|
Football - CONCACAF
CD SC Cruz
Azul (Mexico), CSD Municipal (Guatemala) Club Santos Laguna
(Mexico), LD Alajuelense (Costa Rica), Puerto Rico Islanders and
Tauro FC (Panama) have all secured berths to the
2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League™ this past weekend.
COSTA RICA: LD Alajuelense progressed to the CONCACAF
Champions League™ by reaching the final of the 2008 Torneo Verano
Championship. Regardless of whether Alajuelense win or lose the
Verano Final against already qualified Deportivo Saprissa (2007
Invierno Champion), the
Rojinegros
still qualify to the CONCACAF event as the top finisher in the
2008 regular season standings with 31 Points. Saprissa have
already won the first-leg of the Verano Final, with a 1:0 triumph,
over Alajuelense on Sunday. The return-leg is set for Thursday
(29 May) and if Saprissa win the Verano Final they automatically
take the CRC1 spot at the CONCACAF Champions League™, while
Alajuelense has the CRC2 position. If the
Rojinegros
are crowned the 2008 Verano Champions then Alajuelense and
Saprissa will play each other again in a two-game playoff to
determine CRC1 and CRC2.
GUATEMALA: CSD Municipal advanced to the CONCACAF Champions
League™ after claiming the Torneo Clausura 2008 title over the
weekend by defeating CSD Comunicaciones 4:3 on aggregate in the
finals. After losing the first-leg 2:1 on 15 May, CSD Municipal
won their 26th Guatemalan crown following a 3:1 victory
over Comunicaciones on Sunday. Municipal will now face already
qualified Deportivo Jalapa (2007 Apertura Champion) in a two-game
playoff to determine GUA1 and GUA2.
MEXICO: CD SC Cruz Azul and Club Santos Laguna secured
their places to the CONCACAF Champions League™ after reaching the
finals of the 2008 Torneo Clausura by eliminating San Luis and CF
Monterrey, respectively, in the semifinals over the weekend.
Santos Laguna advanced to the final following a 2:2 tie against
Monterrey and with the aggregate score leveled 3:3, Santos Laguna
qualified because of their higher position in the regular season
standings. Meanwhile, Cruz Azul reached the final after defeating
San Luis 2:1 on aggregate. Cruz Azul and Santos Laguna will not
only meet for the 2008 Clausura title this week but also to
determine the MEX2 and MEX4 slots that go to the respective 2008
champion and runner-up.
PANAMA: Tauro FC qualified to the CONCACAF Champions
League™ by advancing to the final of 2008 ANAPROF Torneo Apertura
Championship. Regardless of whether Tauro win or lose the
Apertura Final against already qualified San Francisco FC (2007
Clausura Champion), they still qualify to the CONCACAF event as
the top finisher in the 2008 regular season standings with 23
Points. If San Francisco FC claim the Apertura Final they
automatically take the PAN1 spot at the CONCACAF Champions
League™, while Tauro has the PAN2 position. If Tauro are crowned
the 2008 Apertura Champion, this Saturday, then San Francisco FC
and Tauro will play each other again in a two-game playoff to
determine PAN1 and PAN2.
CARIBBEAN: The Puerto Rico Islanders became the third CFU
(Caribbean Football Union) team to advance to the CONCACAF
Champions League™ after eliminating San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad
& Tobago 1:0 on aggregate in a home-and-away playoff. After
winning the first-leg
1:0 in Puerto Rico on 9 May, the Islanders held on to a
scoreless draw in the second match in Trinidad & Tobago on 25
May. The Islanders, who are first Puerto Rican team to compete in
a CONCACAF Club Tournament, earned the CFU3 spot and join Harbour
View FC of Jamaica (CFU1) and Joe Public FC of Trinidad & Tobago
(CFU2) as the Caribbean representatives in the CONCACAF Champions
League™.
2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League™ Format
The 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League™ will have eight clubs
(MEX1, MEX2, USA1, USA2, CRC1, GUA1, HON1, SLV1) seeded directly
to the Group Stage, while the sixteen remaining teams will be
paired in eight home-and-away match-ups in the Preliminary Stage
which will take place on 26-28 August 2008 and 2-4 September 2008.
The Preliminary Stage winners will join the eight seeded teams in
the Group Stage that consists of four groups of four teams each.
The teams in each group will play each other in a round-robin
system during six match dates (three home games, three away games)
from 16 September 2008 - 30 October 2008.
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.
THREE PLACES REMAIN FOR CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE™
Only three qualification places remain, one each from Canada, El
Salvador and Nicaragua in order to complete the field of 24-teams
that will compete in the inaugural 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions
League™ this coming August.
The Impact de Montreal, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC will
play a home-and-away round-robin tournament called Nutrilite
Canadian Championship from 27 May - 22 July. The winner of the
Canadian Championship will advance to the CONCACAF Champions
League™ as CAN1.
El Salvador's CD F.A.S. will face already qualified CD Luis Angel
Firpo (2007 Apertura Champion) in the Liga Mayor 2008 Clausura
Final on 1 June in San Salvador. If CD F.A.S. win, they qualify
to the CONCACAF Champions League™ and once again meet CD Luis
Angel Firpo in a two-game playoff to determine SLV1 and SLV2. If
Luis Angel Firpo claim the Clausura Final, they automatically take
SLV1 spot and CD Isidro Metapán earn the SLV2 spot after
finishing with the highest points in the 2008 Clausura standings
with 32 Points.
Real Esteli FC, who won Nicaragua's 2007 Campeonato Nacional de
Apertura, are in fourth place (27 Points) in the 2008 Clausura
eight points behind the leader Deportivo Ocotal with 35, while
Deportivo Walter Ferreti and Diriangen FC tied for second-place,
with 33 Points . All four teams have secured places in the
semifinals after 16 match dates. The winner of the Clausura will
meet Real Esteli FC in a two-game playoff to determine NCA1 spot.
If Real Esteli win the Clausura title, then they automatically
earn NCA1 place.
The three qualified clubs will join the list of confirmed teams in
the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League™: Belize - Hankook Verdes;
Costa Rica - Deportivo Saprissa, LD Alajuelense; El Salvador - CD
Luis Angel Firpo; Guatemala - CSD Municipal, Deportivo Jalapa;
Honduras - CD Olimpia, CD Marathon; Mexico - Atlante FC, CD SC
Cruz Azul, Pumas UNAM, Club Santos Laguna; Panama - San Francisco
FC, Tauro FC; USA - Houston Dynamo, D.C. United, New England
Revolution, Chivas USA; and Caribbean: Harbour View FC of Jamaica,
Joe Public FC of Trinidad & Tobago, Puerto Rico Islanders.
CONCACAF EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS TO TAKE PLACE IN SYDNEY
The XVII CONCACAF Extraordinary Congress will be held in Sydney,
Australia on 28 May, just before the start of the 58th
FIFA Congress (29-30 May).
This is only the second time that any CONCACAF Congress has taken
place outside of the confederation's own borders. The last time
was during the 2006 CONCACAF Extraordinary Congress that was held
in Munich, Germany.
CUBA TO HOST CARIBBEAN GROUP A THIS WEEK
Cuba will host the Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Haiti in the
Caribbean First Round Group A Qualification to the
2009 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship at the Estadio Pedro
Marrero in Havana from 27-31 May 2008.
The triumphant team from Group A and the victor of Group D (St.
Vincent & The Grenadines) will join the winners of the
remaining three groups along with four best second-place finishers
will advance to the Caribbean Second Round Qualification that will
be composed of three triangular groups in September 2008.
The top team from each triangular along with the best second-place
team will progress to the Caribbean Final Round scheduled for
December 2008.
Trinidad & Tobago will host the CONCACAF U-20 Championship which
is tentatively scheduled for January/February 2009.
COMPLETE STORY
The CONCACAF Tournament will be held in a single venue for the
first time since 1996 and will not only crown a champion but will
also qualify four teams to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009.
CUBA WIN THREE FRIENDLIES AGAINST PANAMA
Cuba's
Futsal Team won three home friendlies against Panama last week at
Havana's Polideportivo Kid Chocolate.
Eduardo Morales scored twice, while Fernando Chapman and Yulier
Olivera added another in the 5:2 victory for Cuba in the opening
encounter on 19 May.
After a 6:1 Cuban triumph on 20 May, Yosniel Mesa's goal gave the
Leones del Caribe
their third consecutive win over the visiting
Canaleros
the next day.
COMPLETE STORY
Both teams will compete in at the
2008 CONCACAF Futsal Championship in Guatemala City's Domo
Polideportivo from 3-8 June.
Cuba have been drawn into Group A along with Mexico, Trinidad &
Tobago and the hosts, Guatemala, while Panama are in Group B that
consists of Costa Rica, Haiti and the defending CONCACAF Champion
USA.
The eight-team CONCACAF Tournament will qualify three nations to
the 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Brazil from 30 September - 19
October.
CANADA TRAVEL TO BRAZIL FOR FOURTH GRAND PRIX OF FUTSAL 2008
Canada will travel to Nadal Fortaleza, Brazil to compete at the
Fourth Grand Prix of Futsal 2008 from 31 May - 8 June.
The Maple Leafs will know their opponents in the 16-team
tournament when the official draw for the group stage take place
on 29 May at the Hotel Gran Marquise in Fortaleza.
Along with Canada, the event will have the following teams
competing: Africa - Angola, Egypt, Mozambique; Asia - Iran; Europe
- Czech Republic, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine; South America -
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela.
CONCACAF TEAMS TO PLAY FRIENDLIES THIS WEEK
In preparation for Stage 2 of CONCACAF World Cup Qualification
this coming June, several CONCACAF teams are playing international
friendlies this week.
The USA will travel to London to face England on 28 May, while
Honduras meet Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA two days
later (30 May).
Also in the USA, El Salvador will take on Guatemala in Washington,
D.C. on 30 May, while the next day, Canada will face Brazil in
Seattle, Washington.
On 1 June, Trinidad & Tobago will host England in Port of Spain,
while Guatemala face Panama in Fort Lauderdale.
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA, HONDURAS, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES POST VICTORIES
Antigua & Barbuda, Honduras and Netherlands Antilles all posted
victories in preparation for CONCACAF World Cup Qualification.
Two goals from Randolph Burton and Kerry Skepple led Antigua &
Barbuda to a 6:1 triumph over visiting St. Lucia in St. John's on
18 May.
Elsewhere, Benjamin Martha and Rocky Siberie scored for the hosts,
Netherlands Antilles in a 2:1 win against Surinam in Willemstad on
21 May, while the next day, goals by Victor Bernardez and Georgie
Welcome gave Honduras a 2:0 victory over visiting Belize in a
closed door encounter in San Pedro Sula.
CANADIAN WOMEN FALL TO AUSTRALIA IN FRIENDLY
The Canadian women's team were beaten
2:1 by the hosts, Australia in a international friendly at the
Sydney Football Stadium on 23 May.
The Maple Leafs continue their preparation for the Women's Olympic
Football Tournament Beijing 2008 when they travel to Suwon, Korea
Republic for the Peace Queen Cup from 14-21 June.
Canada are in Group A at the 2008 Peace Queen Cup that consists of
Argentina, Korea DPR and the hosts, Korea Republic, while the
other CONCACAF qualifier, USA will compete in Group B along with
Australia, Brazil and Italy.
2010 CONCACAF WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION
STAGE 2
Series 1
15.06.2008: Carson, California USA; Home Depot Center (14:00)
USA - BARBADOS
22.06.2008: Bridgetown, BARBADOS; Kensington Oval (15:00)
BARBADOS - USA
Series 2
14.06.2008: Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA; Estadio Mateo Flores
(20:00)
GUATEMALA - ST. LUCIA
21.06.2008: Vieux Fort, ST. LUCIA; George Odlum National Stadium
(16:00)
ST. LUCIA - GUATEMALA
Series 3
15.06.2008: Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO; Hasely Crawford
Stadium (16:00)
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - BERMUDA
22.06.2008: Hamilton, BERMUDA; National Sports Centre (19:30)
BERMUDA - TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Series 4
17.06.2008: St. John's, ANTIGUA & BARBUDA; Sir Vivian Richards
Cricket Stadium (19:00)
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA - CUBA
22.06.2008: La Habana, CUBA; Estadio Pedro Marrero (17:00)
CUBA - ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
Series 5
15.06.2008: Houston, Texas USA; Reliant Stadium (15:30)
BELIZE - MEXICO
21.06.2008: Monterrey, Nuevo Leon MEXICO; Estadio Universitario
(21:00)
MEXICO - BELIZE
Series 6
15.06.2008: Kingston, JAMAICA; National Stadium (18:00)
JAMAICA - BAHAMAS
18.06.2008: Greenfield, JAMAICA; Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium
(16:00)
BAHAMAS - JAMAICA
Series 7
04.06.2008: San Pedro Sula, HONDURAS; Estadio Olímpico
Metropolitano (19:30)
HONDURAS - PUERTO RICO
14.06.2008: Bayamón, PUERTO RICO; Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel
(20:00)
PUERTO RICO - HONDURAS
Series 8
15.06.2008: Kingstown, ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES; Arnos Vale
Playing Field (15:00)
ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES - CANADA
20.06.2008: Montreal, Quebec CANADA; Stade Saputo (19:30)
CANADA - ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
Series 9
14.06.2008: St. George's, GRENADA; National Stadium (16:00)
GRENADA - COSTA RICA
21.06.2008: San José, COSTA RICA; Estadio Ricardo Saprissa (20:00)
COSTA RICA - GRENADA
Series 10
14.06.2008: Paramaribo, SURINAM; Andres Kamperveen Stadium (16:00)
SURINAM - GUYANA
22.06.2008: Georgetown, GUYANA; National Stadium (15:30)
GUYANA - SURINAM
Series 11
15.06.2008: Ciudad de Panamá, PANAMA; Estadio Rod Carew (16:00)
PANAMA - EL SALVADOR
22.06.2008: San Salvador, EL SALVADOR; Estadio Cuscatlan (18:00)
EL SALVADOR - PANAMA
Series 12
15.06.2008: Port-au-Prince, HAITI; Stade Sylvio Cator (15:00)
HAITI - NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
22.06.2008: Willemstad, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES; Ergilio Hato Stadium
(18:00)
NETHERLANDS ANTILLES - HAITI
2008-09 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE™
Caribbean Playoff
25.05.2008:
Couva, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO; Ato Boldon Stadium
SAN JUAN JABLOTEH (TRI) - PUERTO RICO ISLANDERS (PUR) 0:0
Puerto Rico Islanders win
1:0 on aggregate
Canadian Qualification
27.05.2008: Montréal, Quebec; Stade Saputo
IMPACT DE MONTREAL - TORONTO FC
17.06.2008: Montréal, Quebec; Stade Saputo
IMPACT DE MONTREAL - VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
25.06.2008: Vancouver, British Columbia; Swangard Stadium
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS - IMPACT DE MONTREAL
01.07.2008: Toronto, Ontario; BMO Field
TORONTO FC - VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
09.07.2008: Vancouver, British Columbia; Swangard Stadium
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS - TORONTO FC
22.07.2008: Toronto, Ontario; BMO Field
TORONTO FC - IMPACT DE MONTREAL
2008 CONCACAF FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Guatemala City; GUATEMALA; Domo Polideportivo
Group A
03.06: CUBA - MEXICO (18:00)
GUATEMALA - TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (20:00)
04.06: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - CUBA (18:00)
GUATEMALA - MEXICO (20:00)
05.06: MEXICO - TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (18:00)
GUATEMALA - CUBA (20:00)
Group B
03.06: COSTA RICA - PANAMA (10:00)
USA - HAITI (12:00)
04.06: HAITI - COSTA RICA (10:00)
PANAMA - USA (12:00)
05.06: PANAMA - HAITI (10:00)
USA - COSTA RICA (12:00)
Semifinals
07.06: B1 - A2 (14:00)
A1 - B2 (16:00)
Finals
08.06: THIRD PLACE (14:00)
CHAMPIONSHIP (16:00)
Friendlies
19.05.2008: La Habana, CUBA; Polideportivo Kid Chocolate
CUBA - PANAMA 5:2 (3:0)
20.05.2008: La Habana, CUBA; Polideportivo Kid Chocolate
CUBA - PANAMA 6:1 (3:0)
21.05.2008: La Habana, CUBA; Polideportivo Kid Chocolate
CUBA - PANAMA 1:0 (0:0)
2009 CONCACAF UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP
CARIBBEAN QUALIFICATION
First Round
Group A - La Habana, CUBA; Estadio Pedro Marrero
27.05.2008: HAITI - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (15:00)
CUBA - BAHAMAS (17:00)
29.05.2008: BAHAMAS - HAITI (15:00)
CUBA - DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (17:00)
31.05.2008: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - BAHAMAS (15:00)
CUBA - HAITI (17:00)
NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Friendlies
18.05.2008: St. John's, ANTIGUA & BARBUDA; Antigua Recreation
Ground
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA - ST. LUCIA 6:1 (3:0)
21.05.2008: Willemstad, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES; Ergilio Hato Stadium
NETHERLANDS ANTILLES - SURINAM 2:1 (1:1)
22.05.2008: San Pedro Sula, HONDURAS; Estadio Olímpico
Metropolitano (Closed Door)
HONDURAS - BELIZE 2:0 (2:0)
28.05.2008: London, ENGLAND; Wembley Stadium (15:00)
ENGLAND - USA
30.05.2008: Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA; Lockhart Stadium (21:00)
HONDURAS - VENEZUELA
30.05.2008: Washington, D.C. USA; RFK Stadium (20:15)
EL SALVADOR - GUATEMALA
31.05.2008: Seattle, Washington USA; Qwest Field (19:30)
CANADA - BRAZIL
01.06.2008: Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO; Hasely Crawford
Stadium
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - ENGLAND
01.06.2008: Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA; Lockhart Stadium (16:00)
GUATEMALA - PANAMA
03.06.2008: Kingston, JAMAICA; National Stadium
JAMAICA - ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
04.06.2008: Santander, SPAIN; Estadio El Sardinero
SPAIN - USA
04.06.2008: San Diego, California USA; Qualcomm Stadium (20:00)
MEXICO - ARGENTINA
04.06.2008: Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA; (Closed Door)
CANADA - PANAMA
07.06.2008: La Ceiba, HONDURAS; Estadio Municipal (19:00)
HONDURAS - HAITI
07.06.2008: Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO;
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - JAMAICA
08.06.2008: Chicago, Illinois USA; Soldier Field (19:00)
MEXICO - PERU
08.06.2008: East Rutherford, New Jersey USA; Giants Stadium
(19:30)
USA - ARGENTINA
09.06.2008: Willemstad, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES; Ergilio Hato Stadium
(20:00)
NETHERLANDS ANTILLES - VENEZUELA
10.06.2008: TBD, GRENADA;
GRENADA - JAMAICA
18.06.2008: Willemstad, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES; Ergilio Hato Stadium
(20:00)
NETHERLANDS ANTILLES - HONDURAS
WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Friendlies
23.05.2008: Sydney, AUSTRALIA; Sydney Football Stadium
AUSTRALIA - CANADA 2:1 (2:0)
14.06.2008: Suwon, KOREA REPUBLIC; Suwon Sports Center Stadium
ARGENTINA - CANADA
15.06.2008: Suwon, KOREA REPUBLIC; Suwon Sports Center Stadium
AUSTRALIA - USA
16.06.2008: Suwon, KOREA REPUBLIC; Suwon Sports Center Stadium
KOREA REPUBLIC - CANADA
17.06.2008: Suwon, KOREA REPUBLIC; Suwon Sports Center Stadium
BRAZIL - USA
18.06.2008: Suwon, KOREA REPUBLIC; Suwon Sports Center Stadium
KOREA DPR - CANADA
19.06.2008: Suwon, KOREA REPUBLIC; Suwon Sports Center Stadium
ITALY - USA
|
