Coming Up Around CONCACAF

With the Group Stage starting this week, the midweek schedule for league play was fairly light with only one MLS contest and three for USSF Division-2. Meanwhile, the confederation’s top club competition resumed with the group phase featuring eight seeded clubs and the eight winners from the Preliminary Round.

For the most part, the results went according to what may be expected per The Soccer Barn’s CONCACAF Pro Club Power Rankings as the only upsets were close contests where the lower ranked side was at home. Among them was Toronto (14) edging Cruz Azul (3) by a 2-1 scoreline and FAS (85) battling to a scoreless stalemate against Toluca (16), which remains winless through four league and one CCL match (0-2-3 W-L-D) with only four goals scored. The week closed with another upset as Seattle (24) fell 2-1 on the road to Marathon (45) on a controversial penalty kick call.

Saturday and Sunday are the busy fixture dates this week as MLS is off Friday evening, USSF-D2 has only one match and there are only three others in Mexico and Panama.

CCL Results – Home/Away (TSB ranking)

Tuesday: (14) Toronto FC 2-1 Cruz Azul (3)… (28) Puerto Rico Islanders 1-1 Olimpia (25)… (2) Monterrey 2-1 Saprissa (69) – Wednesday: (17) Columbus Crew 1-0 Municipal (56)… (46) Joe Public 2-5 Santos Laguna (1)… (6) Real Salt Lake 2-1 Arabe Unido (54)… (85) FAS 0-0 Toluca (16) – Thursday: (45) Marathon 2-1 Seattle Sounders (24)

League Results – Home/Away (TSB ranking)

Wednesday: (26) Chicago Fire 2-1 New England Revolution (30)… (91) Crystal Palace Baltimore 0-2 Rochester Rhinos (48)… (59) Carolina RailHawks 2-1 Miami FC Blues (95) – Thursday: (82) Tampa Bay Rowdies 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps (34)

COMING UP...

Friday, August 20

USSF Division-2: Puerto Rico Islanders (28) @ AC St Louis (84)

Mexico: San Luis (21) @ Estudiantes Tecos (38)

Panama: Atletico Veraguense (99) @ Chorrillo (76)… Atletico Chiriqui (NR) @ Tauro (40)

Saturday, August 21

Major League Soccer: New York Red Bulls (10) @ Toronto FC (14)… Los Angeles Galaxy (8) @ San Jose Earthquakes (27)… Colorado Rapids (19) @ Columbus Crew (17)… Chivas USA (31) @ FC Dallas (4)… New England Revolution (30) @ Kansas City Wizards (47)… Chicago Fire (26) @ Houston Dynamo (37)

USSF Division-2: Montreal Impact (60) @ Crystal Palace Baltimore (91)… Miami FC Blues (95) @ Rochester Rhinos (48)… Portland Timbers (49) @ NSC Minnesota Stars (96)

USL-2: Semifinal - Pittsburgh Riverhounds (71) @ Richmond Kickers (70)

Mexico: Cruz Azul (3) @ Jaguares (20)… Monterrey (2) @ Pachuca (15)… Santos Laguna (1) @ Tigres (12)… Toluca (16) @ Atlas (33)… Chivas Guadalajara (9) @ Atlante (36)

Costa Rica: Santos de Guapiles (64) @ Barrio Mexico (44)… Deportivo Saprissa (69) @ Herediano (53)

El Salvador: Firpo (61) @ Universidad de El Salvador (100)… Isidro Metapan (41) @ FAS (85)… Alianza (62) @ Aguila (51)

Guatemala: Marquense (42) @ Comunicaciones (43)… Juventud Retalteca (68) @ Xelaju (74)… Municipal (56) @ Xinabajul (63)

Honduras: Platense (39) @ Hispano (93)… Deportes Savio (65) @ Necaxa (52)… Victoria (NR) @ Vida (NR)

Panama: San Francisco (97) @ Alianza (NR)… Arabe Unido (54) @ Plaza Amador (94)

Sunday, August 22

Major League Soccer: Philadelphia Union (35) @ DC United (81)

USSF Division-2: Carolina RailHawks (59) @ Austin Aztex (32)

Mexico: Necaxa (22) @ Morelia (7)… Puebla (5) @ Pumas (11)… America (18) @ Queretaro (23)

Costa Rica: Alajuelense (13) @ Perez Zeledon (NR)… Universidad de Costa Rica (86) @ Puntarenas (79)… Cartagines (92) @ Brujas (55)… San Carlos (57) @ Limon (NR)

El Salvador: Vista Hermosa (75) @ Atletico Balboa (NR)… Once Municipal (NR) @ Atletico Marte (90)

Guatemala: Universidad San Carlos (83) @ Mictlan (72)… Penarol La Mesilla (80) @ Suchitepequez (NR)… Malacateco (73) @ Heredia (67)

Honduras: Motagua (29) @ Marathon (45)… Real Espana (77) @ Olimpia (25)

Panama: Sporting San Miguelito (78) @ Chepo (87)