San Jose and Kansas City get it done

• by Soccer America , Oct 24, 2013

[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Week 6] Three days after seeing their MLS playoff hopes extinguished, the San Jose Earthquakes rebounded with a 1-0 win over Guatemala's Heredia to reach the quarterfinals of the regional championship. Sporting Kansas City also advanced thanks to a scoreless tie Honduran club Olimpia.

Heredia's defensive posture frustrated the Quakes for most of the game and Chris Wondolowski squandered a chance in the sixth minute when he shot high on a rebound. But Wondolowski make no mistake when Shea Salinas served him up for a volley from seven yards in the 62nd minute that gave the Quakes the 1-0 win and the top spot in Group 5.

Heredia and Montreal also finished with 6 points but the Quakes had the superior goal difference.

“It was definitely a frustrating time,” Wondolowski told MLSSoccer.com of a first half in which Heredia stifled the Quakes. “We knew that we had 45 minutes to regroup and get together, but to be honest, there was definitely some carryover frustration from Sunday. It was one of those things that you start pushing too much.”

Needing only a point to advance, Sporting Kansas City marshaled a strong defensive effort to blank Olimpia, 0-0, Wednesday at Sporting Park.

Two SKC goals were disallowed for offside but they weren’t needed as SKC controlled most of the play while outshooting Olimpia, 11-6. SKC wins Group 2 with a 2-0-2 record and eight points, one ahead of Olimpia (2-1-1). Quarterfinal play will be held in March.

Backup keeper Eric Kronberg got the start in goal, but otherwise Coach Peter Vermes used mostly his first-teamers. Center back Aurelien Collin returned to the lineup in place of Ike Opara, who had started SKC’s previous three CCL games as well as the last six league matches. Kronberg notched his third shutout in four CCL appearances and needed to make just one save. Teal Bunbury’s goal in the 36th minute was waved off for offside, as was Graham Zusi’s strike in the 54th.

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CCL WEEK 6: Results
Wednesday, October 23
Sporting Kansas City 0 Olimpia (HON) 0
Toluca (MEX) 5 Comunicaciones (GUA) 1
San Jose Earthquakes 1 Heredia (GUA) 0
Victoria (HON) 1 Luis Angel Firpo (SLV) 4

Tuesday, October 22
Club America (MEX) 0 Alajuelense (CRC) 1
Herediano (CRC) 1 Cruz Azul (MEX) 2

CCL WEEK 6: Schedule
Thursday, October 24
Arabe Unido (PAN) vs. Houston Dynamo
Isidro Metapan (SLV) vs. LA Galaxy
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CCL STANDINGS:
Group 1:
Houston Dynamo 7
Arabe Unido 6
DirecTV W Connection 1
Group 2:
* Sporting Kansas City 8
Olimpia 7
Real Esteli 1
Group 3:
*Cruz Azul 12
Herediano 6
Valencia 0.
Group 4:
*Alajuelense 9
Club America 6
Sporting San Miguelito 3.
Group 5:
* San Jose Earthquakes 6
Heredia 6
Montreal Impact 6
Group 6:
Toluca 9 points
Comunicaciones 6
Caledonia AIA 0.
Group 7:
*Tijuana 10 points
Luis Angel Firpo 4
Victoria 0.
Group 8:
*LA Galaxy 9 points
Cartagines 4
Isidro Metapan 1
*Clinched berth in quarterfinals.
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CCL WEEK 5: Results
Thursday, September 26
Alajuelense (CRC) 2 Sporting San Miguelito (PAN) 0
Tijuana (MEX) 6 Victoria (HON) 0
Wednesday, September 25
Houston Dynamo 2 DirecTV W Connection 0
Cartagines (CRC) 0 LA Galaxy 3
Comunicaciones (GUA) 2 Caledonia AIA (TRI) 0
Tuesday, September 24
Cruz Azul (MEX) 3 Valencia (HAI) 0
Montreal Impact 2 Heredia (GUA) 0
Olimpia (HON) 1 Real Esteli (NCA) 0

CCL WEEK 4: Results
Thursday, September 19
DIRECTV W Connection (TRI) 0 Arabe Unido (PAN) 2
Luis Angel Firpo (SLV) 2 Victoria (HON) 1
Wednesday, September 18
LA Galaxy 1 Isidro Metapan (SLV) 0
Caledonia AIA (TRI) 1 Toluca (MEX) 5
Herediano (CRC) 4 Valencia FC (HAI) 2
Tuesday, September 17
Sporting Kansas City 1 Real Esteli (NCA) 1
San Jose Earthquakes 3 Montreal Impact 0
Club America (MEX) 3 Sporting San Miguelito (PAN) 0

CCL WEEK 3, Results:
Thursday, August 29
Caledonia AIA (TRI) 0 Comunicaciones (GUA) 3
Alajuelense (CRC) 1 Club America (MEX) 0
Wednesday, August 28
Valencia (HAI) 1 Cruz Azul (MEX) 2
Heredia (GUA) 1 San Jose Earthquakes 0
Tijuana (MEX) 1 Luis Angel Firpo (SLV) 0
Tuesday, August 27
Houston Dynamo 2 Arabe Unido (PAN) 1
Olimpia (HON) 0 Sporting Kansas City 2
Cartagines (CRC) 0 Isidro Metapan (SLV) 0

CCL WEEK 2: Results
Thursday, August 22
Cruz Azul (MEX) 3 Herediano (CRC) 0
Comunicaciones (GUA) 1 Toluca (MEX) 2
Sporting San Miguelito (PAN) 1 Alajuelense (CRC) 0
Wednesday, August 21
Heredia (GUA) 1 Montreal Impact 0
Real Esteli (NCA) 0 Olimpia (HON) 1
Tuesday, August 20
DIRECTV W Connection (TRI) 0 Houston Dynamo 0
LA Galaxy 2 Cartagines (CRC) 0
Victoria (HON) 2 Tijuana (MEX) 3

CCL WEEK 1: Results
Thursday, August 8
Valencia FC (HAI) 1 Herediano (CRC) 6
Isidro Metapan (SLV) 2 Cartagines (CRC) 4
Arabe Unido (PAN) 3 DIRECTV W Connection (TRI) 1
Wednesday, August 7
Montreal Impact 1 San Jose Earthquakes 0
Sporting San Miguelito (PAN) 0 Club America (MEX) 1
Real Esteli (NCA) 0 Sporting Kansas City 2
Tuesday, August 6
Toluca (MEX) 3 Caledonia AIA (TRI) 1
Luis Angel Firpo (SLV) 0 Tijuana (MEX) 0