2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage Schedule

Yesterday saw the draw for the first ever Concacaf Champions League group stage. The two seeded MLS sides, DC United and Houston Dynamo, were drawn into groups A & B respectively.

As far as the other MLS clubs, if New England beat Joe Public FC in their preliminary playoff, they will move into group C along with Atlante FC. Chivas USA faces a possible date with Club Santos Laguna in the Group D.

MLS will likely have a fifth team in the group due to Canada getting one spot. If TFC does make it, they will join the Revolution in Group C.

The top two teams in each group advance to the knockout phase.

Since over half of the teams in the group phase are not known at this time, it is difficult to point to who has the toughest group, but it does look like Group A could turn into a very difficult one if Cruz Azul and Olimpia both advance (although Marathon is not much better).

After the playoff runs take place (26 Aug - 4 Sept), we'll be able to see who has, on paper, the hardest road to the knockout phase.

Group A
DC United (USA)
Deportivo Saprissa (CRC)
Winner: Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes
Winner: Isidro Metapan or Olimpia/Marathon

Home Team Listed First (All times Eastern)
16 Sept D.C. United Deportivo Saprissa (8p)
17 Sept Isidro Metapan or Olimpia/Marathon Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes (10p)

23 Sept Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes Deportivo Saprissa (TBD)
24 Sept Isidro Metapan or Olimpia/Marathon D.C. United (10p)

30 Sept Deportivo Saprissa Isidro Metapan or Olimpia/Marathon (10p)
01 Oct D.C. United Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes (8p)

07 Oct Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes Isidro Metapan or Olimpia/Marathon (8p)
09 Oct Deportivo Saprissa D.C. United (10p)

21 Oct Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes D.C. United (10p)
23 Oct Isidro Metapan or Olimpia/Marathon Deportivo Saprissa (8p)

29 Oct D.C. United Isidro Metapan or Olimpia/Marathon (8p)
29 Oct Deportivo Saprissa Cruz Azul or Hankook Verdes (8p)


Group B
Houston Dynamo(USA)
CD Luis Angel Firpo (SLV)
Winner: Jalapa/Municipal or San Francisco FC
Winner: Harbour View FC or Pumas UNAM

Home Team Listed First (All times Eastern)
16 Sept Jalapa/Municipal or San Francisco Harbour View or Pumas (TBD)
17 Sept Houston Dynamo CD Luis Angel Firpo (10p)

23 Sept Jalapa/Municipal or San Francisco Houston Dynamo (TBD)
24 Sept Harbour View or Pumas CD Luis Angel Firpo (TBD)

30 Sept Harbour View or Pumas Houston Dynamo (TBD)
02 Oct CD Luis Angel Firpo Jalapa/Municipal or San Francisco (8p)

08 Oct Houston Dynamo Jalapa/Municipal or San Francisco (10p)
09 Oct CD Luis Angel Firpo Harbour View or Pumas (10p)

22 Oct Houston Dynamo Harbour View or Pumas (10p)
22 Oct Jalapa/Municipal or San Francisco CD Luis Angel Firpo (TBD)

28 Oct CD Luis Angel Firpo Houston Dynamo (10p)
29 Oct Harbour View or Pumas Jalapa/Municipal or San Francisco (TBD)


Group C
Atlante FC (MEX)
CD Olmpia or CD Marathon (HON)
Winner: Joe Public FC or New England Revolution
Winner: CAN1 or NCA1

Home Team Listed First (All times Eastern)
17 Sept CAN1 or NCA1 Joe Public FC or New England Revolution (TBD)
18 Sept Atlante HON1 (10p)

24 Sept Joe Public FC or New England Revolution HON1 (8p)
24 Sept CAN1 or NCA1 Atlante (TBD)

30 Sept Atlante Joe Public FC or New England Revolution (8p)
02 Oct HON1 CAN1 or NCA1 (10p)

08 Oct Joe Public FC or New England Revolution CAN1 or NCA1 (8p)
08 Oct HON1 Atlante (10p)

21 Oct CAN1 or NCA1 HON1 (TBD)
21 Oct Joe Public FC or New England Revolution Atlante (8p)

28 Oct HON1 Joe Public FC or New England Revolution (8p)
28 Oct Atlante CAN1 or NCA1 (10p)


Group D
Club Santos Laguna
CSD Municipal or Deportivo Jalapa
Winner: LD Alajuelense or Puerto Rico Islanders
Winner: Chivas USA or Tauro FC

Home Team Listed First (All times Eastern)
16 Sept LD Alajuelense or Puerto Rico Islanders Chivas USA or Tauro (TBD)
17 Sept Club Santos Laguna GUA1 (8p)

23 Sept Chivas USA or Tauro GUA1 (TBD)
25 Sept LD Alajuelense or Puerto Rico Islanders Club Santos Laguna (TBD)

01 Oct GUA1 LD Alajuelense or Puerto Rico Islanders (8p)
01 Oct Chivas USA or Tauro Club Santos Laguna (TBD)

07 Oct GUA1 Chivas USA or Tauro (10p)
08 Oct Club Santos Laguna LD Alajuelense or Puerto Rico Islanders (8p)

22 Oct Club Santos Laguna Chivas USA or Tauro (8p)
23 Oct LD Alajuelense or Puerto Rico Islanders GUA1 (TBD)

29 Oct Chivas USA or Tauro LD Alajuelense or Puerto Rico Islanders (TBD)
30 Oct GUA1 Club Santos Laguna (10p)

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[Source: My Soccer Blog]