Now that the preliminary round is over, we know which teams have qualified for the group stage of this year's Champions League. Here are the 16 left with a chance to crown themselves champion of the region next year: Group A Real Salt Lake (USA) Árabe Unido (PAN) Cruz Azul (MEX) Toronto FC (CAN) Group B Columbus Crew (USA) Municipal (GUA) Santos Laguna (MEX) Joe Public (TRI) Group C Monterrey (MEX) Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) Seattle Sounders (USA) Marathón (HON) Group D Toluca (MEX) Olimpia (HON) CD FAS (SLV) Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) And although we will have to wait until sometime in the next couple of days to have the full schedule for this round, we already know the fixtures for the first two matchdays (all times are Eastern Standard). Matchday 1 Tuesday, August 17: A - Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Cruz Azul (MEX), 8:00 p.m. D - Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) vs. Olimpia (HON), 8:00 p.m. C - Monterrey (MEX) vs. Deportivo Saprissa (CRC), 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 18: B - Joe Public (TRI) vs. Santos Laguna (MEX), 8:00 p.m. B - Columbus Crew (USA) vs. Municipal (GUA), 8:00 p.m. A - Real Salt Lake (USA) vs. Árabe Unido (PAN), 10:00 p.m. D - CD FAS (SLV) vs. Toluca (MEX), 10:0 p.m. Thursday, August 19: C - Marathón (HON) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA), 10:00 p.m. Matchday 2 Tuesday, August 24: B - Santos Laguna (MEX) vs. Columbus Crew (USA), 10:00 p.m. A - Árabe Unido (PAN) vs. Toronto FC (CAN), 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 25: A - Cruz Azul (MEX) vs. Real Salt Lake (USA), 8:00 p.m. D - Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) vs. CD FAS (SLV), 8:00 p.m. C - Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Monterrey (MEX), 10:00 p.m. Thursday, August 26: D - Toluca (MEX) vs. Olimpia (HON), 8:00 p.m. C - Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) vs. Marathón (HON), 10:00 p.m. B - Municipal (GUA) vs. Joe Public (TRI), 10:00 p.m. Who do you think will make it out of each of the groups? Which one is the Group of Death? And will anyone stop the Mexican teams from winning all the groups yet again?
http://www.concacaf.com/page/CL/NewsDetail/0,,12813~2113677,00.html says: "Group Stage Schedule Subject to change All times U.S. Eastern (Home teams listed first) Round One Tuesday, August 17 Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Cruz Azul (MEX), 8 p.m. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) vs. Olimpia (HON), 8 p.m. Monterrey (MEX) vs. Saprissa (CRC), 10 p.m. Wednesday, August 18 Joe Public (TRI) vs. Santos (MEX), 8 p.m. Columbus Crew (USA) vs. Municipal (GUA), 8 p.m. Real Salt Lake (USA) vs. Arabe Unido (PAN), 10 p.m. CD FAS (SLV vs. Toluca (MEX), 10 p.m. Thursday, August 19 Marathon (HON) vs. or Seattle Sounders (USA), 10 p.m. Round Two Tuesday, August 24 Santos (MEX) vs. Columbus Crew (USA), 10 p.m. Arabe Unido (PAN) vs. Toronto FC (CAN), 10 p.m. Wednesday, August 25 Cruz Azul (MEX) vs. Real Salt Lake (USA), 8 p.m. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) vs. CD FAS (SLV), 8 p.m. Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Monterrey (MEX), 10 p.m. Thursday, August 26 Toluca (MEX) vs. Olimpia (HON), 8 p.m. Saprissa (CRC) vs. Marathon (HON), 10 p.m. Municipal (GUA) vs. Joe Public (TRI), 10 p.m. Round Three Tuesday, September 14 Columbus (USA) vs. Joe Public (TRI), 8 p.m. Monterrey (MEX) vs. Marathon (HON) , 8 p.m. Municipal (GUA) vs. Santos (MEX), 10 p.m. Saprissa (CRC) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA), 10 p.m. Wednesday, September 15 Toluca (MEX) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR), 8 p.m. Arabe Unido (PAN) vs. Cruz Azul (MEX), 10 p.m. Real Salt Lake (USA) vs. Toronto FC (CAN), 10 p.m. Thursday, September 16 Olimpia (HON) vs. FAS (SLV), 8 p.m. Round Four Tuesday, September 21 Columbus (USA) vs. Santos (MEX), 8 p.m. Cruz Azul (MEX) vs. Toronto FC (CAN), 10 p.m. Wednesday, September 22 Arabe Unido (PAN) vs. Real Salt Lake (USA), 8 p.m. Monterrey (MEX) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA), 8 p.m. Marathon (HON) vs. Saprissa (CRC), 10 p.m. FAS (SLV) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR), 10 p.m. Thursday, September 23 Joe Public (TRI) vs. Municipal (GUA), 8 p.m. Olimpia (HON) vs. Toluca (MEX), 10 p.m. Round Five Tuesday, September 28 Toronto (CAN) vs. Real Salt Lake (USA), 8 p.m. Cruz Azul (MEX) vs. Arabe Unido (PAN), 8 p.m. Saprissa (CRC) vs. Monterrey (MEX), 10 p.m. Wednesday, September 29 Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) vs. Toluca (MEX), 8 p.m. Municipal (GUA) vs. Columbus (USA), 10 p.m. Santos (MEX) vs. Joe Public (TRI), 10 p.m. Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Marathon (HON), 10 p.m. Thursday, September 30 FAS (SLV) vs. Olimpia (HON), 10 p.m. Round Six Tuesday, October 19 Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Arabe Unido (PAN), 8 p.m. Santos (MEX) vs. Municipal (GUA), 8 p.m. Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Saprissa (CRC), 10 p.m. Real Salt Lake (USA) vs. Cruz Azul (MEX), 10 p.m. Wednesday, October 20 Toluca (MEX) vs. FAS (SLV), 8 p.m. Marathon (HON) vs. Monterrey (MEX), 10 p.m. Olimpia (HON) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR), 10 p.m. Thursday, October 21 Joe Public (TRI) vs. Columbus (USA), 8 p.m."
Good thing that Toronto and RSL don't finish off playing each other, so that we won't have to hear any complaining on Arabe's part about potential collusion. Not that I think it would even be a concern, though - yes, they play in the same league, but RSL's in this to represent the country, and getting knocked out by Canada's rep would be a bit embarrassing.
I dont like this schedule too much. First of all, I am not happy that matches are played over three days. I was angry with that before, and I am now, in Cup's third season. Second, I am not happy that last day matches are not played simultaneously, like it is in Europe. And third, and final, is that I am not happy that Group Stage is over in middle of October. And 4 months gap between last GS matchday and quarters make me totally unhappy. At least, they could have made GS to last till late November or early December.
No. But in previous seasons matches were played with more space between each matchday, and now every matchday is close to other. Maybe it could have been played like every two weeks, like this: Aug 31-Sep 2, Sep 14-Sep 16, Sep 28-Sep 30, Oct 12-Oct 14, Oct 26-Oct 28, Nov 9-Nov 11. This would have been good. And there is no snow problems in early November. And for Championship stage, late Feb is just good enough and there would be like 3 months gap between two rounds (sixth group day and first quarterfinal day). Anyhow, about first question from "thread opener", I think that Seattle is capable of winning this group of death. And for sure, there will be much competition in A group, and Toronto is, as far as I am concerned, can win it. But only if they take this seriously. So, no, Mexicans wont win all four 1st places.
Eh...if either of those had to happen, I'd say that it would be more likely for Seattle to win Group C (my pick for the Group of Death), if they abandoned the MLS regular season and just went for the Open Cup and this tournament, then Toronto. Cruz Azul knows how to tear apart solid MLS teams - just ask Columbus. Speaking of la maquina: Cruz Azul is over twice as old as all of its Group A opponents, combined.
After watching Santos walk over Pachuca today and with a goal difference of +10(11gf 1 ga) after three games i would be surprised if they don't make it to the final.
Hey, we have to play nice with the two Guyanas and Suriname too. Right now on Telemundo, Andres Cantor was talking up the possibility of Cruz Azul signing Carlos Costly. Anyone know if this rumor has any legs to it? And if so, then RSL, Toronto and Arabe better brief their defenders on him, or he's going to embarrass someone. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3tnIG3J4fs"]YouTube- CARLO COSTLY----LA POLACA.wmv‎[/ame]
first question: A- Cruz Azul Arabe Unido- thats right I think they will do it again B- Santos Laguna Columbus Crew C- Monterrey Marathon D- Toluca PR Islanders 2nd question- I don´t know 3rd question- no
I hear ya. The name of the confederation is pretty annoying. It'd be like "The Confederation of the USA, Ohio and Kentucky". Redundant.
But that can be rearranged, like moved for like a week, that must not be problem. But, never mind. When I go to President of CONCACAF place, Ill make it on my way. rofl
I wouldn't count any of the teams in the group especially the Islanders. It is not easy to play in Puerto Rico just ask all the Mexican and other teams that go there. In Mexico yes i see Toluca winning but in PR, idk. But don't disregard the other teams CCL always bring surprises.
With the new USSF regulations for D2 I wounder is this is going to be the Islanders last attempt at the CCL as a D2 team cause does preliminary regulations that are out make it sound like alot of D2 teams are going to have to step down to D3.
At the very least, unless some PRSL teams decide to ball up and challenge them for their entry into the CFU Club Championship, the Islanders will have the same chance of playing in the CCL - and possibly have it better than they do now, depending on how reconfiguration goes.