2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League

[TheGift]

6/16/2008 - CONCACAF announced today the complete schedule of match-ups for the Preliminary Round and Group Stage for the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League™.

CONCACAF has also confirmed the kick-off times under Eastern Standard for both the Preliminary Round and Group Stage with the exception of several match-ups that are listed as TBD (to be determined) because teams competing for that slot are in different time zones.

The Preliminary Round of the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League™ is composed of 16 teams (BLZ1, CAN1, CFU1, CFU2, CFU3, CRC2, GUA2, HON2, MEX3, MEX4, NCA1, SLV2, PAN1, PAN2, USA3, USA4) that were drawn last week into eight home-and-away match-ups that will take place on 26-28 August 2008 and 2-4 September 2008.

2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League™ Preliminary Round

Home Team Listed First – All Kickoff Times Eastern Standard
(Schedule Subject to Change)

First-legs
26.08
CFU2: Joe Public FC (TRI) – USA3: New England Revolution (20:00)
PAN2: Tauro FC – USA4: Chivas USA (20:00)
MEX4: CD SC Cruz Azul – BLZ1: Hankook Verdes (22:00)

27.08
CAN1: Canadian Champion – NCA1: Nicaraguan Champion (TBD)
CRC2: LD Alajuelense – CFU3: Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) (22:00)
SLV2: AD Isidro Metapan – HON2: CD Olimpia or CD Marathon (22:00)

28.08
CFU1: Harbour View FC (JAM) – MEX3: Pumas UNAM (20:00)
GUA2: CD Municipal or Deportivo Jalapa – PAN1: San Francisco FC (22:00)

Second-legs
02.09
USA3: New England Revolution – CFU2: Joe Public FC (TRI) (20:00)
USA4: Chivas USA – PAN2: Tauro FC (22:00)
NCA1: Nicaraguan Champion – CAN1: Canadian Champion (20:00)

03.09
CFU3: Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) – CRC2: LD Alajuelense (20:00)
BLZ1: Hankook Verdes – MEX4: CD SC Cruz Azul (22:00)
HON2: CD Olimpia or CD Marathon – SLV2: CD Isidro Metapan (22:00)

04.09
PAN1: San Francisco FC – GUA2: CD Municipal or Deportivo Jalapa (20:00)
MEX3: Pumas UNAM – CFU1: Harbour View FC (JAM) (22:00)

The Preliminary Stage winners will join the eight seeded teams (MEX1, MEX2, USA1, USA2, CRC1, GUA1, HON1, SLV1) in the Group Stage that consists of four groups of four teams each.

The top two clubs from each of the four groups will advance to the Quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League. These eight teams will be drawn into four Quarterfinal pairings to play home-and-away match-ups in February 2009. The four Quarterfinal winners will then play in two Semifinal home-and-away match-ups in March and April 2009 with the two Semifinal winners squaring-off in the home-and-away 2008-2009 CONCACAF Champions League™ Final in late April 2009.

The CONCACAF Champions League™ winner will qualify as the CONCACAF representative to the 2009 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.

2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League™ Group Stage

(Schedule Subject to Change)

Group A
USA2: D.C. United
CRC1: Deportivo Saprissa
Series 4 Winner: Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes
Series 8 Winner: Isidro Metapan or Olimpia/Marathon

Schedule, Home Team Listed First (All Kickoff Time Eastern Standard)
16.09: D.C. United – Deportivo Saprissa (20:00)
17.09: Isidro Metapan or Olimpia/Marathon – Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes (22:00)
23.09: Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes – Deportivo Saprissa (TBD)
24.09: Isidro Metapan or Olimpia/Marathon – D.C. United (22:00)
30.09: Deportivo Saprissa – Isidro Metapan or Olimpia/Marathon (22:00)
01.10: D.C. United – Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes (20:00)
07.10: Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes – Isidro Metapan or Olimpia/Marathon (20:00)
09.10: Deportivo Saprissa – D.C. United (22:00)
21.10: Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes – D.C. United (22:00)
23.10: Isidro Metapan or Olimpia/Marathon – Deportivo Saprissa (20:00)
29.10: D.C. United – Isidro Metapan or Olimpia/Marathon (20:00)
29.10: Deportivo Saprissa – Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes (20:00)

Group B
USA1: Houston Dynamo
SLV1: CD Luis Angel Firpo
Series 1 Winner: Jalapa/Municipal or San Francisco FC
Series 5 Winner: Harbour View FC or Pumas UNAM

Schedule, Home Team Listed First (All Kickoff Time Eastern Standard)
16.09: Jalapa/Municipal or San Francisco – Harbour View or Pumas (TBD)
17.09: Houston Dynamo – CD Luis Angel Firpo (22:00)
23.09: Jalapa/Municipal or San Francisco – Houston Dynamo (TBD)
24.09: Harbour View or Pumas – CD Luis Angel Firpo (TBD)
30.09: Harbour View or Pumas – Houston Dynamo (TBD)
02.10: CD Luis Angel Firpo – Jalapa/Municipal or San Francisco (20:00)
08.10: Houston Dynamo – Jalapa/Municipal or San Francisco (22:00)
09.10: CD Luis Angel Firpo – Harbour View or Pumas (22:00)
22.10: Houston Dynamo – Harbour View or Pumas (22:00)
22.10: Jalapa/Municipal or San Francisco – CD Luis Angel Firpo (TBD)
28.10: CD Luis Angel Firpo – Houston Dynamo (22:00)
29.10: Harbour View or Pumas – Jalapa/Municipal or San Francisco (TBD)

Group C
MEX1: Atlante FC
HON1: CD Olímpia or CD Marathon
Series 2 Winner: Joe Public FC or New England Revolution
Series 7 Winner: CAN1 or NCA1

Schedule, Home Team Listed First (All Kickoff Time Eastern Standard)
17.09: CAN1 or NCA1 – Joe Public FC or New England Revolution (TBD)
18.09: Atlante – HON1 (22:00)
24.09: Joe Public FC or New England Revolution – HON1 (20:00)
24.09: CAN1 or NCA1 – Atlante (TBD)
30.09: Atlante – Joe Public FC or New England Revolution (20:00)
02.10: HON1 – CAN1 or NCA1 (22:00)
08.10: Joe Public FC or New England Revolution – CAN1 or NCA1 (20:00)
08.10: HON1 – Atlante (22:00)
21.10: CAN1 or NCA1 – HON1 (TBD)
21.10: Joe Public FC or New England Revolution – Atlante (20:00)
28.10: HON1 – Joe Public FC or New England Revolution (20:00)
28.10: Atlante – CAN1 or NCA1 (22:00)

Group D
MEX2: Club Santos Laguna
GUA1: CSD Municipal or Deportivo Jalapa
Series 3 Winner: LD Alajuelense or Puerto Rico Islanders
Series 6 Winner: Chivas USA or Tauro FC

Schedule, Home Team Listed First (All Kickoff Time Eastern Standard)
16.09: LD Alajuelense or Puerto Rico Islanders – Chivas USA or Tauro (TBD)
17.09: Club Santos Laguna – GUA1 (20:00)
23.09: Chivas USA or Tauro – GUA1 (TBD)
25.09: LD Alajuelense or Puerto Rico Islanders – Club Santos Laguna (TBD)
01.10: GUA1 – LD Alajuelense or Puerto Rico Islanders (20:00)
01.10: Chivas USA or Tauro – Club Santos Laguna (TBD)
07.10: GUA1 – Chivas USA or Tauro (22:00)
08.10: Club Santos Laguna – LD Alajuelense or Puerto Rico Islanders (20:00)
22.10: Club Santos Laguna – Chivas USA or Tauro (20:00)
23.10: LD Alajuelense or Puerto Rico Islanders – GUA1 (TBD)
29.10: Chivas USA or Tauro – LD Alajuelense or Puerto Rico Islanders (TBD)
30.10: GUA1 – Club Santos Laguna (22:00)

Quarterfinals
24-26 February: First-legs
3-5 March: Second-legs

Semifinals
17-19 March: First-legs
7-9 April: Second-legs

Final
21-23 April: First-leg
28-30 April: Second-leg

CONCACAF

[TheGift]

I'm excited for this tournament.

I'm hoping Firpo (El Salvador) and DC United (USA) have a good showing.

I also am hoping Alajualense (Costa Rica) can get out of the preliminaries since Eliseo Quintanilla (ES National Team Star) plays there.