The quarterfinal schedule details for the CONCACAF Champions League have been set. The defending three-time US Open Cup champion Seattle Sounders continue their run for glory, representing the 2010 Open Cup title, on Wednesday, March 7. They will play the first leg at home versus Santos Laguna of Mexico with the return leg the following Wednesday, March 14.
The other two remaining Major League Soccer representatives, LA Galaxy and Toronto FC, will square off against one another in the other half of their semifinal bracket on the same two dates. The all-MLS affair will be the early match for the first leg as they play in Toronto. The Galaxy will host the late match the following week.
While the draw did unfortunately pair two MLS clubs into playing one another, it has created a scenario in which an MLS team will be guaranteed to reach the semifinals for a second consecutive year. And, if the Sounders win their series against two-time quarterfinalist Santos, it would ensure an MLS club reached the final for a second straight season. Real Salt Lake became the first MLS team to play in the CCL Final in April earlier this year, falling 3-2 on aggregate to unbeaten Monterrey after a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Mexico.
This is the first quarterfinal appearance for all three clubs, though the LA Galaxy have won the confederation's championship under a smaller and more simplified tournament format in 2000, which was held in Los Angeles. It is also the first time MLS has had three teams in the quarterfinals. The league set a high of two in the previous tournament, but saw RSL and the Columbus Crew, unfortunately, drawn against one another in the quarterfinals.
Full Quarterfinal Schedule [+]
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