August 7, 2009

CCL update: Sorry about the jinx Liberia

You take a 3-0 lead into the second leg and you should be okay, right? Not if Real Espana HULKS UP and wins 6-0. Yes, 6-0. Carlos Pavon wreaked havoc all over the field, scoring 3 and having a hand in 2 more.

At least the Red Bulls didn't lose 6-0...

After San Juan Jabloteh and Arabe Unido overcame first leg deficits last night, here's your 2009/10 CONCACAF Champions League group stage:

Group A
Houston
Pachuca
Árabe Unido (PAN)
Isidro Metapán (ES)

Group B
Toluca
Marathón (HON)
DC United
San Juan Jabloteh (T&T)

Group C
Columbus
Saprissa (CR)
Cruz Azul
Puerto Rico Islanders

Group D
UNAM Pumas
Communicaciones (GUA)
W Connection (T&T)
Real España (HON)

Must see TV:
August 18- Columbus v. Puerto Rico
August 26- DCU v. Toluca, Cruz Azul v. Columbus
September 15- Puerto Rico v. Cruz Azul
September 16- Pachuca v. Houston, Saprissa v. Columbus
September 23- Columbus v. Cruz Azul
September 24- DCU v. Marathón
September 30- Houston v. Pachuca
October 20- Toluca v. DCU, Puerto Rico v. Columbus, Saprissa v. Cruz Azul

Other thoughts:
  • Houston gets 2 out of the last 3 at home. The home and away with Pachuca will be great to watch, nice rivalry building with those teams.
  • DC also gets 2 out of the last 3 at home. They do not want to be going into Toluca on October 20 needing points to survive, that place is really tough. Stealing points on the road in Trinidad on September 15 would be huge.
  • Columbus needs to survive the first half of the schedule. They have to go to Cruz Azul and Saprissa, and they host the always tricky Islanders. Their last game is also a tough one, going to Puerto Rico.
  • Puerto Rico gets 3 of their last 4 at home. They need to maximize points at home to have a shot. It won't be easy to steal points on the road against this group.
I'm really looking forward to this again, lots of interesting storylines...

Who's got predictions?

2 comments:

Matthew N said...

I'm really hoping Columbus and Houston can make the MLS proud and come home the champions this year.

Longshoe said...

Columbus will be interesting to watch, they don't have much experience at this level.

I think Houston is in a much better position to do well. However, what happens to them if they lose Ricardo Clark in January? That will make things really difficult for the Dynamo should they make the knockout stages...

If DC could find some consistency, they're in a good group to advance out of, much easier time for them than the Crew.