Previous CONCACAF Champions League Coverage

The LA Galaxy didn’t need a win last night in Mexico but they needed to play well. Going down 3-0 inside of the first 25 minutes doesn’t qualify. A brutal start to the game that saw mistakes all around dug a hole too deep for the Galaxy to find their way out of and their hopes of advancing in the CONCACAF Champions League came to an end. They did manage to score a goal to start the second half to get within a goal of advancing but a Tijuana goal with eight minutes left proved to be decisive. The Galaxy did fight back for one more but never could get the tie back on level terms and ending up falling 4-2 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.

Tonight our attention turns to the San Jose Earthquakes and Sporting KC. The Earthquakes are taking on Toluca and are heavy underdogs to advance in Mexico. Toluca was 4-0 in the group stage and sit second in Liga MX so far this spring. The Earthquakes have a lot of work to do after only drawing 1-1 at home. They have to score in Mexico tonight to have any chance and can’t afford to lose. With a win seeming hard to fathom the path for the Earthquakes is likely a scoring draw that leads to penalties (1-1 tie) or perhaps scoring twice and winning in regulation in a draw. It will take a herculean effort tonight in Mexico but perhaps the Earthquakes are the ones to do it.

Sporting KC has a much easier path against Cruz Azul, but the opponent may be even harder. Cruz Azul was also 4-0 in the group stage and they lead Liga MX right now. Still Sporting knows they can get a result as they did in Kansas City last week, though Mexico is another story. A draw would be enough for Sporting KC and they could even advance on a one-goal loss if they score.

The Galaxy showed several things last night in their loss at Tijuana. They showed how important it is to come out of the gate strong and not give up early goals. Sporting KC has the advantage heading into this game so they can play from the lead as long as they keep the clean sheet. Secondly we saw how big an away goal is. The Galaxy were AWFUL in the first half but their goal to start the second half instantly transformed the game and they were one bounce going the right way from advancing. If Sporting KC can score tonight Cruz Azul will need three to move on and that might be asking a lot.

Both games are on Fox Sports 2 (FS2) back-to-back so it should be an exciting night of USA vs. Mexico soccer.

My predictions: San Jose 0-2 Toluca … Sporting KC 1-2 Cruz Azul

Schedule:

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

It’s been a tough task for MLS teams heading to Mexico trying to move on in the CONCACAF Champions League. Never before has a team gone to Mexico and gotten the result to advance. We have seen an American team get a result on home soil to advance (Seattle over UANL last year) but the holy grail is still going to Mexico in the second leg and doing enough to move on.

Tonight the LA Galaxy get a chance to end that when they make the short trek down the coast to Tijuana. The Galaxy hold a 1-0 lead on aggregate so they don’t even need to win tonight, a draw would be enough. The Galaxy will be surely looking for an early away goal which would mean that Tijuana needs three to advance.

Last year the Galaxy advanced to the semifinals but were beaten 2-1 in Los Angeles before losing 1-0 at Monterrey. Next year they will not be taking part, so the pressure is on to try and advance further this year.

MLSSoccer.com has a preview of the game. It should be an exciting one and the great news is that it’s on Fox Sports 2 (FS2) at 10 PM ET.

Prediction: A 1-1 tie that sees Los Angeles advance.

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

The 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League is back underway this week with the quarterfinals getting underway. This competition involves the top teams from North and Central America as well as the Caribbean. Three Mexican teams and three American teams made the quarterfinals and all are facing each other this week.

The first one to get underway is the San Jose Earthquakes against Toluca. Toluca was 4-0 in the group stage last fall out scoring their opponents 15-4 while San Jose went 2-2 with only four goals scored and two allowed. This is the first time the Earthquakes have made the Champions League, they played in the CONCACAF Champions Cup three times from 2002-2004 but never advanced past the semifinals. They have only played a Mexican team once, in 2002, when they won lost 3-0 away at Pachuca before winning 1-0 at home but losing on aggregate.

Toluca is a city just west of Mexico City, the club has been in the Champions League twice before, 2009-10 and 2010-11 advancing to the semifinals once and the quarterfinals the second time. They have only made one trip to the US before, drawing 2-2 at the Columbus Crew in 2010 before winning 3-2 back in Mexico.

Toluca finished fifth in Liga MX in the fall Apertura Season and reached the semifinals of the playoffs. They are second in the spring Clausura Season after 10 of 17 games. The San Jose Earthquakes are yet to open the 2014 MLS season but were 14-11-9 last year and finished sixth in the West missing out on the playoffs on goal differential.

This game will be on Fox Sports 2 (FS2) at 10 PM ET.