but was the Dynamo as the MLS Cup loser in the 2013-2014 CCL. MLS4, sometimes the Open Cup winner and sometimes the next-best from the Supporter Shield table, was the worst performing slot and wound up in Pot 2. The current Index standings for the teams in the tournament: POT 1 1 MEX3 110 2 MEX1 109 3 MEX2 103 4 MEX4 101 5 USA3 76 6 CAN1 73 7 USA1 73 8 USA2 71 POT2 9 USA4 71 10 CRC1 65 11 CRC2 62 (supposed to be GUA1, but suspended) 12 HON1 56 13 PAN1 53 14 SLV1 32 15 CCC1 27 (Caribbean Club Champion) 16 SCL1 0 (2017 CONCACAF League champion)
They had the draw for the 2018 CCL last night. This is what the bracket looks like. Teams on top host the 2nd leg. Guadalajara (MEX) Cibao (DOM) Seattle Sounders (USA) Santa Tecla (SLV -------------------------------- NY Red Bulls (USA) Olimpia (HON) Tijuana (MEX) Motagua (HON) ------------------------------- UANL Tigres (MEX) Herediano (CRC) Toronto (CAN) Colorado Rapids (USA) ------------------------------- FC Dallas (USA) Tauro (PAN) America (MEX) Saprissa (CRC) Games start on February 20.
2018 CCL Schedule, First Round Home team first, times are CT TV Coverage is TBD. First Leg Tuesday, February 20 CS Herediano (CRC) v. Tigres UANL (MEX), 7:00 pm Colorado Rapids (USA) v. Toronto FC (CAN) 9:00 pm Wednesday, February 21 D. Saprissa (CRC) v. Club América (MEX) 7:00 pm Tauro (PAN) v. FC Dallas (USA) 7:00 pm Motagua (HON) v. Tijuana (MEX) 9:00 pm Thursday, February 22 Cibao FC (DOM) v. Guadalajara (MEX) 7:00 pm Olimpia (HON) v. NY Red Bulls (USA) 9:00 pm Santa Tecla (SLV) v. Seattle Sounders (USA) 9:00 pm Second Leg Tuesday, February 27 Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Colorado Rapids (USA) 7:00 pm Tigres UANL (MEX) vs. CS Herediano (CRC) 7:00 pm Tijuana (MEX) vs. Motagua (HON) 9:00 pm Wednesday, February 28 FC Dallas (USA) v. Tauro (PAN) 7:00 pm Guadalajara (MEX) v. Cibao FC (DOM) 7:00 pm Club América (MEX) v. D. Saprissa (CRC) 9:00 pm Thursday, March 1 NY Red Bulls (USA) v. Olimpia (HON) 8:00 pm Seattle Sounders (USA) v. Santa Tecla (SLV) 9:00 pm Away goals are a tie-breaker but there is no overtime. Games go straight to penalties if even after the second leg.
This is fairly surprising. http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/881114?referrer_id=2333971 The other Honduras fixture, Olimpia v. NY Red Bulls, will be held in Costa Rica.
Tuesday results: 2018 CCL Schedule, First Round Home team first, times are CT First Leg Tuesday, February 20 CS Herediano (CRC) 2-2 Tigres UANL (MEX) Colorado Rapids (USA) 0-2 Toronto FC (CAN) Wednesday, February 21 D. Saprissa (CRC) v. Club América (MEX) 7:00 pm UDN Tauro (PAN) v. FC Dallas (USA) 7:00 pm (Galavision tape delay at 11:00 pm) Motagua (HON) v. Tijuana (MEX) 9:00 pm UDN Thursday, February 22 Cibao FC (DOM) v. Guadalajara (MEX) 7:00 pm UDN Olimpia (HON) v. NY Red Bulls (USA) 9:00 pm UDN Santa Tecla (SLV) v. Seattle Sounders (USA) 9:00 pm (UDN tape delay at 11:00 pm) Second Leg Tuesday, February 27 Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Colorado Rapids (USA) 7:00 pm Tigres UANL (MEX) vs. CS Herediano (CRC) 7:00 pm Tijuana (MEX) vs. Motagua (HON) 9:00 pm Wednesday, February 28 FC Dallas (USA) v. Tauro (PAN) 7:00 pm Guadalajara (MEX) v. Cibao FC (DOM) 7:00 pm Club América (MEX) v. D. Saprissa (CRC) 9:00 pm Thursday, March 1 NY Red Bulls (USA) v. Olimpia (HON) 8:00 pm Seattle Sounders (USA) v. Santa Tecla (SLV) 9:00 pm Away goals are a tie-breaker but there is no overtime. Games go straight to penalties if even after the second leg.
Wednesday results: 2018 CCL Schedule, First Round Home team first, times are CT First Leg Tuesday, February 20 CS Herediano (CRC) 2-2 Tigres UANL (MEX) Colorado Rapids (USA) 0-2 Toronto FC (CAN) Wednesday, February 21 D. Saprissa (CRC) 1-5 Club América (MEX) Tauro (PAN) 1-0 FC Dallas (USA) Motagua (HON) 0-1 Tijuana (MEX) Thursday, February 22 Cibao FC (DOM) v. Guadalajara (MEX) 7:00 pm UDN Olimpia (HON) v. NY Red Bulls (USA) 9:00 pm UDN Santa Tecla (SLV) v. Seattle Sounders (USA) 9:00 pm (UDN tape delay at 11:00 pm) Second Leg Tuesday, February 27 Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Colorado Rapids (USA) 7:00 pm Tigres UANL (MEX) vs. CS Herediano (CRC) 7:00 pm Tijuana (MEX) vs. Motagua (HON) 9:00 pm Wednesday, February 28 FC Dallas (USA) v. Tauro (PAN) 7:00 pm Guadalajara (MEX) v. Cibao FC (DOM) 7:00 pm Club América (MEX) v. D. Saprissa (CRC) 9:00 pm Thursday, March 1 NY Red Bulls (USA) v. Olimpia (HON) 8:00 pm Seattle Sounders (USA) v. Santa Tecla (SLV) 9:00 pm Away goals are a tie-breaker but there is no overtime. Games go straight to penalties if even after the second leg.
USA MLS 0-2...oh, great. Although I can't be too disappointed that the Dallas Burn lost to Tauro. Come on Seattle. Surprised that Saprissa got thrashed so badly.
I've been watching MLS sides go against regional foes since the late 90's. I enjoy these encounters for the poor officiating that is often comical, the intenese desire of other nation's to take on the evil pinche gringos en futbol and to of course watch Dallas lose in regional competition. Let's see how NJ and Seattle do tonight. Saprissa losing at home like that was indeed shocking. WOW! 5-1!
USA MLS teams are underwhelming right now. Real time scores for NYR and SEA in the 77' have all four USA MLS teams 0-3-1 currently. WTF.
First legs are done: 2018 CCL Schedule, First Round Home team first, times are CT First Leg Tuesday, February 20 CS Herediano (CRC) 2-2 Tigres UANL (MEX) Colorado Rapids (USA) 0-2 Toronto FC (CAN) Wednesday, February 21 D. Saprissa (CRC) 1-5 Club América (MEX) Tauro (PAN) 1-0 FC Dallas (USA) Motagua (HON) 0-1 Tijuana (MEX) Thursday, February 22 Cibao FC (DOM) 0-2 Guadalajara (MEX) Olimpia (HON) 1-1 NY Red Bulls (USA) Santa Tecla (SLV) 2-1 Seattle Sounders (USA) Second Leg Tuesday, February 27 Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Colorado Rapids (USA) 7:00 pm Tigres UANL (MEX) vs. CS Herediano (CRC) 7:00 pm Tijuana (MEX) vs. Motagua (HON) 9:00 pm Wednesday, February 28 FC Dallas (USA) v. Tauro (PAN) 7:00 pm Guadalajara (MEX) v. Cibao FC (DOM) 7:00 pm Club América (MEX) v. D. Saprissa (CRC) 9:00 pm Thursday, March 1 NY Red Bulls (USA) v. Olimpia (HON) 8:00 pm Seattle Sounders (USA) v. Santa Tecla (SLV) 9:00 pm Away goals are a tie-breaker but there is no overtime. Games go straight to penalties if even after the second leg.
Landon Donovan is right about MLS and Liga MX getting closer in parity. MLS and Liga MX both got a tie in the first leg matches!
Hey I'm happy our Academy team was able to tie the Metros. Hopefully that means someone else is getting ready for the big time.
First results of the 2nd legs: 2018 CCL Schedule, First Round Home team first, times are CT First Leg Tuesday, February 20 CS Herediano (CRC) 2-2 Tigres UANL (MEX) Colorado Rapids (USA) 0-2 Toronto FC (CAN) Wednesday, February 21 D. Saprissa (CRC) 1-5 Club América (MEX) Tauro (PAN) 1-0 FC Dallas (USA) Motagua (HON) 0-1 Tijuana (MEX) Thursday, February 22 Cibao FC (DOM) 0-2 Guadalajara (MEX) Olimpia (HON) 1-1 NY Red Bulls (USA) Santa Tecla (SLV) 2-1 Seattle Sounders (USA) Second Leg Tuesday, February 27 Toronto FC (CAN) 0-0 Colorado Rapids (USA) Toronto advances, 2-0, on aggregate. Tigres UANL (MEX) 3-1 CS Herediano (CRC) Tigres advances, 5-3, on aggregate. Tijuana (MEX) 1-1 Motagua (HON) Tijuana advances, 2-1, on aggregate. Wednesday, February 28 FC Dallas (USA) v. Tauro (PAN) 7:00 pm Guadalajara (MEX) v. Cibao FC (DOM) 7:00 pm Club América (MEX) v. D. Saprissa (CRC) 9:00 pm Thursday, March 1 NY Red Bulls (USA) v. Olimpia (HON) 8:00 pm Seattle Sounders (USA) v. Santa Tecla (SLV) 9:00 pm Away goals are a tie-breaker but there is no overtime. Games go straight to penalties if even after the second leg.
More results from leg 2: 2018 CCL Schedule, First Round Home team first, times are CT First Leg Tuesday, February 20 CS Herediano (CRC) 2-2 Tigres UANL (MEX) Colorado Rapids (USA) 0-2 Toronto FC (CAN) Wednesday, February 21 D. Saprissa (CRC) 1-5 Club América (MEX) Tauro (PAN) 1-0 FC Dallas (USA) Motagua (HON) 0-1 Tijuana (MEX) Thursday, February 22 Cibao FC (DOM) 0-2 Guadalajara (MEX) Olimpia (HON) 1-1 NY Red Bulls (USA) Santa Tecla (SLV) 2-1 Seattle Sounders (USA) Second Leg Tuesday, February 27 Toronto FC (CAN) 0-0 Colorado Rapids (USA) Toronto advances, 2-0, on aggregate. Tigres UANL (MEX) 3-1 CS Herediano (CRC) Tigres advances, 5-3, on aggregate. Tijuana (MEX) 1-1 Motagua (HON) Tijuana advances, 2-1, on aggregate. Wednesday, February 28 FC Dallas (USA) 3-2 Tauro (PAN) Tauro advances on away goals, 2-0 Guadalajara (MEX) 5-0 Cibao FC (DOM) Guadalajara advances on aggregate, 7-0 Club América (MEX) 1-1 D. Saprissa (CRC) Club America advances on aggregate, 6-2 Thursday, March 1 NY Red Bulls (USA) v. Olimpia (HON) 8:00 pm Seattle Sounders (USA) v. Santa Tecla (SLV) 9:00 pm Away goals are a tie-breaker but there is no overtime. Games go straight to penalties if even after the second leg.