I was really pulling for America and Monterrey to get through. Santos doesn't really interest me too much, even though they've done very well in the CCL so far. America's just got so much more prestige behind them - a Los Angeles and America headlined group would have been huge. Still, glad to see Monterrey's in for 2011-12. They've pulled in some great crowds and they're fun to watch.
Not that anyone here is an expert on Nicaraguan soccer, but is CD Walter Ferretti politically involved? They were founded by the Sandinista Liberation Army back in the 80s and they've kept the black and red colors. Note that Walter Ferretti hasn't won the championship since the Champions League started. If Nicaragua does get a stadium fixed up my guess is it will be because Ortega (a Sandinista) wants to support his "brothers in arms." Real Esteli probably wasn't politically conected enough to get a stadium upgrade. Of course I could be getting ahead of myself because Walter Ferretti hasn't won anything yet and it looks like any one of the top five teams could take the next temporada.
Last post for the night: it seems almost certain now that Saprissa's string of automatic group stage appearances will come to end, as I don't see either la Liga (Alajuelense) or Herediano bombing out of the Verano tournament like Brujas did last time.
no way the Azteca would even reach 30 percent capacity in the group stages. Even with Beckham. The only way the Azteca gets full in the CCL is if both America and Guadalajara are in the CCL and they play each other in the knock out stages. Or maybe if America reaches the final.....but even that would be doubtful. Come to think of it, thats exactly what this tourney needs to get to the next level! To have both Chivas and America in it. Well looks like we don`t have to worry about that anyway, Santos and Monterrey are in the FMF final. A dream final if you ask me. both squads have phenomonal players. I give the edge to Santos. Santos has a more experienced GK and Benitez is in better form than Chupete, Monterrey has a better coach though,
According to Soccerway, Diriangen won the game yesterday 1-0, so they'll host the second leg of the Nicaraguan final.
From Costa Rica: the Ticos are going to take their time with the Finals, with the first leg to be played on Sunday, Dec. 12 in Heredia and the second on the 19th in Alajuela. Unfortunately, while the second game is going on, I'll be in the middle of a flight home, so someone else will have to let you all know who gets the Invierno championship.
The Final 4 in El Salvador for the Apertura 2010 are Metapan, Aguila, Alianza and Firpo. If I were to be honest, I'd say that once again, Metapan will be the champions.
For anyone dying to know what's going on in Belize: with 10 games played, the Belize Defense Force is 3 points clear at the top of the league, with the third-place Griga United 10 points behind. Mind you, if you look at the table, you may wonder why the San Pedro Sea Dogs have an 0-9-0 record from 10 games. According to the HexagonalBlog, it's because they "withdrew from the league." Unless some stadium project gets underway, though, it remains highly unlikely that Belize will be allowed back in next year.
Then who will take their slot?? a Honduran team? Costa Rican? and Real Espana vs. Olimpia first leg, kicks off tomorrow from La Nacional. Game starts for 5 p.m. Central US Time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clásico_Moderno
I bet the winner of Olimpia/Saprissa takes the extra spot for their country. I really wanted to see Victoria in this. What a shame
If Victoria could've kept their composure in La Nacional after the first goal from Hernandez fell for Olimpia...it would've probably been a different story in La Ceibeno.
That's a good guess. Let me see if I can find CONCACAF's rationale for giving the extra spots to Honduras and Panama last year... Victoria still has three more shots for next year: one if they win the Clausura, another if they lose in the Clausura final to whoever wins the Apertura; and finally if they're next in line on regular-season record and Belize and/or Nicaragua drop their spots again.
Here we go: So Olimpia/Saprissa may well decide where the the extra spot(s) go - although all Nicaragua has to do is either finish up the Estadio Nacional or get Real Esteli's stadium up to standard. Maybe they should give Minor Vargas a call, since his Iconogroup apparently offers that service of fixing up stadiums for other teams in Costa Rica.
Well it seems likely Belize may just drop their spot again due to stadiums again.. and Victoria did finish at the top of the table... Certainly not out of the realm of possibility that you see Los Jaibas in next year's CCL.
I should point out, though, that to get a 3rd hand-me-down spot for Honduras, Victoria would still have to make the Clausura final. About the only exception I can think of would be if, both Olimpia and Real Espana made the championship again next year. In which case, I have no idea how CONCACAF would choose which teams would be in consideration (the best regular-season finisher among the 4 beaten semifinalists from the Apertura + Clausura?).
No new CCL qualifiers this weekend, but an update on the positions of those that are already in: thanks in large part to Suazo (according to Telemundo, now the 3rd-highest paid Chilean player in the world ), Monterrey hammered Santos Laguna 3-0 in the Tec to win the Mexican Apertura championship 5-3 on aggregate. Incidentally, it was also the last game of his career for the referee Archundia. So, the updated list of qualifiers: 1) Seattle Sounders [USA4] 2) LA Galaxy [USA2] 3) Colorado Rapids [USA1] 4) FC Dallas [USA3] 5) Santos Laguna [MEX2 or MEX3] 6) Monterrey [MEX1] Santos can still get an automatic spot to the group stage in the Apertura, but now both FC Dallas and the Sounders know that they have a 50/50 chance of ending up having to qualify into Monterrey's group - which would set up a rematch of this year in Seattle's case.
And one other update from Guatemala (disclaimer: all my information for the leagues in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Belize are from soccerway.com unless otherwise noted): Comunicaciones took care of business at home, overturning a 1-0 deficit to Mictlan to win 3-1, while Suchitepequez managed to hold on for a 3-3 tie and knock off the higher-seeded Heredia 4-3 on aggregate. If the regular season decides who meets who in the semifinals, then the matchups are: Municipal vs. Suchitepequez Marquense vs. Comunicaciones But I'm not sure yet.
La Gran Final: Real Espana (3) 2-1 (2) Olimpia Apertura Champions and 1st Honduran CCL Slot: Real Espana
Thanks Catracho_Azul, and the updated list: 1) Seattle Sounders [USA4] 2) LA Galaxy [USA2] 3) Colorado Rapids [USA1] 4) FC Dallas [USA3] 5) Santos Laguna [MEX2 or MEX3] 6) Monterrey [MEX1] 7) Real España [HON1 or HON2] And I'll put up videos of the final series once they're up on Youtube.