2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League

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CCL: Three MLS sides set to begin continental adventure

Seattle, Toronto, FC Dallas open preliminary-stage series this week

Just over two months ago, Real Salt Lake came agonizingly close to becoming the first MLS side to win the CONCACAF Champions League. They fell in final to Mexican side Monterrey, losing out on a chance to represent the region at the Club World Cup this December in Japan.

Now, it’s time to do it all again.

This week, three MLS teams — the Seattle Sounders, Toronto FC and FC Dallas — begin their CCL campaigns with the first leg matches of their preliminary stage series.

Preliminary Round

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Motagua – Municipal Jul 28 Aug 4
Morelia –Tempête Jul 28 Aug 3
Isidro Metapán – Puerto Rico Islanders Jul 27 Aug 3
Santos Laguna – Olimpia Jul 27 Aug 3
Alianza – FC Dallas Jul 28 Aug 3
Toronto FC – Real Estelí Jul 27 Aug 2
San Francisco -Seattle Sounders FC Jul 26 Aug 3
Herediano – Alpha United Jul 26 Aug 4

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2%80%9312_CONCACAF_Champions_League

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San Francisco FC 1, Sounders FC 0

San Francisco FC takes the first leg of the aggregate goal series 1-0 off a 1st half PK. 2nd leg at CenturyLink Field on August 3rd.

Former MLSer Roberto Brown buried a penalty kick in the 27th minute and the San Francisco FC defense did the rest on Tuesday night, as the Panamanian club downed the Seattle Sounders 1-0 in the opening leg of the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round in Panama City.

The two teams will wrap up the two-game aggregate-goal series in Seattle on Aug. 3, with the winner of the series advancing to the CCL group stage.

www.soundersfc.com/Matchday/Matches/2011/Season/CONCACAF-01-at-San-Francisco.aspx

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CCL Recap: TFC ride Plata brace to 2-1 win over Real Estelí

Second-half sub bags pair as Toronto win first leg of prelim series

TORONTO — Joao Plata scored twice in the second half as Toronto FC defeated Real Estelí 2-1 on Wednesday at BMO Field in their first-leg match of the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round.

The Reds looked headed for an easy, convincing victory after Plata's brace, but conceded an invaluable away goal to their Nicaraguan visitors off a goalkeeping error by Milos Kocic nine minutes from time that gives Estelí a glimmer of hope heading into the second leg next week.


www.mlssoccer.com/ccl/news/article/2011/07/27/ccl-recap-tfc-ride-plata-brace-2-1-win-over-real-estel%C3%AD

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The PR Islanders Lose 2-0 in CONCACAF


The Puerto Rico Islanders were defeated in El Salvador tonight by Isidro Metapan 2-0. This represents the first time in four appearences in the CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Stage where the Islanders have lost the away leg of the two leg tie.

The Islanders must overcome a two goal deficit in order to advance to the group stages of the 2011-2012 tournament.

www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=940

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Big First Step

Jackson strikes late in 2nd half to give FCD valuable 1st-leg win

In a physical, rain-soaked match at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador, El Salvador, FC Dallas defeated Alianza FC 1-0 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League play-in match thanks to Jackson Gonçalves.

After gathering a majority of the second half scoring opportunities, FC Dallas’ Mr. Do-it-all Brazilian made it official in the 70th minute, taking a flick from compatriot Ricardo Villar and driving by defender Edwin Martínez before slotting it by a helpless Jimmy Cuellar for the game's only goal.


www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-07-28-alianza-vs-fc-dallas/recap

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2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage

The Group Stage is scheduled to be played in 6 rounds during August–October 2011. The rounds are:
August 16–18
August 23–25
September 13–15
September 20–22
September 27–29
October 18–20

Group A
Los Angeles Galaxy
Alajuelense
Morelia / Tempête
Motagua / Municipal

Group B
Colorado Rapids
Real España
Santos Laguna / Olimpia
Isidro Metapán / Puerto Rico Islanders

Group C
UNAM
Tauro
Alianza / FC Dallas
Toronto FC / Real Esteli

Group D
Monterrey
Comunicaciones
San Francisco / Seattle Sounders FC
Herediano / Alpha United

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011%E2%80%9312_CONCACAF_Champions_League

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So Close
Two late goals overturn Keane strike, rob Galaxy of rare three points in Mexico


A rare three points in Mexico was there for the taking for the LA Galaxy.

But an error from goalkeeper Josh Saunders on an 83rd-minute freekick from Morelia's Adrian Aldate and a stoppage-time header from Mexican international Miguel Sabah gave the hosts an unlikely come-from-behind 2-1 win at the Estadio Morelos.

Robbie Keane scored for the Galaxy in the 52nd minute, after taking a long ball from Landon Donovan, rounding a defender, and beating goalkeeper Federico Vilar with a well-placed shot.

www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-09-13-morelia-vs-la-galaxy/recap