[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] The scorer of six goals against rival Montreal in its final Nutrilite Canadian Championship game couldn't get the goal it needed to keep alive its hopes of reaching the group phase. Toronto FC, which lost the first leg at BMO Field, 1-0, last week, labored through a 0-0 tie in Bayamon Tuesday night and fell to Puerto Rico Islanders by that single goal. The USL-1 Islanders, which stunningly reached the semifinals last year, advance to group play that begins in two weeks.

Each team hit the post during the goalless 90 minutes. Ex-D.C. United striker Nicolas Addlery struck the woodwork in the 13th minute with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area, and TFC strongman Danny Dichio turned in a crowded penalty area to fire a shot off the upright with 13 minutes to play in normal time.

Another former MLS player, ex-Crew goalie Bill Guadette, stoned TFC on a few key occasions to further frustrate the Reds. He tipped an Amado Guevara shot over the crossbar early in the second half, and dived to deflect an Ali Gerba free kick.

TFC outshot Puerto Rico, 20-11, and missed several opportunities, like the open header Dwayne De Rosario sent wide in the sixth minute.

Puerto Rico finished with 10 men after second-half substitute Kendall Jagdeosingh, who had replaced Addlery in the 77th minute, received a straight red card for a seemingly innocuous midfield challenge with two minutes remaining. Islanders manager Colin Clarke, who mentored their semifinal run, was banned from the bench because of an ejection he incurred from behavior during Caribbean Club Champions Cup three months ago.

In the group phase, Puerto Rico will face Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica, defending MLS champion Columbus Crew, and either Herediano of Costa Rica or Mexican club Cruz Azul, which eliminated Puerto Rico on penalties last spring in the semifinals of the 2008-0 competition. Cruz Azul beat Herediano, 6-2, in the first leg.

Puerto Rico, which has played five 0-0 games in its last eight games, opens group play in Columbus Aug. 18.

Concacaf Champions League
Preliminary round, second leg
Aug. 4 in Bayamon
Puerto Rico Islanders 0, Toronto FC 0.
(Puerto Rico wins 1-0 on aggregate)
Puerto Rico - Gaudette, Jones, Henry, Krause, Arrieta, Marcelin, Delgado, Villegas (Gbandi, 73), Steele, Gargan, Addlery (Jagdeosingh, 75).
Toronto FC - Frei, Wynne, Garcia, Serioux, Brennan (White, 85), Robinson, Cronin (Barrett, 58), DeRosario, Guevara (Dichio, 73), Vitti, Gerba.
Referee: Geoffrey Hospedales.
Att.: n/a.