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06/24/2011
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NEW YORK – Four-time qualifier San Francisco of Panama will open the CONCACAF Champions League at home against the Seattle Sounders on July 26, kicking off the 78-game, nine-month championship with the first game of the Preliminary Round.
Herediano of Costa Rica will host Alpha United of Guyana the same night, with three games set for the next day.
The Canadian champion, either Toronto FC or the Vancouver Whitecaps, will be at home against Real Esteli of Nicaragua on Wednesday, July 27, with Isidro Metapan of El Salvador against the Puerto Rico Islanders, and Mexico’s Santos hosting CD Olimpia of Honduras.
The Canadian champion will be decided July 2 with the replay of the second leg of the final in Toronto, which was abandoned midway through the second half on May 25 due to heavy rain and lightning.
The first leg of the Preliminary Round will conclude on Thursday, July 28, with Monarcas Morelia at home against Haiti’s Tempete FC, El Salvador’s Alianza FC at home against FC Dallas, and Motagua of Honduras hosting CSD Municipal of Guatemala.
The second leg of the Preliminary Round will begin with Esteli against the Canadian champion on August 2. Five games will follow on August 3: Dallas vs. Alianza, Tempete vs. Morelia, the Puerto Rico Islanders vs. Metapan, Seattle vs. San Francisco, and Olimpia vs. Santos Laguna.
The first phase of the Champions League will finish on August 4 with Alpha United vs. Herediano and Municipal vs. Motagua.
The winners will advance to the Group Stage, which will commence on August 16.
CONCACAF Champions League
Preliminary Round
All Times U.S. Eastern
First Leg
Tuesday, July 26San Francisco (PAN) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA), 8 p.m.
Herediano (CRC) vs. Alpha United (GUY), 10 p.m.
Wednesday, July 27Toronto FC vs. Real Estelí FC (NCA), 8 p.m.*
Isidro Metapán (SLV) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR), 8 p.m.
Santos Laguna FC (MEX) vs. CD Olimpia (HON), 10 p.m.
Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) vs. Real Estelí FC (NCA), 10 p.m. *
*Pending outcome of Canadian championship final on July 2
Thursday, July 28Monarcas Morelia (MEX) vs. Tempete FC (HAI), 8 p.m.
Alianza FC (SLV) vs. FC Dallas (USA), 10 p.m.
CD Motagua (HON) vs. CSD Municipal (GUA), 10 p.m.
Second Leg
Tuesday, August 2Real Estelí (NCA) vs. Toronto FC or Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN), 10 p.m.
Wednesday, August 3FC Dallas (USA) vs. Alianza FC (SLV), 8 p.m.
Tempete FC (HAI) vs. Monarcas Morelia (MEX), 8 p.m.
Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) vs. Isidro Metapán (SLV), 8 p.m.
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. San Francisco (PAN), 10 p.m.
CD Olimpia (HON) vs. Santos Laguna FC (MEX), 10 p.m.
Thursday, August 4Alpha United (GUY) vs. Herediano (CRC), 8 p.m.
CSD Municipal (GUA) vs. CD Motagua (HON), 10 p.m.
