Central America Round-Up: Parity is King

It was a difficult week for the Central American clubs participating in the CONCACAF Champions League as parity continues to be a dominant factor throughout the region. Only two of the six earned wins midweek in the CCL with only one club picking up a win in domestic league competition over the weekend.

Municipal had the best results on the week, playing to a 2-2 draw at home against Santos Laguna and earning a victory over Comunicaciones in the Guatemalan Liga Nacional. Costa Rica’s Saprissa was unable to carry the win over Seattle back into domestic play, falling to league leader Barrio Mexico. After falling to Olimpia midweek, Arabe Unido was unable to get off the bottom in El Salvador, playing to a draw in a battle of the tied last-place clubs against Atletico Marte. In Panama, Arabe Unido lost its share of the league lead with a loss to Sporting San Miguelito after their midweek pounding at the hands of Cruz Azul. Olimpia and Marathon, losers to Monterrey, were both idle due to a dispute over the match logistics between the two Honduran giants that resulted in a postponement.

Outside of Costa Rica, the trend appears to be that no club is able to pull away from the pack in their respective leagues as the distances between the clubs still minimal between six to nine games into the campaigns. Panama features the tightest race as the top seven clubs (of 10) are separated by five points with only two points between the top five in the league. Two points separating the top five is also the case in Honduras where the top nine clubs (of 10) occupy a six-point margin.

In El Salvador, the top six (of 10) are separated by six points with the top four only three apart. Guatemala’s top 10 (of 12) are in a seven-point window with a stunning three-point gap between the clubs in second and 10th.

While Costa Rica has a breakout leader, Alajuelense and Barrio Mexico, in each of its two six-team groups, the race for second in each is rather close. Clubs two-four in Group A are separated by just two points and second through fifth are in a six-point margin in the other group.

CCL Mid-Term Report: GROUP D

Current Standings (Points, WDL, GD)
Toluca… 7… 2-1-0… +7
Puerto Rico Islanders… 4… 1-1-1… 0
Olimpia… 4… 1-1-1… -2
FAS… 1… 0-1-2… -5

The group is the only one where no clubs have lost at home although the first week saw a pair of draws. Since then, the winning home sides have outscored the opposition 13-1 on aggregate with Toluca perfect defensively with no goals allowed through the three matches.

CCL Mid-Term Report: GROUP C

Current Standings (Points, WDL, GD)
Monterrey… 9… 3-0-0… +5
Saprissa… 6… 2-0-1… +4
Marathon… 3… 1-0-2… -4
Seattle Sounders… 0… 0-0-3… -5

Monterrey seemingly can’t be beat. The club has not lost in the CCL or Mexican Primera Division through 11 matches overall. On the flip side, the Sounders are struggling mightily with just one goal in the three defeats and are the only team with a loss at home thus far.

CCL Mid-Term Report: GROUP B

Current Standings (Points, WDL, GD)
Santos Laguna… 7… 2-1-0… +4
Columbus Crew… 6… 2-0-1… +3
Municipal… 2… 0-2-1… -1
Joe Public… 1… 0-1-2… -6

Out of season Joe Public is the only club that has lost at home, falling to Santos Laguna. However, Municipal has two draws at home against Joe Public and Santos Laguna. Columbus has kept itself in the shadow of the Santos Laguna with the only goal allowed occurring in the road loss against the Mexican giants.

CCL Mid-Term Report: GROUP A

Current Standings (Points, WDL, GD)
Cruz Azul… 6… 2-0-1… +6
Real Salt Lake… 6… 2-0-1… +3
Toronto FC… 3… 1-0-2… -3
Arabe Unido… 3… 1-0-2… -6

Home clubs have won five of the six matches thus far with Arabe Unido the lone exception in their match against Cruz Azul. Real Salt Lake, despite being in their first appearance, have kept pace with the two-time finalists from Mexico.

North America Round-Up: Minnesota Makes Major Push for D2 Playoffs

While the top clubs in Mexico were victorious in Mexico, it was a week for the underdogs north of the border. CONCACAF Champions League losers Toronto and Seattle posted big wins in Major League Soccer while in the second tier Minnesota stole the headlines with a significant climb into the playoff picture with a pair of victories as the league leaders went winless and the two Floridian clubs were eliminated from contention.

Salvadoran Players Shot in Car-Jacking

Three players returning home after their Isidro Metapan match Saturday evening against Universidad de El Salvador were the target of what is believed to be a car-jacking at a gas station with two players victims of gunfire.

El Salvador Youth International defender Nelson Rivera, son of former Salvadoran international Nelson Portillo, is the most severely injured as a bullet entered his head at the ear and was considered in critical condition after four hours of surgery. It is believed that the bullet that struck Rivera, 19, was the same that grazed the head of teammate and driver Andres Flores. Also in the car was 19-year-old Kevin Santamaria.