The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region (North America, Central America, and the Caribbean). The competition is open to the leading teams in the region and replaced the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, which ran from 1962 to 2008. The winner earns a berth in the following year's FIFA Club World Cup, which pits each continental confederation's champion against the others annually.

The 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League is the 4th edition of the CONCACAF Champions League under its current format. The tournament began on July 26, 2011 and finish with the second leg of the final April 24–26, 2012. The winner will qualify as the CONCACAF representative at the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup.
Twenty-four teams will participate in the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League from the North American, Central American, and Caribbean zones.
Nine (9) teams from North America
twelve (12)from Central America
three (3) from the Caribbean

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2%80 ... ons_League

CCL: Three MLS sides set to begin continental adventure

Seattle, Toronto, FC Dallas open preliminary-stage series this week

Just over two months ago, Real Salt Lake came agonizingly close to becoming the first MLS side to win the CONCACAF Champions League. They fell in final to Mexican side Monterrey, losing out on a chance to represent the region at the Club World Cup this December in Japan.

Now, it’s time to do it all again.

This week, three MLS teams — the Seattle Sounders, Toronto FC and FC Dallas — begin their CCL campaigns with the first leg matches of their preliminary stage series.

Preliminary Round

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Motagua – Municipal Jul 28 Aug 4
Morelia –Tempête Jul 28 Aug 3
Isidro Metapán – Puerto Rico Islanders Jul 27 Aug 3
Santos Laguna – Olimpia Jul 27 Aug 3
Alianza – FC Dallas Jul 28 Aug 3
Toronto FC – Real Estelí Jul 27 Aug 2
San Francisco -Seattle Sounders FC Jul 26 Aug 3
Herediano – Alpha United Jul 26 Aug 4

2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage

The Group Stage is scheduled to be played in 6 rounds during August–October 2011. The rounds are:
August 16–18
August 23–25
September 13–15
September 20–22
September 27–29
October 18–20

Group A
Los Angeles Galaxy
Alajuelense
Morelia / Tempête
Motagua / Municipal

Group B
Colorado Rapids
Real España
Santos Laguna / Olimpia
Isidro Metapán / Puerto Rico Islanders

Group C
UNAM
Tauro
Alianza / FC Dallas
Toronto FC / Real Esteli

Group D
Monterrey
Comunicaciones
San Francisco / Seattle Sounders FC
Herediano / Alpha United

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2%80 ... ons_League

San Francisco FC 1, Sounders FC 0

San Francisco FC takes the first leg of the aggregate goal series 1-0 off a 1st half PK. 2nd leg at CenturyLink Field on August 3rd.

Former MLSer Roberto Brown buried a penalty kick in the 27th minute and the San Francisco FC defense did the rest on Tuesday night, as the Panamanian club downed the Seattle Sounders 1-0 in the opening leg of the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round in Panama City.

The two teams will wrap up the two-game aggregate-goal series in Seattle on Aug. 3, with the winner of the series advancing to the CCL group stage.

http://www.soundersfc.com/Matchday/Matches/2011/Season/CONCACAF-01-at-San-Francisco.aspx

CCL Recap: TFC ride Plata brace to 2-1 win over Real Estelí

Second-half sub bags pair as Toronto win first leg of prelim series

TORONTO — Joao Plata scored twice in the second half as Toronto FC defeated Real Estelí 2-1 on Wednesday at BMO Field in their first-leg match of the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round.

The Reds looked headed for an easy, convincing victory after Plata's brace, but conceded an invaluable away goal to their Nicaraguan visitors off a goalkeeping error by Milos Kocic nine minutes from time that gives Estelí a glimmer of hope heading into the second leg next week.


http://www.mlssoccer.com/ccl/news/artic ... stel%C3%AD

The PR Islanders Lose 2-0 in CONCACAF


The Puerto Rico Islanders were defeated in El Salvador tonight by Isidro Metapan 2-0. This represents the first time in four appearences in the CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Stage where the Islanders have lost the away leg of the two leg tie.

The Islanders must overcome a two goal deficit in order to advance to the group stages of the 2011-2012 tournament.

http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=940

Big First Step

Jackson strikes late in 2nd half to give FCD valuable 1st-leg win

In a physical, rain-soaked match at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador, El Salvador, FC Dallas defeated Alianza FC 1-0 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League play-in match thanks to Jackson Gonçalves.

After gathering a majority of the second half scoring opportunities, FC Dallas’ Mr. Do-it-all Brazilian made it official in the 70th minute, taking a flick from compatriot Ricardo Villar and driving by defender Edwin Martínez before slotting it by a helpless Jimmy Cuellar for the game's only goal.


http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/20 ... llas/recap

CCL Recap: Ihemelu goal enough to see Dallas through
FCD overcome heat to get beat Alianza, next up a trip to Mexico City


FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas advanced to the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time in franchise history Wednesday night, defeating Salvadoran side Alianza FC 1-0 and 2-0 on aggregate goals.

Ugo Ihemelu headed in the games only goal in the 36th minute on a Ricardo Villar kick and FC Dallas maintained nearly three-fourths of the possession to hold off a resilient Alianza side.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/08/03/ccl-recap-ihemelu-goal-enough-see-dallas-through

A bittersweet victory
PR Islanders out of the CONCACAF Champions League


Posted on Wed, Aug 3, 2011


The Puerto Rico Islanders fought all the way to the dying seconds of Wednesday’s match but in the end failed to advance to the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. Salvadorian club Isidro Metapan managed to advance due to the away goals rule on a 3-3 aggregate score.

Nicholas Addlery slotted home a low blast to the far post in the fifth and final minute of added time, making it 3-1 for the Puerto Rico Islanders and evening the two match series. Seconds after the ensuing kickoff, the referee blew the full-time whistle.

http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=992

[b]CONCACAF Champions League
Group Stage
Complete CCL Group Stage schedule
(All times Eastern)

Round 1

Tuesday, August 16
Santos Laguna (MEX) vs. Real España (HON), 8 p.m.
LA Galaxy (USA) vs. Motagua (HON), 10 p.m.
Alajuelense (CRC) vs. Morelia (MEX), 10 p.m.
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Comunicaciones (GUA), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, August 17
Herediano (CRC) vs. Monterrey (MEX), 8 p.m.
Pumas UNAM (MEX) vs. FC Dallas (USA), 10 p.m.
Colorado Rapids (USA) vs. Metapán (SLV), 10 p.m.

Thursday, August 18
Tauro (PAN) vs. Toronto FC (CAN), 8 p.m.

Round 2

Tuesday, August 23
Monterrey (MEX) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA), 8 p.m.
Real España (HON) vs. Colorado Rapids (USA), 10 p.m.
Comunicaciones (GUA) vs. Herediano (CRC), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, August 24
Toronto FC (CAN) vs. FC Dallas (USA), 8 p.m.
Metapán (SLV) vs. Santos Laguna (MEX), 10 p.m.

Thursday, August 25
Tauro (PAN) vs. Pumas UNAM (MEX), 8 p.m.
LA Galaxy (USA) vs. Alajuelense (CRC), 10 p.m.
Morelia (MEX) vs. Motagua (HON), 10 p.m.

Round 3

Tuesday, September 13
Morelia (MEX) vs. LA Galaxy (USA), 8 p.m.
Real España (HON) vs. Metapán (SLV), 10 p.m.
Colorado Rapids (USA) vs. Santos Laguna (MEX), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, September 14
FC Dallas (USA) vs. Tauro (PAN), 8 p.m.
Pumas UNAM (MEX) vs. Toronto FC (CAN), 8 p.m.
Herediano (CRC) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA), 10 p.m.
Comunicaciones (GUA) vs. Monterrey (MEX), 10 p.m.

Thursday, September 15
Motagua (HON) vs. Alajuelense (CRC), 10 p.m.

Round 4

Tuesday, September 20
Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Tauro (PAN), 8 p.m.
Monterrey (MEX) vs. Comunicaciones (GUA), 8 p.m.
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Herediano (CRC), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, September 21
FC Dallas (USA) vs. Pumas UNAM (MEX), 8 p.m.
Colorado Rapids (USA) vs. Real España (HON), 10 p.m.
Alajuelense (CRC) vs. LA Galaxy (USA), 10 p.m.

Thursday, September 22
Santos Laguna (MEX) vs. Metapán (SLV), 8 p.m.
Motagua (HON) vs. Morelia (MEX), 10 p.m.

Round 5

Tuesday, September 27
Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Pumas UNAM (MEX), 8 p.m.
Comunicaciones (GUA) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA), 10 p.m.
Monterrey (MEX) vs. Herediano (CRC), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, September 28
Real España (HON) vs. Santos Laguna (MEX), 8 p.m.
Tauro (PAN) vs. FC Dallas (USA), 8 p.m.
LA Galaxy (USA) vs. Morelia (MEX), 10 p.m.
Metapán (SLV) vs. Colorado Rapids (USA), 10 p.m.

Thursday, September 29
Alajuelense (CRC) vs. Motagua (HON), 10 p.m.

Round 6

Tuesday, October 18
Morelia (MEX) vs. Alajuelense (CRC), 8 p.m.
FC Dallas (USA) vs. Toronto FC (CAN), 8 p.m.
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Monterrey (MEX), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, October 19
Santos Laguna (MEX) vs. Colorado Rapids (USA), 8 p.m.
Pumas UNAM (MEX) vs. Tauro (PAN), 10 p.m.
Herediano (CRC) vs. Comunicaciones (GUA), 10 p.m.

Thursday, October 20
Metapán (SLV) vs. Real España (HON), 8 p.m.
Motagua (HON) vs. LA Galaxy (USA), 10 p.m.

Opening Shots
Cristman, Donovan strike as Galaxy top Motagua in CCL opener


CARSON, Calif. — Adam Cristman and Landon Donovan scored goals on either side of halftime as the LA Galaxy got off to a triumphant start in CONCACAF Champions League, beating Honduran side Motagua by 2-0 at the Home Depot Center on Tuesday.

The Galaxy shot to the top of Group A with the win, tied with Costa Rican side Alajuelense with three points apeice. The teams will face each other at the Home Depot Center on Aug. 25, with a chance to take a stranglehold on what Donovan called the toughest group in the tournament.

HIGHLIGHTS: LA 2, Motagua 0
http://www.concacafchampions.com/page/CL/Video/HighlightsDetail2/0,,12856~2422642,00.html


Force Field
F uciito brace powers Seattle to comeback win in Group D opener


SEATTLE — Mike F uciito scored twice for 10-man Seattle as the Sounders defeated visiting CSD Comunicaciones 4-1 at CenturyLink Field on Tuesday night in the first round of CONCACAF Champions League group-stage play.

After Lamar Neagle’s red card in the 55th minute put Seattle down a man, ***ito scored in the 61st and 67th minutes to give Seattle the victory. ***ito also earned the assist on Seattle’s first goal, by Brad Evans, which equalized the score after a great start from the visitors.

HIGHLIGHTS: Seattle 4, Comunicaciones 1
http://www.concacafchampions.com/page/CL/Video/HighlightsDetail2/0,,12856~2422647,00.html

History Made
FC Dallas beat Pumas 1-0, become first MLS club to win in Mexico


2010 MLS Cup runners-up FC Dallas defeated defending Mexican champions Pumas UNAM 1-0 in the first game of CONCACAF Group C play to become the first MLS side in 25 attempts to grab three points on Mexican soil.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-08-17-pumas-unam-vs-fc-dallas/recap

Hungry Kandji has dream return for Rapids
Lanky striker saves Colorado from defeat in 3-2 win vs. Metapán


COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Although unsatisfied with their performance in their 3-2 win over Isidro Metapán on Wednesday, the Colorado Rapids walked out of the match with two major positives: The return of Macoumba Kandji, and their first three points ever in the CONCACAF Champions League.

“Mac Kandji scores two goals, that’s probably the biggest thing,” said Jeff Larentowicz, who served as captain for the night. “Everybody’s been waiting for him to come back and he’s had nothing but a positive attitude, like he showed tonight. That’s a big positive.”

http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2011/08/hungry-kandji-has-dream-return-rapids

Toronto Takes Three At Tauro
Reds win Champions League match 2-1, moves atop Group C.


Ryan Johnson and Julian de Guzman each scored a goal in the first half and the Toronto FC defense held on just long enough to finish the job as the Reds posted a 2-1 win over Tauro FC in the CONCACAF Champions League Group C opener for both teams on Thursday night in Panama City, Panama.

Luis Moreno scored the lone goal for Tauro FC from the penalty spot in the 76th minute, but it wasn’t enough to salvage a result against Toronto, who have now won both of their games away from home in this year’s tournament. They also topped Real Estelí in Nicaragua during the second leg of the preliminary round.

The win not only helped Toronto keep pace with three points atop Group C with fellow MLS side FC Dallas, but also gave MLS a perfect 5-0 record during this week’s group play openers.

The victory at Estadio Rommel Fernández in Panama City extended Toronto’s unbeaten run to six games in all competitions (four wins and two ties).

http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/20 ... o-fc/recap

CCL Recap: Seattle hold on for historic win at Monterrey

Fernández's goal helps Sounders make it 2-for-2 for MLS in Mexico

The Seattle Sounders made it two-for-two for MLS teams in Mexico in the CONCACAF Champions League with a massive 1-0 victory at Monterrey on Tuesday night in both teams’ second Group D match.

In the 39th minute, Pat Noonan threaded a beautiful ball through to Álvaro Fernández, who beat two defenders and coolly finished past Jonathan Orozco for a 1-0 lead.

Seattle held down enormous pressure from the defending CCL champions in the second half. Goalkeeper Terry Boss nearly gave Monterrey a gift when he failed to clear the ball cleanly in the 66th minute, giving Aldo de Nigris a golden opportunity on an empty net before losing the ball on the end line.

But the Sounders emerged victorious for the historic win, following up FC Dallas’ victory at Pumas UNAM last week.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/ccl/news/artic ... -monterrey

CCL Recap: Colorado hold on for 1-1 tie at Real España

First-half goal from Larentowicz gives Rapids a point on the road

The Colorado Rapids coughed up a 1-0 lead, but still came away with a valuable road point with a 1-1 draw in San Pedro Sula against Real España in CONCACAF Champions League Group B action. The Rapids took the lead in first-half stoppage-time through Jeff Larentowicz, but spent much of the second half on the back foot as La Maquina surged forward looking for the equalizer. They eventually got it after a poor clearance from Kosuke Kimura fell to Julio Rodriguez inside the six-yard box in the 86th minute.

Colorado now have four points from the first two Champions League match days.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/ccl/news/artic ... espa%C3%B1

CCL Recap: Stewart goal enough as FCD top TFC in replay
After Weds. night rain cancellation, FCD do just enough to win at BMO Field


TORONTO – Jack Stewart scored in first-half stoppage time and FC Dallas defeated Toronto FC, 1-0, on Thursday morning in the replay of their CONCACAF Champions League Group C match.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/ccl/news/artic ... tfc-replay