CCL Group Stages Round 3

The third round of the group stages of the CONCACAF Champions League begin today. You can view the matches between the Galaxy and Morelia and the Rapids and Santos toccurring tonight, here. Likewise for the matches tomorrow for the Sounders, FC Dallas, and Toronto FC. Expect me to post the occasional update on Twitter about the matches, and I'll post scores and match summaries here later.

Morelia [2-1] LA Galaxy (Highlights)
After a fairly even first half that saw Morelia with the majority of the possession and the Galaxy with the best of the chances, the match broke wide open in the second half. The Galaxy struck first in the fifty second minute, Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane linking up, Keane smashing the ball past the Morelia goalkeeper. Morelia maintained massive pressure, and finally broke through the Galaxy's defense in the eighty third minute, Saunders mishandling a shot and the ball just trickling over the goal line. Morelia sealed the victory in stoppage time, on a header direct from a corner.

Colorado Rapids [1-4] Santos Laguna (Highlights)
From the start the Rapids didn't have much of a chance. Santos struck early in the fourteenth minute, and then doubled their advantage thirteen minutes later. Heading into the second half it had seemed that the Rapids had begun to get a grip on the game, but what grip they had quickly slipped away as Santos re-asserted their dominance on the match, scoring their third goal at the hands of some sloppy defending on a long ball over the top in the sixty fourth minute. Just seven minutes after that Santos added their fourth. The Rapids managed to get a foothold in the match through a goal by second half substitute Mullen, but ultimately they just couldn't claw their way back.

FC Dallas [1-1] Tauro (Highlights)
After getting an early lead on a Danny Cruz goal (the earliest in tournament history at twenty three seconds), the two sides played a fairly even match. A penalty in the forty first minute for the visitors proved to be the deciding moment of them game, Luis Moreno stepping up and converting the penalty. Into the second half, each side continued to pursue a second goal but ultimately couldn't find one.

Pumas UNAM [4-0] Toronto FC (Highlights)
Toronto came out incredibly flat against the Mexican side, conceding four goals in the first half. They managed to hold of any other attempt on goal in the second half, but unfortunately could not make up any ground.


CS Herediano [1-2] Seattle Sounders FC (Highlights)
Read recap here

Other Matches

• Real Espana [1-2] Isidro Metapan (Highlights) (Notably, Metapan get their first ever road win in the tournament, their record now 1-0-7)
• Communicaciones [1-0] Monterrey (Highlights) (The defending champs drop their second in a row)
• Montagua [2-4] Alajuelense (Highlights) (Alajuelense now move into a three way tie with the LA Galaxy and Morelia for first on points)