Previous 2014 CONCACAF Champions League Coverage

It was a solid week for the three MLS teams that opened up the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals with Leg One at home. The San Jose Earthquakes were the only ones not to win but a goal by Alan Gordon in the fifth minute of second half stoppage time allowed them to level things at 1-1 and send them to Mexico on a good note. Both Sporting KC and the LA Galaxy won 1-0 in their games off of early first half goals. Sporting got their goal from Kevin Ellis in the 17th minute while the Galaxy got theirs from Samuel Rosa Goncalves in the 11th minute.

After the good defensive display the teams will all prepare for trips to Mexico for next week’s second legs. The Galaxy will be the first team to play, Tuesday night at Tijuana. It’s just a short 132 mile drive down the coast between the Stub Hub Center and Estadio Caliente. The Galaxy need only a draw in Mexico to advance and they could even advance with a one-goal loss if they score!

The Earthquakes are the second team to play, Wednesday night at Toluca. Don’t think any of their fans will be making the drive as it’s a wild 2,200 mile, 34 hour commute. One way. They will need a win in Toluca or a draw with multiple goals in it. A scoreless draw or loss would knock them out.

Finally Sporting KC will also play on Wednesday night, the late game, in Mexico City. It’s actually much closer of a drive (did that shock anyone else like it did me?) at 25 hours and 1,700 miles. Sporting needs the same scorelines as the Galaxy: A draw or win advances them as well as any one-goal loss where they score.

To say the US has struggled against Liga MX opposition is an understatement. Mexico has dominated this competition and nearly everytime they face the US teams in the knockout rounds the Mexican teams have moved on. Perhaps this year will be different. We’ll know for sure next week.

Schedule:

• March 18th
  • 10 PM ET – LA Galaxy @ Tijuana (Mexico) – Fox Sports 2
• March 19th
  • 8 PM ET – San Jose Earthquakes @ Toluca (Mexico) – Fox Sports 2
  • 10 PM ET – Sporting KC @ Cruz Azul (Mexico) – Fox Sports 2