MATCHCENTER

The Basics

Toronto FC (Nutrilite Canadian Championship winners) vs. C.D. Motagua (Honduran Clausura 2010 runners-up), 2010 CONCACAF Champions League, Preliminary Round Series, at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada.

TV Info

8 pm ET; Fox Soccer Channel, Gol TV (Canada)

Game Intro

Much is on the line, with the winner getting the all-important advantage in the two-game aggregate goal series that will send one team to the group stage.

Tegucigalpa-based Motagua make their first Champions League appearance and will have it tough at a hostile BMO Field, but they should be accustomed to such receptions from their experience playing against rivals Olimpia and Marathón.

As Canadian champions, Toronto make their second straight appearance in the CCL and will look to improve on their preliminary-round series loss to USSF D-2’s Puerto Rico Islanders last year.

The second leg of the series will be played on Aug. 3 in Tegucigalpa.

Toronto FC

The Reds, winless in their last two league matches, are coming off a draw against FC Dallas and a loss to the Philadelphia Union, who put an end to TFC's eight-game unbeaten streak on July 17. Defensive breakdowns and a lack of focus have combined with a dearth of offensive output to create a troubling situation for a club that’s narrowly holding down a playoff spot.

The recent additions of Maicon Santos and Alberto Garcia Ferrer Martinez (“Mista”) will help the offense, but concentration on defense and the ability to play with the lead are still suspect. Motagua, with their speed and skill, may be in a position to steal goals ahead of the second leg.

“This [game] is very important. This is something that will change the culture of football for not just the club but for the country,” said TFC midfielder Julian de Guzman. “Being involved in a prestigious tournament such as the Champions League is a huge thing that TFC have been fighting for and to be involved in every tournament and also do well is something that we want. This is definitely a huge match.”

C.D. Motagua

Motagua haven’t played a major competitive match since early May, when they lost the two-leg Clausura final series to Olimpia. This should be an advantage to a Toronto team that is in mid-season form.

Despite the inactivity, Honduras’ second-most successful club (11-time champions and nine-time runners-up) is still a threat. Five players in Motagua’s ranks represented Honduras at the 2010 World Cup – goalkeeper Ricardo Canales, defenders Emilio Izaguirre and Sergio Mendoza, forward Georgie Welcome and midfielder Amado Guevara.

Coach Ramon Maradiaga, who recently led Guatemala, will undoubtedly look to this quintet, especially captain and former TFC midfielder Guevara, to lead the squad against a Toronto side that may be fragile in the back.

Heroes & Villains

Motagua midfielder Amado Guevara vs. Toronto FC midfielder Julian de Guzman – Teammates with Toronto FC least season, the two will oppose each other Tuesday, but this isn’t anything new. They’ve squared off before while representing Honduras and Canada at recent CONCACAF Gold Cups and FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

Both are key engines to their respective team’s offenses and the winner of this battle will likely give his team the advantage heading into the second leg. However, Guevara, TFC’s fourth- highest leading goalscorer in club history, will have the added motivation of his off-season release from the Reds upon the arrival of manager Preki, with whom he fell out of favor while at Chivas USA.

Stat that makes you go "Hm…"

Toronto are undefeated at BMO Field in 2010 with a record of 5-0-4 in nine league matches.