CONCACAF Champions League returns with five MLS clubs vying for crown
When the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League returns for its 10th edition this week, five MLS clubs will take center stage in Round of 16, Leg 1 action to begin their quest of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup. Three of those MLS sides will face CONCACAF regional rivals, while the other two will meet head-to-head in an all-MLS matchup.
Appearing in consecutive years are FC Dallas and the New York Red Bulls with classic contenders Seattle Sounders FC competing for the second time in the past three cycles. Toronto FC, the record-breaking regular season juggernauts, have a chance to capture the only crown they have yet to stake a claim, and the Colorado Rapids will face their first true test under new leadership.
A rundown of the format, what’s at stake, and the schedule of games can be found on
MLSsoccer.com
.
Toronto FC begin quest for another title in Colorado
On the heels of a historic 2017 season, Toronto FC begin their latest quest for another title when they travel to face the Colorado Rapids for Leg 1 of the Round of 16 in Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League play on Tuesday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (10 p.m. ET, univisiondeportes.com, TSN2)
After keeping much of its core in place, Toronto added to its roster with a pair of marquee international signings this offseason in defenders
Gregory van der Wiel
and
Auro
. Van der Wiel arrives in Toronto via transfer from Serie A club Cagliari. The right back brings tremendous experience to the Reds roster, previously serving as a main contributor in the Netherlands’ 2010 FIFA World Cup runner-up finish including a full 120-minute performance in the championship match. The 22-year-old Auro, meanwhile comes to Toronto on a one-year loan from Brazilian power São Paulo. The young defender brings depth and stability to a Toronto defense that allowed a mere 37 goals last season, second-fewest in the league.
Colorado counters with a bevy of offseason additions brought in by new coach
Anthony Hudson
. The former New Zealand National Team manager signed fellow Kiwi defender and 2010 FIFA World Cup veteran
Tommy Smith
, in addition to Scotland National Team defender
Danny Wilson
and U.S. Men’s National Team defender
Edgar Castillo
. The trio joins a Rapids defense that in 2016 allowed a league-low 32 goals. Further boosting the defense will be the return of 2016 MLS Defender of the Year finalist
Axel
Sjöberg
, who missed much of last season due to injury.
Urruti heating up as FC Dallas face Tauro FC in CCL
Argentine striker
Maxi Urruti
was one of FC Dallas’ brightest spots during the 2017 MLS season, and the club will certainly be looking for him to carry his robust performance into CONCACAF Champions League action. FC Dallas have a tough task when they travel to Estadio Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez stadium in Panama City, Panama to take on Tauro FC on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, univisiondeportes.com) in the tournament’s opening leg.
Fortunately for FC Dallas, Urruti is heading up at the right moment. Coming off a career-high 12 goals in 2017, Urruti recorded a first-half brace to defeat the Portland Timbers 2-1 on Saturday at the Mobile Mini Sun Cup in Tucson, Ariz. With a mix of key returnees such as Urruti and the anticipated signing of 23-year-old Colombian
Santiago Mosquera
, all eyes will be on the attack heading into CCL. Shortly after Mosquera signed with FC Dallas, the Young Designated Player assisted an Urruti goal during a 2-2 draw against the New England Revolution on Feb. 14.
FC Dallas’ rigorous preseason also included a key friendly against fellow Champions League side Santa Tecla FC on Feb. 7, as
Tesho Akindele
’s second-half equalizer helped Dallas earn a 1-1 draw.
This marks FC Dallas’ third CCL competition, most recently advancing to the semifinals in 2016-17. Tauro competes for the second time after it was eliminated by D.C. United during the group stage of the 2014-15 CCL. Wednesday’s match will be FC Dallas’ last on the road for the next month and a half. FC Dallas hosts Tauro FC in Leg 2 on Wednesday, Feb. 28 (8 p.m. ET), then kicks off a four-game homestand to open the 2018 MLS Regular Season, beginning with Real Salt Lake on March 3 at Toyota Stadium.
Seattle, Roldan brothers travel to El Salvador to begin second CCL in three years
Seattle Sounders FC will play in their second CONCACAF Champions League in three seasons when taking on Salvadoran champion Santa Tecla FC on Thursday, February 22 in Leg 1 of Round of 16 play (10 p.m. ET, univisiondeportes.com).
This will be a special homecoming for
Cristian and Alex Roldan
, brothers who have family in El Salvador. Although raised in Southern California, their mother was born and raised in El Salvador and the
brothers visited family
in their homeland as children. Alex, a first round selection in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, could receive his first professional minutes in the match, while older brother Cristian looks to continue his stellar form of 2017 that saw him receive a first call up to the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Seattle looks to receive a boost from offseason addition and Norway National Team midfielder
Magnus Wolff Eikrem
along with the return of Homegrown forward
Jordan Morris
from injury. Morris missed much of the postseason last year but experienced success on the international front, scoring the game-winning goal to lead the U.S. to the title in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The two-time MLS Cup finalists will then host Santa Tecla at CenturyLink Field in Leg 2 on Thursday, March 1.
Revamped Red Bulls head to Honduras to take on CD Olimpia
The New York Red Bulls have brought in a bevy of key pieces this offseason to build on a strong push during the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs that ended in a tough quarterfinal exit to eventual MLS Cup champions Toronto FC. Several additions will be part of the Red Bulls’ trip to Honduras to face CD Olimpia on Thursday in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League’s Round of 16 (10 p.m.ET, univisiondeportes.com).
In January, the Red Bulls acquired 23-year-old Colombian forward
Carlos Rivas
and 21-year-old center back
Tommy Redding
from Orlando City SC (
Sacha Kljestan
departed for Orlando) and signed German midfielder
Marc Rzatkowski
, on loan from Red Bull Salzburg. Then NYRB made waves in recent days with the addition of 23-year-old Argentine winger
Alejandro Romero Gamarra
– better known as Kaku – as the club’s first Young Designated Player.
These newcomers will try to mesh with a good foundation that ranges from 19-year-old talent
Tyler Adams
to veteran striker
Bradley Wright-Phillips
and goalkeeper
Luis Robles
.
This is the Red Bulls’ fourth trip to the CCL, most recently advancing to the quarterfinals before bowing out to Vancouver Whitecaps FC during the 2016-17 edition. Olimpia, whose roster includes Honduras national teamer and former Houston Dynamo loanee
Carlo Costly
, were eliminated in the group stage of the 2016-17 tournament. Leg 2 between these two sides takes place on Thursday, March 1 (10 p.m. ET).
New MLS Fantasy game to feature two seasons and increased grand prize
MLS Fantasy is back, keeping fans engaged with new rolling roster deadlines and two chances to win a $2,000 grand prize. With the option to make subs or transfers up until each kickoff, fans no longer have to worry about seeing one of their players left on the bench. The spring season is open now through July 29, closing on the Sunday prior to the 2018 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target. The fall season will span Aug. 4 through the end of the 2018 MLS Regular Season.
More information on MLS Fantasy can be found on MLSsoccer.com.
