[DATEBOOK] Three days after it opens the 2013 MLS season, the Houston Dynamo will kick off the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals at BBVA Compass Stadium March 5 against Mexican club Santos, last season’s runner-up featuring Americans Herculez Gomez and Benji Joya.

The first legs will be played March 5-7, while the second legs will take place a week later.

The quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals April 2-4 and April 9-11.  The semifinal pairings are the Monterrey-Xelaju winner facing the Galaxy-Herediano winner, and the Seattle-Tigres victor playing either Santos or Houston.

The final will be a two-leg affair set for April 24 and May 1.

QUARTERFINALS, FIRST LEG
Tuesday, March 5
Houston Dynamo (USA) vs. Santos Laguna (Mexico), 8 p.m. ET
Wednesday, March 6
Xelaju (Guatemala) vs. Monterrey (Mexico), 8 p.m. ET
Tigres (Mexico) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA), 10 p.m. ET
Thursday, March 7
Herediano (Costa Rica) vs. LA Galaxy (USA), 8 p.m. ET

QUARTERFINALS, SECOND LEG
Tuesday, March 12
Monterrey (Mexico) vs. Xelaju (Guatemala), 8 p.m. ET
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Tigres (Mexico), 10 p.m. ET
Wednesday, March 13
Santos Laguna (Mexico) vs. Houston Dynamo (USA), 8 p.m. ET
LA Galaxy (USA) vs. Herediano (Costa Rica), 10 p.m. ET