CONCACAF Champions League action is nearing the finish line, with two semifinal second legs.
In Costa Rica, Real Salt Lake will attempt to become the first MLS team to reach the CONCACAF Champions League final by beating Saprissa or maintaining the first leg lead obtained back in Utah. Alvaro Saborio's club will be keen to keep Saprissa's dangerous strikers off the board in order to cement the berth.
Meanwhile, Cruz Azul and Monterrey will lock up for a second time in three weeks in order to determine which one of the two Mexican league heavyweights represents the country in the continental final. Monterrey holds a slim advantage, but Cruz Azul has been deadly at home. Follow all the action on LiveSoccer TV!
Three weeks ago at the Rio Tinto, a Costa Rican striker set the tone for the match's final result by scoring the opening salvo. Unfortunately for Saprissa, that was not of their own doing - Real Salt Lake's Alvaro Saborio opened the game up nine minutes after the first whistle in order to push the MLS squad to a comfortable but by no means overwhelming 2-0 win.
Fabian Espindola scored the second goal during a cold and unforgiving Utah evening. Controversially, a Saprissa goal was disallowed in the 24th minute, a goal that would've given the Purple Monster a better shot at getting a berth to the CONCACAF Champions League final.
Looking ahead, the Costa Rican side needs to win 2-0 to force overtime and maybe penalties; any other two-goal win for Saprissa means that RSL move to the next round, as they would hold the away goal tiebreaker. Thus, an all-out offensive is expected, and the Central Americans will attempt to break open a tough RSL defense by scoring early and often in order to back the Americans into a corner.
Prior to the first match, RSL were still in pre-season mode with the MLS season not having started. Now, Saprissa will find a finely tuned squad in front of them, that has secured impressive wins over LA Galaxy and San Jose in the start of the season within American football.
The Estadio Azul will see two huge Mexican clubs battle it out for the final, setting up a potential US-Mexico border war should RSL do the deed at the Ricardo Saprissa stadium.
A tired Cruz Azul were not able to carry the success of a "Clasico Joven" win the prior weekend over to their CCL first leg matchup with Monterrey, as evidenced by their 2-1 loss to the Rayados, which still gives them a good chance to go through with as little as a 1-0 win.
Neri Cardozo and and Sergio Alejandro Santana were the scorers for Monterrey for that first leg, striking in the 9th and 55th minutes, respectively. Adrian Cortes had tied it for Cruz Azul seven minutes prior to the second Monterrey strike, and gives the Blues the all-important away goal headed into the second leg of the competition.
Humberto Suazo, absent for the first leg match due to injury and arguably the Rayados' most dangerous player, will suit up and be expected to play for Monterrey this Wednesday in Mexico City, undoubtedly an unpleasant sight for Cruz Azul fans who were hoping to avoid the lumbering Chilean striker.
Cruz Azul will most likely pair Emanuel Villa with CCL all-time leading scorer Javier Orozco in order to maximize their strike force and also attempt to shake off the cobwebs of a 3-1 drubbing at the hands of Santos Laguna last Saturday night within the confines of the Mexican league.
Meanwhile, Cruz Azul and Monterrey will lock up for a second time in three weeks in order to determine which one of the two Mexican league heavyweights represents the country in the continental final. Monterrey holds a slim advantage, but Cruz Azul has been deadly at home. Follow all the action on LiveSoccer TV!
Three weeks ago at the Rio Tinto, a Costa Rican striker set the tone for the match's final result by scoring the opening salvo. Unfortunately for Saprissa, that was not of their own doing - Real Salt Lake's Alvaro Saborio opened the game up nine minutes after the first whistle in order to push the MLS squad to a comfortable but by no means overwhelming 2-0 win.
Fabian Espindola scored the second goal during a cold and unforgiving Utah evening. Controversially, a Saprissa goal was disallowed in the 24th minute, a goal that would've given the Purple Monster a better shot at getting a berth to the CONCACAF Champions League final.
Looking ahead, the Costa Rican side needs to win 2-0 to force overtime and maybe penalties; any other two-goal win for Saprissa means that RSL move to the next round, as they would hold the away goal tiebreaker. Thus, an all-out offensive is expected, and the Central Americans will attempt to break open a tough RSL defense by scoring early and often in order to back the Americans into a corner.
Prior to the first match, RSL were still in pre-season mode with the MLS season not having started. Now, Saprissa will find a finely tuned squad in front of them, that has secured impressive wins over LA Galaxy and San Jose in the start of the season within American football.
The Estadio Azul will see two huge Mexican clubs battle it out for the final, setting up a potential US-Mexico border war should RSL do the deed at the Ricardo Saprissa stadium.
A tired Cruz Azul were not able to carry the success of a "Clasico Joven" win the prior weekend over to their CCL first leg matchup with Monterrey, as evidenced by their 2-1 loss to the Rayados, which still gives them a good chance to go through with as little as a 1-0 win.
Neri Cardozo and and Sergio Alejandro Santana were the scorers for Monterrey for that first leg, striking in the 9th and 55th minutes, respectively. Adrian Cortes had tied it for Cruz Azul seven minutes prior to the second Monterrey strike, and gives the Blues the all-important away goal headed into the second leg of the competition.
Humberto Suazo, absent for the first leg match due to injury and arguably the Rayados' most dangerous player, will suit up and be expected to play for Monterrey this Wednesday in Mexico City, undoubtedly an unpleasant sight for Cruz Azul fans who were hoping to avoid the lumbering Chilean striker.
Cruz Azul will most likely pair Emanuel Villa with CCL all-time leading scorer Javier Orozco in order to maximize their strike force and also attempt to shake off the cobwebs of a 3-1 drubbing at the hands of Santos Laguna last Saturday night within the confines of the Mexican league.
