The Los Angeles Galaxy and New England Revolution will each face Costa Rican clubs in the quarterfinal round of the 2006 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, as the draw for the regional club championship was announced last week.
The Galaxy, who claimed their second MLS Cup title on Nov. 13 by defeating the Revolution 1-0, will play either Champions' Cup holders Deportivo Saprissa or Municipal Pérez Zeledón in the first round of the tournament. The two sides will finish their two-leg playoff on Tuesday at Perez Zeledón's ground in San Isidro, Costa Rica, with Saprissa holding a 2-0 lead on aggregate.
The first leg of the Galaxy's series against whomever they face will be played Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006. The Galaxy's home location has yet to be announced. The return leg will be played in Costa Rica on Wednesday, March 8.
The Revolution, meanwhile, will be on the road for their first match of the tournament as they visit 2004 champions LD Alajuelense in Alajuela, Costa Rica, on Feb. 22. That series returns to Foxborough, Mass., on March 8.
The Galaxy are looking to become the first MLS team to win the Champions' Cup twice, having lifted the trophy in 2000. The only other MLS team to stand atop the region was D.C. United in 1998.
Elsewhere in the quarterfinal draw, 2005 Mexican Torneo de Clausura winner Club América will face the Caribbean Football Union champion. That club will come from a group of three teams: SV Robinhood (Suriname) will face either SV Centro Social Deportivo Barber (Antigua) or Portmore United FC (Jamaica) in the CFU final next month.
The last quarterfinal matchup will feature Honduran club CD Olimpia against the 2005 Mexican Torneo de Apertura winner, which is yet to be determined. The Mexican Apertura playoffs begin Wednesday.
If the Galaxy and/or Revolution win their quarterfinal series, they will advance to the semifinal round, which will be played on March 22 and 29. The semifinal series victors will meet on April 12 and 19 to determine the 2006 champion. The tournament will be broadcast in the United States on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Español.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
