It wasn’t so long ago that MLS officials refused to adopt a two-leg, total-goal playoff format in part because they feared confusion and ridicule from fans and press. There wereother reasons, but explaining how a team could lose a game, say, 1-0, and still advance by winning the other game by a larger margin so […]
concacaf champions league
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They're Saying
“It’s an opportunity to stamp Real Salt Lake’s presence on the entire world of soccer, and I don’t think anybody could have imagined that five years ago, three years ago, oreven two years ago.” — Real Salt Lake majority owner Dave Checketts on the Concacaf Champions League final that begins for RSL Wednesday atMonterrey. A […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
RSL tries to beat the heat in Monterrey
Climate changes are nothing new for soccer players crossing borders for international competitions, and yet RSL players couldn’t have been prepared for temperatures in the 90s that greeted themwhen they arrived in Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday for the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League final. “It’s going to be difficult for sure,” said RSL captain […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
RSL-Philadelphia match rescheduled
[MLS] Just how important is Real Salt Lake’s bid to win the Concacaf Champions League? MLS has given RSL permission to reschedule its game againstvisiting Philadelphia Union, scheduled to be held between the two legs of the Concacaf final against Monterrey. The MLS game has been moved from April 23 to Sept. 3 (9 p.m. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Real Salt Lake to face Monterrey in final
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Monterrey thwarted the bid of Cruz Azul to play in a third straight Concacaf Champions League final by battling Los Cementeros to a1-1 tie in the second leg of their semifinal series Wednesday and prevailing on aggregate, 3-2. Humberto Suazo’s penalty kick in the 81st minute at Estadio Azulcanceled out a first-half […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Real Salt Lake tames 'Monster' and reaches final
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Artificial turf, tough opponents, and a hostile atmosphere werent enough to defeat an MLS team that didn’t exist just seven yearsago. A Jamison Olave goal provided enough of a margin for Real Salt Lake – which rose from expansion status in 2005 to win the league title two years ago — tosurvive […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
MLS, not just RSL, to be tested in Costa Rica
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] With everything to play for, where better to play the “Purple Monster” than in “The Monster’s Cave?” Since winningMLS Cup in November, 2009, Real Salt Lake has set its sights on the Concacaf Champions League as a measure of its players, its coaches, and its organization. On Tuesday (10 p.m. ET, Fox […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Monterrey's dominance continues
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Monterrey’s dominance in the Concacaf Champions League continued as it beat Mexican rival Cruz Azul, 2-1, in the first leg of theirsemifinal series. Sergio Santana scored the winning goal early in the second half to give Monterrey its eighth win to go along with one tie in ninegames in Concacaf play this […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
RSL impresses in 2-0 victory
[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Real Salt Lake showed why it’s considered the most stylish team in MLS with a convincing 2-0 win over Costa Rica’s Saprissa in thefirst leg of their Concacaf Champions League semifinal series. Fabian Espindola set up Alvaro Saborio inthe 9th minute and scored a goal of his own in the second half […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Real Salt Lake focuses on Costa Rican foe
[MLS] A week ago, most of the RSL starters were pulled off the field by Coach Jason Kreis when a scuffle broke out in a preseason matchagainst Sporting Kansas City. SKC officials deny that Omar Bravo triggered the melee with a kick that caught RSL playmaker Javier Morales in the head, butnonetheless, RSL’s fiesty response […]