The Columbus Crew learned today the details of its first two matches in the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage, as it will first host Municipal of Guatemala at Crew Stadium on August 18 before traveling on August 24 to Trinidad & Tobago to face San Juan Jabloteh or to Mexico to take on Santos.
The schedule for the first two rounds of the Group Stage was announced Friday with the remainder to be released following the conclusion of the Preliminary Round.
The winner of the Preliminary Round pairing of Toronto FC and Honduras’ Motagua will open the Group Stage on August 17, playing at home against either two-time Champions League runner-up Cruz Azul of Mexico or San Francisco of Panama.
The remaining opening-night match will pit either the Landon Donovan-led Los Angeles Galaxy or the Caribbean champion Puerto Rico Islanders against Olmipia of Honduras.
The Champions League will begin July 27 with the first leg of four Preliminary Round knockout series. The second leg is set for a week later (August 3-5) with the eight Preliminary Round winners advancing to the 16-team Group Stage.
Group Stage Schedule
-Subject to change-
All times U.S. Eastern
(Home teams listed first)
Round One
Tuesday, August 17
Motagua (HON) or Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Cruz Azul (MEX) or San Francisco (PAN), 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) or Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) vs. Olimpia (HON), 8 p.m. or 10 p.m.@
Monterrey (MEX) vs. Saprissa (CRC), 10 p.m.
Wednesday, August 18
Brujas (CRC) or Joe Public (TRI) vs. San Juan Jabloteh (TRI) or Santos (MEX), 8 p.m.
Columbus Crew (USA) vs. Municipal (GUA), 8 p.m., Crew Stadium
Real Salt Lake (USA) vs. Arabe Unido (PAN), 10 p.m.
CD FAS (SLV) or Xelaju (GUA) vs. Toluca (MEX), 10 p.m.
Thursday, August 19
Marathon (HON) or Tauro (PAN) vs. Metapan (SLV) or Seattle Sounders (USA), 10 p.m.
Round Two
Tuesday, August 24
San Juan Jabloteh (TRI) or Santos (MEX) vs. Columbus Crew (USA), 8 p.m. or 10 p.m.#
Arabe Unido (PAN) vs. Motagua (HON) or Toronto FC (CAN), 10 p.m.
Wednesday, August 25
Cruz Azul (MEX) or San Francisco (PAN) vs. Real Salt Lake (USA), 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) or Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) vs. CD FAS (SLV) or Xelaju (GUA), 8 p.m. or 10 p.m.@
Seattle Sounders (USA) or Metapan (SLV) vs. Monterrey (MEX), 10 p.m.
Thursday, August 26
Toluca (MEX) vs. Olimpia (HON), 8 p.m.
Saprissa (CRC) vs. Marathon (HON) or Tauro (PAN), 10 p.m.
Municipal (GUA) vs. Brujas (CRC) or Joe Public (TRI), 10 p.m.
@ 8 p.m. kickoff if match is in Puerto Rico, 10 p.m. if in Los Angeles
# 8 p.m. kickoff if match is in Trinidad, 10 p.m. if in Mexico
About CONCACAF
CONCACAF “The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football” is one of six continental confederations of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and serves as the governing body of football in this part of the world. It is composed of 40 national associations, from Canada in the north to Guyana, Surinam and French Guyana in the south.
