facing defending CONCACAF Champions' Cup winners Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica in the quarterfinals of the regional club championship, which begins next February.
Saprissa, which defeated Pumas UNAM of Mexico in the final last May for the third Champions' Cup title in club history, ensured they would have the opportunity to defend their title when they defeated fellow Costa Rican outfit Municipal Perez Zeledon on penalty kicks Tuesday night to claim the third and final berth in Central American qualifying.
The Central American qualifying championship will be decided on Wednesday when Liga Deportiva Alajuelense (Costa Rica) takes on CD Olimpia on Honduras. Both teams have already secured their places in the final eight of the CONCACAF tournament, with LD Alajuelense taking on MLS Cup runner-up New England Revolution.
The quarterfinals will be played over home-and-home series, the winner decided on aggregate goals. If the teams are level after 180 minutes, there will be 30 minutes of extra time, with penalty kicks to follow if the series is still tied. The Galaxy, CONCACAF champions in 2000, will play host to the first leg of their quarterfinal series, to be played on Feb. 22. The second leg is set for March 8. New England will be at home for the return match of their quarterfinal.
A year ago, Saprissa was mere seconds from crashing out at the quarterfinal stage to the Kansas City Wizards. After the teams played to a scoreless draw in the first leg in Kansas City, the Wizards scored a late goal from Jose Burciaga that seemingly sent them through, but Gerald Drummond knocked home a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer, then scored in extra-time to send the Costa Rican champions through. After getting past Mexico's CF Monterrey on penalty kicks in the semifinals, Saprissa defeated Pumas 3-2 on aggregate in the final; Pumas had reached the championship after defeating D.C. United 6-1 on aggregate in the semis.
It's the second time in four years the Revolution have faced LD Alajuelense, the 2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners. In 2003, in the round-of-16 where four MLS teams were granted entry to the tournament proper, the Costa Rican power defeated the Revolution 5-3 on aggregate with both matches played in the Central American country.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
