The 2011-12 version of CONCACAF Champions League concludes tonight. The resolution game between Santos and Monterrey will kick off at 5 p.m. and be televised on Fox Soccer.

Here’s a preview from CONCACAF:

Following a 2-0 1st leg win last week at home, Monterrey will look to clinch a second-straight CONCACAFChampions League title on Wednesday in the final’s 2nd leg against Santos in Torreon.

Humberto Suazolifted the Rayados to victory in the opener with two goals (60’, 86’). The Chilean is the tournament’s leading scorer with seven goals, but will miss the return match due to yellow card accumulation. Defenders Osmar Mares and Felipe Baloy, both of Santos, are also suspendedfor the same reason.
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We’ve known for a while the Chelsea will visit Seattle for a match with the Sounders on July 18. It was announced today that the game will be part of the annual World Football Challenge series.

Here’s the word from the league:

CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the world’s leading entertainment and sports agency, and Major League Soccer (MLS), the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, are once again partnering to host the World Football Challenge. Legendary soccer clubs – Chelsea F.C. and Liverpool FC together with MLS teams Seattle Sounders FC and Toronto FC – have confirmed their participation in the 2012 World Football Challenge. Additional teams and matches for the event, which will take place July 18 through August 11, will be announced as details become available.

In 2011, more than half a million fans attended the World Football Challenge, and sports fans across North America will once again enjoy a summer of top international matches.

The series of matches kicks off on Wednesday, July 18 with UEFA Champions League semifinalist Chelsea FC visiting the three-time defending Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champions Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field. As part of its summer visit to the U.S., Chelsea FC will also participate in the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game in Philadelphia on Wednesday, July 25.
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Chelsea’s summer tour of the U.S. not only will feature a July 18 date at Sounders FC, but also a July 25 date at PPL Park, home of the Philadelphia Union, where they will meet the MLS All-Stars on July 25.

Here’s the announcement from the league:

Major League Soccer and Chelsea FC today announced that UEFA Champions’ League semifinalist Chelsea FC will face the MLS All-Stars in the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game. The marquee match will be played Wednesday, July 25 at PPL Park, the home of the Philadelphia Union, in Chester, Pa. and broadcast live on ESPN2, TeleFutura, and in Canada on TSN and RDS starting at 5:30 p.m. PT.

Philadelphia Union Manager Peter Nowak will lead the MLS All-Stars in a rematch of the 2006 event, when a sellout crowd at Chicago’s Toyota Park witnessed the MLS All-Star team – led by Nowak, then manager of D.C. United – defeat star-studded Chelsea 1-0 on a goal by Dwayne De Rosario. This is the second consecutive season that MLS has awarded the All-Star coaching honor to the host club based on competitive considerations of both the All-Star Game and the MLS Regular Season.

For the ninth time in the event’s 17-year history, an international club will take on the MLS All-Stars, who have a 5-2-1 record in this format – the most compelling among all-star games in North America. In addition to honoring the best players in MLS, the game has featured successful, world-famous clubs such as Manchester United (2010 & 2011), Everton FC (2009), Chelsea FC (2006), Fulham FC (2005), and Chivas de Guadalajara (2003).

“Hosting a club as successful and prominent as Chelsea FC makes the AT&T MLS All-Star Game a destination event for the North American soccer community, one that will attract a global television audience,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “Our players relish the opportunity to challenge the world’s best and play under the All-Star spotlight.”

Chelsea FC recently advanced to the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League, is a semifinalist in England’s FA Cup, and is currently in sixth place in the Barclay’s English Premier League. Founded in 1905, Chelsea FC boasts a lineup of international stars such as Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Ghana), Frank Lampard (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), Petr Cech (Czech Republic), Florent Malouda (France), Juan Mata (Spain) and John Terry (England). The AT&T MLS All-Star Game is part of Chelsea FC’s 2012 North American tour, which includes a game against the Seattle Sounders FC on July 18. The remaining details of the tour will be announced at a later date.

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Here’s some of what Sounders goalkeeper Michael Gspurning had to say after tonight’s 1-0 loss to San Jose:

On trying to stop a penalty kick from Chris Wondolowski without knowing his tendencies) Of course it’s better to know players from a long time. Yeah, it’s new. But I mean in a penalty you also have to be lucky. I mean, I feel no pressure. The striker has the pressure. He has to score. On the other hand, of

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David Estrada seems like a genuinely nice guy, genuinely team-focused and genuinely humble in light of his four-goals-in-two-games start to the season.

That is reflected in his comment today when asked about his new life in the spotlight.

“Starting the season with a hat trick I think sets the tone,” he said. “I’ve been enjoying it more than anything. I know there’s still a long season ahead of us. I’m staying grounded, just doing what I did the first day of preseason: just work hard and not change one thing.”

Sigi Schmid was asked a bit about that too, and he emphasized the point with a really good story from opening night.

“His humility is genuine,” Schmid said. “We actually talked today a little bit, and I said, ‘They’re asking now are you going to play for Mexico or the U.S.?’ I said, ‘Right now you’ve got to just keep playing for the Sounders, let’s not worry about that other stuff.’ And he said, ‘I know.’ Just keeping his feet grounded.

“It’s like when I subbed him in the first game. I had never really talked to him about it. I asked him, I said, ‘Do you know why I subbed you?’ And he goes, ‘Well, I thought because I had the yellow card or something you wanted to take me out.’ I said, ‘No, I wanted you to hear the crowd because you scored a hat trick, it’s near the end of the game and I wanted you to hear the crowd.’ He goes, ‘Oh.’
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Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer is as generous with his time as any major-sport executive I’ve ever dealt with. He made more time available today to discuss for the first time the Monday news about the Chelsea FC friendly match in Seattle, and the decision to open all of CenturyLink Field for that game along with three other league games, including the Cascadia Cup matches with Portland and Vancouver.

On the Chelsea friendly: One of the great teams in the world, which is something we’re really focused on. We have a great relationship with the organization. We think they have an exciting team. They could potentially be Champions League champions. Again, just a great opportunity for our fans and for out team to play against a top club like Chelsea.

On if they considered if it was too soon to repeat a club that had visited in 2009: Yeah, I guess so. You also could say it’s a great opportunity to get a second chance at a team like Chelsea. They beat us 2-0. We’d like to have a better showing against them. But sure, I can certainly see that someone could come to that conclusion. But as I’ve said numerous occasions: These games are complicated, and we wanted to make sure that we brought one of the great teams, and we had the opportunity to snag Chelsea and jumped at it.

On if he has a feel for fan reaction to the announcement: I don’t. I think we’ve just gone on sale with that four-pack. We’re not selling individual tickets yet, so no I don’t.

On ticket allocation to Portland and Vancouver supporters: … Because we play twice in Portland and Vancouver, they play once in Seattle, that we’ll give them 1,500 tickets in Seattle; we’ll get 750 per game in Portland and Vancouver. Maybe 800 – somewhere in that range when we go on the road. Same number of (total) tickets, that’s sort of the idea.

On packaging what might be the four most attractive games on the schedule: Chelsea, Galaxy, Whitecaps, Timbers: Read more »

Here’s a preview from CONCACAF:

Mexico’s Santos Laguna travels toToronto FC’s BMO Field this Wednesday to open the CONCACAF ChampionsLeague semifinals. Later that night, defending champion Monterrey willwelcome Pumas to the Estadio Tecnologico.

Toronto FC, which got past fellow Major League Soccer side LAGalaxy 4-3 on aggregate in the quarterfinals, is led by forward RyanJohnson. The Jamaican international has five goals in 10 Champions Leagueappearances.

High-scoring Santosadvanced to the semifinals after a 6-1 second-leg quarterfinal rout of theSeattle Sounders, taking the series 7-3 on aggregate. US internationalHerculez Gomez scored three goals in those two games.

Monterrey easily raced past Morelia 7-2 on aggregatein the quarterfinal pairing. The Rayados are unbeaten in six all-time CCLgames against Mexican opposition.

Pumas reversed a 2-1 first-leg quarterfinal loss to Isidro Metapanwith a record-tying 8-0 second-leg victory. The result equaledHerediano’s mark of most goals scored In a single CCL match and thelargest margin of victory.

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Sounders FC has confirmed a summer friendly match at CenturyLink Field against English Premier League giant Chelsea FC.

Here’s the release from the club:

Seattle Sounders FC announced today they will host Chelsea FC on Wednesday, July 18 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. The match is part of the Sounders FC full 18-match season ticket package. The presenting partner for the Sounders FC international friendly match is AT&T.

Fans can guarantee seats for Chelsea by purchasing a 4-Match ticket package for $110 prior to the public on-sale of individual tickets on June 4.

Chelsea, the only English Premier League club still competing in the Champions League this season, were runners up in the League last season having been champions and FA Cup winners in 2010. The London club has many international players, from Europe, Africa and South America.

“We’re delighted to be returning to Seattle to kick off our summer tour in the U.S. The right pre-season preparation is vital to us and there’s no better place to start. Seattle’s facilities are second to none and the Sounders are quality opponents who enjoy great support,” said Chelsea FC chief executive Ron Gourlay. “We were Read more »