CONCACAF Champions League survival will be at stake on Tuesday night when two MLS clubs carry slim 1-0 first-leg leads into hostile Central American territory.
The doubleheader will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel beginning at 8 p.m. ET when Toronto FC meet former midfielder Amado Guevara and Honduran club Motagua. What follows is the Seattle Sounders’ quest to advance to the group stage of the Champions League against Salvadorans Metapán (10 p.m. ET).
Seattle’s Sigi Schmid is confident his team can get a result in El Salvador. And they will do it without veteran midfielder Peter Vagenas, who is on the injured list.
After a 4-1 first leg loss at home, the league-leading LA Galaxy have the most to do in their second leg Champions League matchup on Wednesday against the Puerto Rico Islanders. The Second Division team is ready to book its ticket against Bruce Arena’s side.
The Houston Dynamo are also involved in international competition this week as the SuperLiga semifinals take center stage. Houston will host Morelia on Thursday without one influential player out for surgery but with another making his return.
Meanwhile, it seems like Eddie Gaven’s return for the Columbus Crew might take some time after last Saturday’s head injury against Chivas USA.
In other MLS news, the addition of Rafa Márquez has media in New York dialing up the pressure. They say the Red Bulls must win now.
Another win-now team is Real Madrid, who play the LA Galaxy on Saturday. Their manager, José Mourinho, speaks highly of the Galaxy. More than 60,000 tickets have been sold for the match at the Rose Bowl.
The Galaxy will have a tall task against the Spanish giants, especially with the arrival of World Cup champion Iker Casillas and new German National Team acquisition Sami Khedira on Monday (VIDEO).
Although they are only in their first year of existence, the Philadelphia Union also consider themselves a win-now team. The manager and players believe they can be in the MLS postseason.
One writer in Kansas City has outlined the master plan for how the Wizards can also make it to the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Rookie Teal Bunbury has given the Wizards hopes with his goals. One Canadian columnist for the Toronto Globe and Mail is imploring that Canada call him up to the national team next month.
ESPN’s Alexi Lalas helps NPR with perspective on Thierry Henry’s move to the Red Bulls (AUDIO).
What do the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks and soccer’s World Cup champions Spain have in common? A sports psychologist.
Reports have indicated the USA were pursuing Chile World Cup coach Marcelo Bielsa but they have lost out on the Argentine.
Speaking of Chile, the South American country will be hosting a Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg tonight when Universidad de Chile welcome Mexicans Chivas Guadalajara for the right to advance to the final (9 p.m. ET Fox Sports en Español). FIFA.com previews the match.
Former Chivas USA captain Sacha Kljestan is in Champions League action himself ... of the UEFA variety. His Belgian club, Anderlecht, hold a comfortable 3-1 aggregate goal lead going into their second leg in Belgium this afternoon.
TheWashington Post caught up with another UEFA Champions League hopeful as Oguchi Onyewu says he does not want to be loaned out by AC Milan.
In other Yanks Abroad action, Alejandro Bedoya played 82 minutes in the 2-0 victory by Orebro SK over Atvidabergs FF on Monday.
Meanwhile, Vincenzo Bernardo, an American player and Jersey native who was part of Napoli’s youth system, has landed once again in Italian soccer.
Finally, just four months away from its decision on which country will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup, FIFA will visit a handful of venues in the US to evaluate the American bid as part of a site inspection in September.
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