UEFA’s Champions and Europa Leagues have been hogging the spotlight in February’s mid-weeks but there is another continental club championship also in the knockout stages.  The CONCACAF Champions League played its opening legs of the quarter-final ties last week, with the closing legs following on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Here’s how the four contests stand at the midway point.

Real Salt Lake 0 – 0 Columbus Crew

Second Match @ Rio Tinto Stadium

Sandy, Utah USA

Tuesday 1st March, 2011

If Major League Soccer and the USSF had been on the ball, they’d have invited Sepp Blatter to this match as their special guest of honour.  Afterwards, once the FIFA boss had downed five or six steaming mugs of Swiss MIss and stopped his teeth from chattering, he’d have likely apologised for his constant badgering regarding the American game switching to a European calendar.  At kickoff in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday evening, the temperature was 25ºF (-4ºC), winds were gusting to 18 mph and there was a thin layer of snow on the Crew Stadium pitch.

Combine those conditions with the fact that neither side has played a competitive match since October and it’s no wonder this one played out to a goalless draw.  The frigid climes didn’t lend themselves to fluid play or even temperament.  Three red cards were issued by referee Jair Marrufo.  The first went to RSL’s Tony Beltran for a second caution, when he tripped Crew midfielder Eddie Gaven.

That likely inspired Nat Borchers of Salt Lake and the Crew’s Emilio Renteria.  Fifteen minutes later, their shoving match saw both sent to the well-heated clubhouse.  There’s no confirmation that the pair were laughing and walking arm in arm down the tunnel after earning their reprieve or that Beltran had cups of hot cocoa waiting for them.

Tuesday night at altitude (4700′) in Utah promises to be only a few degrees warmer, although the skies should be clear.  Someone needs to score a goal or the two squads will have to endure the freezing cold for an additional thirty minutes and penalty kicks.  With Renteria being the Crew’s main attacking threat and RSL holding home ‘ice’ advantage, the smart money, the stuff sitting at home curled up in a duvet, close – but not too close! – to a cozy fire, is on Salt Lake prevailing.

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Santos Laguna 0 – 2 Cruz Azul

Second Match @ Estadio Nuevo Corona

Torreón, Coahuila Mexico

Tuesday, 1st March 2011

Needless to say, it’s warmer in Mexico than it is in America.  Still, tempers were a little cooler in this one, with just four cautions being handed out, two per side.  Each team drew one per half and those in close succession but the official’s readiness to reach into his pocket was enough to bring the players in line.

The match belonged to Cruz Azul and the famous train whistle which blows after every home goal at Estadio Azul also sounded, long and loud, at the final whistle.  Javier Orozco, whose cold form in league play has slowed Los Cementeros in the Clausura, continued to be en fuego in the CCL. Orozco is so hot, in fact, that he didn’t even need to know about this goal, which, from a Javy Aquino cross, bounced off a defender’s foot and then caromed off Orozco.  Right place, right time but still his eleventh in this competition.

Santos have struggled in the Clausura themselves, enough for Ruben Romano to begin a spontaneous game of charades with supporters after Sunday’s 2-0 loss to minnows Queretaro.  The defeat and subsequent offensive gestures led to Romano becoming the club’s former manager.

Diego Cocca has taken over, and although Santos responded early in the match, their enthusiasm waned by halftime.  They are at the Nemesio Diaz in Aguascalientes, to take on in-form Necaxa in the league, as I write.  If the Albiverdes can end the Electricians’ run of shock upsets, it might give them hope when they come home on Tuesday, where they are winless in their previous three matches.  Already down by two goals in this tie, any reversal of fortunes at the Nuevo Corona will have to be emphatic.

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Monterrey 1 – 0 Toluca

Second Match @ Tecnólogico

Monterrey, Nueva Leon Mexico

Wednesday, 2nd March 2011

Two men who spent less time on the pitch than most had the deepest impact on the opening leg.  Toluca’s Luis Arias, a new signing who had barely seen a half-hour’s action for Los Diablos Rojos, put his side in a devilish fix just ten minutes in.  Arias threw out his elbow in going up for a header, connecting flush with Jesus Zavala’s temple and leaving referee Francisco Chacon no choice but to display la tarjeta roja.

The contest was slow to develop from that point, as Toluca withdrew into a protective shell while Monterrey seemed content to play out an away draw.  As the match moved on, however, and the home side showed no interest, the visitors became bolder.  Finally, with less than ten minutes remaining, Osvaldo Martinez, who had come on at the hour mark, curled a sumptuous free kick into the right corner from 25m.

Monterrey, Apertura champions, are rounding into domestic form but Toluca lost their first match in the Clausura last weekend.  El Rayados are off to Guadelajara to face Atlas on Saturday but will be doing so without front man Humberto Suarez, who is out a month with shoulder injury.  Toluca have the unenviable task of taking on América at the Azteca on Sunday.  Not only will that be a tough match, if they don’t stop their two game slide in the capital, the flight up to Monterrey will be a somber one.  Hopefully the in-flight movie won’t be Dead Man Walking.

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Olimpia 0 – 1 Saprissa

Second Match @ Estadio Carias Andinos

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Thursday, 3rd March 2011

Reading this article, you might get the idea that CONCACAF referees are a bit quick on the trigger.  That’s okay, go on reading.

Guatemalan official Walter Lopez was quick from the hip at the Ricardo Saprissa Aymá on Thursday.  Once again, only ten minutes in, David Guzman of Saprissa and Oscar Boniek of Olimpia tangled on the sidelines, contesting a loose ball.  As play moved away, Boniek took exception to Guzman and shoved him in the face.  Referee Lopez exhibited a zero tolerance policy and, rather than merely warning the player, altered the chemistry of the match with fully eighty minutes remaining.

Saprissa, in front of their home supporters, were not nearly so reluctant as Monterrey; they sought to take immediate advantage of their superior manpower.  A poorly handled cross did the visitors in.  Walter Cedeno’s delivery was headed up but not clear, leaving Armando Alonso to race into the box, beating everyone to the ball and poking it home.

As El Monstro Maduro was more aggressive when a man up in this match, el Leones of Honduras were less reticent despite being shorthanded.  In the first half, before they tired, they had their chances to draw even.  Although, they didn’t take them, this tie seems very much in doubt despite the Costa Rican’s advantage.

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I’ll leave you with the quick reminder that the winners of the two Mexican clashes will meet in one semi-final with the Central American and MLS victors facing each other in the second.

Enjoy the matches!

armando alonso, columbus crew, concacaf champions league, Cruz Azul, emilio renteria, humberto suarez, javier orozco, luis arias, mls major league soccer, monterrey, olimpia, oscar boniek, Real Salt Lake, ruben romano, santos laguna, saprissa, toluca