Two U.S. Major League Soccer clubs are off to booming starts in 2011/12 CONCACAF Champions League group stage.
On Tuesday night, Seattle Sounders FC beat CSD Comunicaciones 4-1 at home to take three points from their CCL Group D opener. On the same evening, a few hundred kilometers down the Pacific coastline Los Angeles Galaxy took maximum points from CD Motagua with a 2-0 victory.
The Sounders fell behind inside 120 seconds, but scored four unanswered through Brad Evans and a Mike Fucito brace before an own goal three minutes from time put the match to bed.
Los Angeles received strikes from Adam Cristman and captain Landon Donovan in each half during an otherwise evenly contested affair, though LA showed a bit more hunger at home.
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While the news on the pitch was encouraging for clubs looking to make an impact in the continent’s premier club competition, it was a unfortunately sobering in the stands. Seattle, generally used to 20-35,000 in attendance regardless of the competition, drew 10,017 to CenturyLink Field. Meanwhile, LA was able to attract 8,196 to the Home Depot Center in Carson.
The attendance figures do not reflect the tournament’s popularity. In a poll conducted on MLSsoccer.com, as of Wednesday 73% of respondents claimed they prefer their team to lift the Champions League trophy over MLS Cup. While the poll isn’t scientifically accurate, fans who consume the game obviously have continental ambitions but have yet to transfer that passion to numbers at the turnstile.
Toronto FC – the Canadian representative to CCL – starts its group stage games in Panama on Thursday night versus Tauro F.C. (Setanta, 8 p.m. ET). It will be the first of six group stage matches. Two other MLS teams representing the U.S. – Colorado and Toronto’s Group C rival Dallas, open Wednesday night.
Toronto players and coaches left for Panama on Wednesday morning. On Tuesday, the Reds’ CCL television schedule was revealed.
All times eastern, live broadcast listed first
Thursday, August 18: Tauro v. Toronto - Setanta 8 p.m., Rogers Sportsnet One 11 p.m.
Wednesday, August 24: Toronto v. Dallas - GOL TV Canada 8 p.m., Rogers Sportsnet One 11 p.m.TICKETS
Wednesday, September 14: Pumas v. Toronto - GOL TV Canada 8 p.m., Rogers Sportsnet One 11 p.m.
Tuesday, September 20: Toronto v. Tauro - Setanta 8 p.m., Rogers Sportsnet One 11 p.m.TICKETS
Tuesday, September 27: Toronto v. Pumas - Setanta 8 p.m.TICKETS
Tuesday, October 18: Dallas v. Toronto - GOL TV Canada 8 p.m.
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