CCL: Depleted Sporting KC and Red Bulls tested

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Aug 15, 2016

Sporting Kansas City and the New York Red Bulls, both struggling with injuries, are the only MLS teams in action in Week 2 of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, both on the road on Tuesday. Sporting KC opens its CCL campaign at Trinidad's Central FC -- one of four road games over a span of 15 days -- while the Red Bulls are at El Salvador's Alianza.

Week 2, Schedule:
TUESDAY, AUGUST 16
Central FC (TRI) vs. Sporting KC, 8 p.m., UDN, Concacaf Facebook
Alianza FC (SLV) vs. NY Red Bulls, 10 p.m., Concacaf Facebook
Olimpia (HON) vs. Police United (BLZ)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17
Monterrey (MEX) vs. Arabe Unido (PAN)
Herediano (CRC) vs. Tigres (MEX)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18
Suchitepequez (GUA) vs. Real Esteli (NCA)
UNAM (MEX) vs. Honduras Progreso (HON)
Saprissa (CRC) vs. Dragon (SLV)

Sporting KC's only home game in its five-game span is Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS plays. The teams turn around and fly to Vancouver, where they meet in CCL play three days later. Then Sporting KC heads east to meet the Philadelphia Union.

The first game on the road was a 2-2 tie at FC Dallas on Saturday. Center back Ike Opara left the game with a foot injury in the 35th minute and is doubtful for Tuesday's game. Matt Besler (MCL strain), Justin Mapp (calf strain), Tim Melia (back spasms) and Chance Myers (hamstring strain) are out with injuries.

Sporting KC called up Swope Park Rangers defender Amer Didic and winger Tyler Pasher on short-term loans for cover.

The Red Bulls, who opened their CCL campaign with a 3-0 win over Guatemala's Antigua, will also have their depth tested. They lost left back Connor Lade for the rest of the season after tearing his right ACL, and center back Damien Perrinelle is out 4-6 weeks with meniscus and ankle injuries. Both were injured in the recent match at the LA Galaxy. They previously lost Gideon Baah, likely out for the rest of the season with a broken tibia.

The Red Bulls have never won on the road in three games in the CCL. On their previous trip to Trinidad in 2009, they tied W Connection, 2-2, and went out in the preliminary round when they lost the second leg at home, 2-1.

Tuesday's match at the Estadio Cuscatlan is Alianza's opener. It won the old Concacaf Champions Cup in 1967, beating the Philadelphia Ukrainians in the semifinals and Jong Colombia of the Netherlands Antilles in the final, but has only entered the Concacaf Champions League once previously. It lost both games in the preliminary round to FC Dallas in 2011.

Week 1, Results:
TUESDAY, AUGUST 2
Central FC (TRI) 0 Vancouver Whitecaps 1
Pachuca (MEX) 1 Olimpia (HON) 0
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3
W Connection (TRI) 2 UNAM (MEX) 4
NY Red Bulls 3 Antigua (GUA) 0
Portland Timbers 2 Dragon (SLV) 1
Don Bosco (HAI) 0 Monterrey (MEX) 3
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4
FC Dallas 2 Real Esteli (NCA) 1
Plaza Amador (PAN) 1 Herediano (CRC) 1
Note: All times ET.

Week 2, Schedule:
TUESDAY, AUGUST 16
Central FC (TRI) vs. Sporting KC
Alianza FC (SLV) vs. NY Red Bulls
Olimpia (HON) vs. Police United (BLZ)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17
Monterrey (MEX) vs. Arabe Unido (PAN)
Herediano (CRC) vs. Tigres (MEX)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18
Suchitepequez (GUA) vs. Real Esteli (NCA)
UNAM (MEX) vs. Honduras Progreso (HON)
Saprissa (CRC) vs. Dragon (SLV)