Coming Up Around CONCACAF

It has been a week of dominance thus far thanks to the CONCACAF Champions League where the winning teams outscored their opposition 22-1 with Toronto FC scoring the lone goal in defeat while Municipal and Santos Laguna tallied four goals in the lone draw of the third installment of group play.

The midweek Champions League action was joined by a handful of matches in the United States and a nearly-full slate in El Salvador. The home sides in MLS and USSF Division-2 were unbeaten with San Jose and Minnesota winning Wednesday while FC Dallas and Tampa Bay earned draws Thursday against New York and Austin, respectively. While the struggling Salvadoran side FAS was in action in the CCL, the top four clubs in Panama were all in action Wednesday, posting victories to leave things status quo.

There are several marquee match-ups coming up over the weekend throughout CONCACAF. In Mexico, Group B leaders America and Toluca will meet in one of the two matches that wrap the week up Sunday. Also on Sunday, Honduras’ two current Champions League participants Olimpia and Marathon square off while in Guatemala, two of the top three sides face one another as Comunicaciones hosts leader Municipal. On Saturday, fourth-place Sporting San Miguelito faces co-leader and Champions League side Arabe Unido in Panama’s key contest.

In Major League Soccer Saturday, the Columbus Crew are home against the Seattle Sounders in a preview of the US Open Cup Championship game to be played in Seattle three weeks later. The next tier is all about the race for the final four playoff berths as only three weeks remain in the regular season.

MIDWEEK MATCH RESULTS (TSB Pro Power Rankings in parenthesis)

CONCACAF Champions League

Tuesday (17) Columbus Crew 3-0 Joe Public (49)… (2) Monterrey 2-0 Marathon (19)… (45) Municipal 2-2 Santos Laguna (9)… (55) Deportivo Saprissa 2-0 Seattle Sounders (28) – Wednesday (6) Toluca 3-0 Puerto Rico Islanders (29)… (32) Arabe Unido 0-6 Cruz Azul (1)… (4) Real Salt Lake 4-1 Toronto FC (21) – Thursday (25) Olimpia 2-0 FAS (82)

League Matches

Wednesday MLS (20) San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 Philadelphia Union (38)... USSF-D2 (94) NSC Minnesota Stars 1-0 Carolina RailHawks (54)… Costa Rica (70) Aguila 1-0 Universidad de El Salvador (95)… (61) Firpo 2-0 Once Municipal (77)… (71) Alianza 2-1 Atletico Marte (NR)… (47) Isidro Metapan 2-1 Vista Hermosa (76)… Thursday MLS (3) FC Dallas 2-2 New York Red Bulls (13)… USSF-D2 (91) Tampa Bay Rowdies 1-1 Austin Aztex (34)

COMING UP AROUND CONCACAF

Friday, September 17

USSF Division-2: (93) Miami FC Blues @ Rochester Rhinos (48)

Mexico: (16) Pumas UNAM @ Estudiantes Tecos (36)

El Salvador: (61) Firpo @ Vista Hermosa 76)… (95) Universidad de El Salvador @ Isidro Metapan (47)

Panama: (62) Chorrillo @ Plaza Amador (NR)… (100) Atletico Veraguense @ San Francisco (56)

Saturday, September 18

Major League Soccer: (22) Chicago Fire @ Real Salt Lake (4)… (28) Seattle Sounders @ Columbus Crew (17)… (21) Toronto FC @ Houston Dynamo (46)… (33) New England Revolution @ Colorado Rapids (23)… (52) DC United @ Los Angeles Galaxy (14)

USSF Division-2: (54) Carolina RailHawks @ Crystal Palace Baltimore (NR)… (44) Portland Timbers @ Puerto Rico Islanders (29)… (35) Vancouver Whitecaps @ NSC Minnesota Stars (94)… (34) Austin Aztex @ AC St Louis (98)

Mexico: (43) Atlas @ Monterrey (2)… (37) Necaxa @ Santos Laguna (9)… (27) Jaguares Chiapas @ Chivas Guadalajara (5)… (18) Pachuca @ San Luis (12)… (11) Morelia @ Atlante (41)

Costa Rica: (74) Santos de Guapiles @ San Carlos (64)

El Salvador: (70) Aguila @ Atletico Balboa (96)… (82) FAS @ Atletico Marte (NR)… (71) Alianza @ Once Municipal (77)

Guatemala: (68) Malacateco @ Marquense (59)

Honduras: (37) Necaxa @ Victoria (85)… (86) Vida @ Platense (40)

Panama: (72) Sporting San Miguelito @ Arabe Unido (32)… (58) Tauro @ Alianza (99)

Sunday, September 19

Major League Soccer: (30) Kansas City Wizards @ Chivas USA (39)

USSF Division-2: (91) Tampa Bay Rowdies @ Montreal Impact (53)

Mexico: (7) America @ Toluca (6)… (10) Tigres UANL @ Puebla (24)

Costa Rica: (NR) Perez Zeledon @ Puntarenas (92)… (63) Herediano @ Universidad de Costa Rica (NR)… (55) Deportivo Saprissa @ Barrio Mexico (31)

Guatemala: (67) Xinabajul @ Mictlan (80)… (NR) Universidad San Carlos @ Suchitepequez (97)… (84) Xelaju @ Heredia (69)… (51) Juventud Retalteca @ Penarol La Mesilla (NR)… (45) Municipal @ Comunicaciones (50)

Honduras: (NR) Hispano @ Deportes Savio (81)… (25) Olimpia @ Marathon (19)… (57) Real Espana @ Motagua (42)

Panama: (90) Atletico Chiriqui @ Chepo (73)

Monday, September 19 – Costa Rica (66) Brujas @ Alajuelense (15)