Recently in CONCACAF Champions League Category

The draw was made today in New York.

And the winner of that tie would play either the Seattle Sounders or Mexico's Santos Laguna in the semifinal.

Toronto will host the first leg on March 6-8 (exact dates have yet to be determined); the Galaxy hosts the second leg March 27-29.

Toronto finished one spot off the MLS Eastern Conference basement last season with a 6-13-15 record so you've got to figure the Galaxy will face an overhauled Canadian side next year.

A year ago the Galaxy couldn't get out of the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round.

Now they're in the knockout stage.

Winless Honduran team Motugua meekly surrendered to the Galaxy 1-0 Tuesday as LA topped their group behind another trademark Juninho long-range bomb to reach the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.

The Galaxy got the early goal and did precisely what they needed to do in a game they controlled throughout against a frankly vague opponent that looked as if they had absolutely no self-belief or interest in the game. Neither former Galaxy midfielder Pando Ramirez nor former Chivas USA playmaker Amado Guevara started the game for Motagua.

But what a goal from Juninho.

Tweeted Galaxy radio play by play man Joe Tutino: "US military took notice of @juninho19la's missile and are putting in an order for more."

Watch:

*Staff Wiriter Phil Collin has the preview of the 7 p.m. game (live on Fox Soccer and Galavision).

Watch the Galaxy video preview:

More on Wednesday night's CONCACAF Champions League action is here and here.

Updated:

The Angel City Brigade will hold a viewing party at Tortilla Cantina in Old Torrance, which is at the corner of Sartori and El Prado avenues. There's $12 pitchers and $4 schooners.

In other soccer news this morning:
*There's no playoffs for D.C. United this year and New York can claim the final spot with a win tonight over the Philadelphia Union (5 o'clock live on ESPN2). Details on the playoff schedule are here.

*MLS in Vegas? Maybe (although no one sounds too sure about it).

*They know that after Morelia beat Alajuelense Tuesday. Here are the standings in the group. Their opponents Thursday haven't won a game in the competition.

*The Chivas USA reserves won today. Woo hoo!

*The U.S. Futsal National Team, which includes four players who play at Torrance's South Coast Soccer City, was "pulverized by Iran" after earlier losing 7-0 to Uruguay in a tourament in Brazil. Steady on Tehran Times!

*The U.S. Men's National Team will face Slovenia Nov. 15.

Last night's CONCACAF Champions League game featured one of the most frenzied endings to a game in Carson I can remember.

But at least one fan didn't even see the beginning.

I received the following email last night from frustrated reader Antonio Marquez
who saw an apparent ticket screw-up compounded by the largely unpublicized 7,500-spectator limit imposed at Home Depot Center for the game in an agreement with the neighborhoods around the stadium.

Here is my story from tonight:

Last week I called my Galaxy ticket representative, Tiffony Warner, and told her I really wanted to go to the Morelia game. Anyway, I also told her I was interested in MLS Cup tickets. So she said that the best option was to buy a three ticket mini-plan which included the MLS Cup and she would comp me the Morelia game. I said great, because for the same price I could go to the two games I really wanted to see, plus as a bonus get to see RSL and Chivas. So I purchased four ticket packages.

OK, so I am all pumped up all week looking forward to a good game. Pick up my son and wife, and we drive to the HDC from San Dimas. I walk up to the will call window to pick up my tickets, and they said sorry nothing for you. My heart sank, I called Tiffony, but no answer. Ok I think, there was a mistake, so I get in line to buy three tickets. When I walk up they say sorry, we are sold out!!!

I feel like the Galaxy office scammed me and I am really upset. There were many people outside the stadium wondering how the game could be sold out when we could see a nearly empty stadium. Regardless of the result of the game, tonight was a disaster for me. I have been a loyal fan since 1996, and I feel like the Galaxy robbed me tonight.

Incidentally, the Galaxy never (to my knowledge) publicized the severely reduced capacity for the game beyond tweeting a picture of the seating configuration earlier in the day that grouped fans together of just two sides of the stadium (and made it appear from outside the gates that the stadium was half empty, as indeed it was).

Given that the previous two Champions league games at the stadium this season drew announced crowds of 8,196 and 9,855 you would have thought the Galaxy could have sensed a possible PR debacle brewing (unless, of course, those figures were inflated as they often are and the Galaxy thought there was no reason for concern).

Anyone else locked out of the game?

I'll see if I can get a response from the Galaxy front office.

Updated

I heard Friday from Tom Payne, Galaxy president of business operations, who observed that the Galaxy opened up another 100 or so seats before the game when they realised they had fans who couldn't get in.

He said only a few fans suffered the experience the letter writer above did and couldn't get in at all. And he acknowledged the club should have done a better job of letting fans know about the small capacity for the game in advance, which by the way is exactly what Antonio wanted.

A larger than expected walkup from Morelia fans caught the club by surprise, Payne said.

The 7,500 stadium capacity was imposed by Cal State Dominguz Hills to ensure students attending night classes had parking available, incidentally.

Let's hope the school doesn't make a similar request to limit the the stadium capacity during the playoffs; the Galaxy are likely to host a midweek game.

As for Antonio, the club gave him playoff tickets for his trouble. Hopefully they'll mail them out to him in advance so he doesn't have to take any chances at will call before the game again.

The Galaxy keep finding ways to win when conventional wisdom suggests otherwise.

Missing key players, down to the last few seconds, a tie that was really a loss staring them in the face and then the Galaxy score via the talismanic Juninho - he of the usually spectacular and now golden of goals - in the final fading seconds to get the win they needed to stay in the competition.

The game wasn't sudden death (technically), but for the Galaxy it felt like it would have been.

Staff Writer Phil Collin has the game story.

Watch:

Final: Galaxy 2 Monarcas Morelia 1

The Galaxy have snatched an unlikely win, constant pressure paying off with Juninho scoring the stoppage time goal from 12 yards out. Chad Barrett had glanced on a corner kick to provide the service.

It was a scrambled finish to this game, but the Galaxy never gave up. Morelia appeared to have got away with a draw and even could have won in the 87th minute when sub Aldo Ramirez toe-poked the ball wide around the Galaxy goal with only Josh Saunders to beat.

The last-ditch victory has given the Galaxy's CONCACAF Champions League campaign renewed vigor.

Next up for the Galaxy: Motagua in Honduras Oct. 20.

Notable: The two teams finished dead even on total shots (12) and shots on target (3); it doesn't get much closer than that statistically.

Quotable: "The game was there for us for the taking; we could have won the game," said Morelia Coach Tomas Boy, adding that the Galaxy won on their strong suit - a set piece.

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Morelia are really searching for the winner now, pushing men forward - but it's the Galaxy who need the win more.

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Morelia's Manso, given a ridiculous amount of time in the Galaxy penalty area to tee the ball up, lashed a shot off the crossbar in the 81st minute. The Galaxy were lucky to escape without conceding a second goal.

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Now Paulo Cardozo has flashed his studs in a challenge and earned a yellow card in the 71st minute. It's a 7,500-capacity crowd, BTW, - a sell-out says the Galaxy based on the reduced capacity that Cal State Dominguz Hills requested tonight to keep the neighbors (relatively) happy.

Magee went off as a precaution with tightness in his hamstring.

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Morelia are growing in confidence and beginning to stretch the Galaxy's defence; Yasser Corona could have done better with a 69th minute header that went wide.

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Chad Barrett has replaced Adam Cristman and A.J. DeLaGarza has gone into the ref's book; it's the 68th minute.

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Morelia pulled level in the 60th minute when Bryan Jordan redirected a Damian Manso cross/pass into the path of Marquez who beat an advancing Saunders to the ball.

That makes Dunivant's miss even worse; a tie is no good to the Galaxy, remember.

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Ooof! Todd Dunivant blazed the ball over the bar in the 56th minute with only the goalkeeper to beast after Omar Gonzalez had set him up a few yards from Morelia's net.

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Bryan Jordan has replaced Mike Magee at halftime - a straight switch, with no other tactical adjustments. No word why the change.

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For those of you looking ahead to Saturday when the Galaxy could clinch the Supporters' Shield here in Carson, opponents Real Salt Lake have lost to Chicago 3-0 tonight - and influential playmaker Kyle Beckerman was sent off, so that means he'll miss the game. And, of course, that follows a 4-1 rout of RSL by D.C. United on Saturday. Ouch.

Back to the matter at hand - tonight's game - where the Galaxy and Morelia are even with six shots apiece, but the Galaxy so far have the game's only goal and are so far coping surprisingly well with Morelia.

I would be delighted to be proved wrong if the result stands.

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Landon Donovan went past Morelia defender Luis Noriega like he wasn't even there and got off a quick snap shot in the 39th minute, but it failed to trouble the goal or the goalkeeper.

Adam Cristman headed wide from a cross in the 41st minute.

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The goal has amped up the pace on the field; Angel Sepulveda, the most dangerous Morelia attacking threat so far, nodded a ball past the near post at close range in the 28th minute - and he was virtually unchallenged.

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Well, the goal has shut the Morelia fans up, who are now sitting down quietly.

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The Galaxy have taken an unexpected lead in the 21st minute, the goal coming from a seemingly innocuous Todd Dunivant cross. Mike Magee slotted the ball home from inside the box, Adam Cristman perhaps playing a role in getting in the way of the Morelia goalkeeper.

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The goal came seconds after Galaxy midfielder Michael Stephens smashed the ball wide of the Morelia goal in the 19th minute after Adam Cristman set him.

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On the plus side, a long-range shot and an easily collected cross from a corner is about all Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders has had to contend with over the first 15 minutes; on the other hand, the Galaxy haven't done much at the other end either, a weak Landon Donovan shot after a fairly good buildup is about all the Galaxy has produced so far.

Still, a pretty good atmoshphere here as opposing fans seek to drown each other out; don't see - or hear - enough of this at the HDC.

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More Morelia than Galaxy fans in the stands tonight - a bit of a sad commentary on Los Angeles soccer fans, I'm afraid and half the stands are literally off limits to fans anyway - but at least the majority of fans here are likely to go home happy.

No goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, striker Robbie Keane (um, apparently resting for Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifiers next week) or fragrance salesman David Beckham (he's suspended) for the Galaxy tonight so, no chance of LA beating a top tier Mexican team and staying in the CCL I'd wager.

Galaxy XI: Josh Saunders-Todd Dunivant, Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza, Frankie Hejduk-Landon Donovan, Mike Magee, Juninho, Michael Stephens-Adam Cristman, Paulo Cardozo

The game is live on Galavision and Fox Soccer.

Refresh this post for updates throughout the game

Three points behind co-group leaders Morelia and Alajuelense in CONCACAF Champions League play, the Galaxy face a must-win game at 7 o'clock tonight at Home Depot Center against the Mexicans (live on Fox Soccer and Telefutura).

Realistically, if the Galaxy don't win - a tie wouldn't help them much - their international campaign is all but over, but they may have to play Morelia without three of their key players.

The Galaxy may be able to defeat the likes of Columbus without those players in the line-up, but the Mexican club is a tougher proposition and despite the lurid shutout stats goalkeeper Josh Saunders is throwing up this season - he has nine total in all competitions - I still think regular starter Donovan Ricketts has the edge over him and his absence, especially in a game like this, remains a big loss.

There are, sadly, plenty of seats (and free parking, too) available for a crucial game in a competition many fans don't understand.

Game story.

Watch:

Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena had regarded a result from this game as "critical" so this loss - the second straight for the Galaxy after racking up consecutive wins to open Champions League play - must be considered a major setback. If Morelia defeats winless Motagua as expected tonight the Galaxy must play catch-up - and will need a win to keep pace when Morelia visits Carson Sept. 28.

The pressure just cranked up a notch on the Galaxy's CL campaign.

It's rare when both the Galaxy and Chivas USA are in action on the same day during the week in different competitions.

But that's the case today when Chivas USA meets D.C. United at 4:30 p.m. (live on Prime and KWHY) in MLS action and the Galaxy are in Costa Rica for their fourth CONCACAF Champions League group game against Alajuelense (live at 7 p.m. on Fox Soccer and Galavision).

Staff Writer Phil Collin has brief looks at both games

For more:

*Check out the perspective from the nation's capital on the United-Chivas USA match-up, a contest between two desperate teams who are well acquainted with each other. Chivas USA haven't won since May, are mired in a four-game losing streak and are coming off their heaviest defeat of the season. More gory details here.

*For the Galaxy, the crowd and the playing surface will be as much of a challenge as their opponents.

Morelia 2 Galaxy 1

With Donovan Ricketts in goal - the first choice Galaxy keeper sat out this one and was replaced by Josh Saunders - the Galaxy would arguably have won this game.

In fact the Galaxy came within 10 minutes of a famous away win at altitude in Mexico, but Saunders failed to hold shots that led to both goals in the last 10 minutes in Morelia's come from behind victory.

You could quibble that Morelia's first shouldn't have counted because it appeared the whole of the ball failed to cross the whole of the goal line, but really the Mexicans deserved the equalizer after relentlessly attacking a bending but not breaking Galaxy back line for much of the game.

The Galaxy had an Omar Gonzalez goal disallowed for offside at the stroke of regulation time and played a controlled, well-managed game that frustrated the home side for most of the 90 minutes.

Still, the Galaxy will rue how closely they came to winning and Robbie Keane especially will regret that his brilliantly insouciant effort - he ran around a defender before his deadly finish - didn't count for something because it was worthy of a game-winner.

Saunders actually started the move with a superbly distributed ball to Landon Donovan whose pinpoint pass found Keane and the Irishman showed exactly why he had been brought to MLS with an impudent finish few other strikers in the league could match.

The Galaxy missed regular midfield starters David Beckham and Juninho, but still came within a whisker of stealing the triumph.

More later.

Game story

Watch:

Home stretch: A.J. DeLaGarza and the Galaxy became the first MLS team to qualify for the post-season Friday against Colorado at Home Depot Center (AP Photo). Next stop: the CONCACAF Champions League tonight (AP Photo).

For once the stats don't lie. The Galaxy are pretty good and getting better. But their biggest test to date lies ahead tonight.

Read the column here.

*Francisco "Panchito' Mendoza, tied for the most all-time appearances with Chivas USA, is out after Coach Robin Fraser decided to part ways with an "unhappy" player.

It was the Mexican midfielder's second go around with the club; he had rejoined them in the offseason, but was used sparingly and primarily as a substitute.

I always got the impression Mendoza always thought he was better than he actually was; now having worn out his welcome with the mother ship he's done the same with the American offshoot.

*Tickets went on sale today for the Galaxy's CONCACAF Champions League game against Mexican Clausura runner-up Monarcas Morelia that's set for 7 p.m. Sept. 28.

Tickets start at $20 and for the second consecutive home CONCACAF CL game there is no parking fee (which represents a savings of around $15-$20) at Home Depot Center.

It's the Galaxy's third and final group home game and by then they may have wrapped up a place in the next round.

From the Galaxy press release:

The Galaxy are currently three points clear of Morelia and LD Alajuelense at the top of Group A with a perfect 2-0-0 record for six points from their first two matches. One of just three teams in the Champions League to win each of their first two games and one of two teams that are yet to allow a goal, the Galaxy opened the competition with a 2-0 home win over Club Motagua of Honduras on August 16 before beating Alajuelense 2-0 at home last week. The Galaxy return to action in the Champions League on Sept. 13 when they travel to Mexico to face Morelia at Estadio Morelos in a game that can be seen live on FOX Soccer Channel starting at 5 p.m.

*The Cal State Dominguez Hills women have opened the season 2-0 after beating visiting Grand Canyon 2-1 this afternoon.

Galaxy 2 Alajuelense 0

Game story

Watch:

Quotable:

"They play a different game - quickness - not the same style of physicality (you see in MLS)," said Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena. "It was an important experience for us."

Mike Magee agreed with that assessment:

They're more technical than most MLS teams ," he said. "They have a little bite to them."

The standings.

Next for the Galaxy in the CONCACAF CL: at Morelia Sept. 13.

Final: Galaxy 2 Alajuelense 0

The Galaxy have done just what Coach Bruce Arena wanted - gone 2-0 to open their CONCACAF Champions League campaign.

The 9,855 in attendance got value for money tonight.

More later.

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Robbie Keane has made the longest run he's made all night - to the sideline to get subbed out and replaced by Chris Birchall. Four minutes of stoppage remain.

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Juninho has been sent off for a high elbow on Jhonny Acosta in the 88th minute; that was an unnecessary - and potentially dangerous - challenge from the Brazilian.

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Saunders was needed to save a long-range, but strong shot from at least 30 yards by Pablo Gabas in the 84th minute. May have been the visitors' best attempt on goal all night.

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Fewer than 10 minutes left for Robbie Keane to make an impression; been AWOL much of the night.

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Chad Barrett has his fifth goal of the season in the 77th minute. The pretty build up was conjured up by David Beckham, whose vision and right foot found a speeding Sean Franklin on the right wing. Franklin intelligently pulled it back to a waiting Barrett, who side footed it in from seven yards.

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Galaxy forward Chad Barrett enters the game in the 74th minute for Adam Cristman; it's the UCLA product's first appearance since July 4.

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Landon Donovan got a 68th minute yellow card for flinging an opponent to the ground.

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The Costa Ricans had a goal disallowed for offside in the 65th minute. Y'know, this looks like a team without its leading scorer; the visitors, for instance, have had several fast breaks on the Galaxy defense, but seem to run out of ideas in the final third.

The Galaxy do not have the same affliction; Mike Magee just had a 66th minute shot stopped by the Costa Rican goalkeeper.

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The Galaxy outplayed Alajuelense for the most part in the opening 45 minutes. In fact, Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders may have had the most trouble from three sluggish back passes from his defenders.

The Galaxy were especially prolific on corner kicks; they had five to their opponents' one and, of course, the goal came from a Beckham corner.

The second half is about to start.

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The injury to Gregg Berhalter in the first half had to do with his right foot, incidentally, although the severity is unknown.

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Unremitting Galaxy pressure paid off when Omar Gonzlez outjumped - bowled over is more like it - Costa Rican defender Geancarlo Gonzalez at the near post in the 38th minute for the goal from another David Beckham corner kick. Arena pumps his fists in approval on the touchline.

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David Beckham picked up a yellow card in the 31st minute although it's not at all clear why. It appears the ref believed he was delaying the game, but it looked like Beckham was waiting for the go ahead to take the set piece from the assistant referee.

Quite weird. But the small knot of fans of the Costa Rican club near that side of the field near the corner post thoroughly enjoyed it anyway.

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David Beckham is signaling the bench that the Galaxy need a sub. It's Gregg Berhalter coming out, I believe, in the 26th minute. It looks like a foot issue.

Sean Franklin is preparing to come in. Franklin has slotted into the right back spot, with DeLaGarza moving into the middle with former Maryland central defensive partner Omar Gonzalez.

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A.J. DeLaGarza began the most promising Galaxy attack of the night in the 11th minute with a long pass upfield that beat Robbie Keane's lone marker. The Irishman crossed to Adam Cristman who headed over the bar from close range.

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With Sunday's game in New York against the Red Bulls postponed because of Hurricane Irene, Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena goes with what is pretty much a first choice starting lineup tonight.

A.J. DeLaGarza returns in defense to replace Frankie Hejduk and Mike Magee takes over from Sean Franklin in midfield, but otherwise it's fairly close to the same starting lineup that beat the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 in Robbie Keane's debut last weekend.

Also available for the first time in several weeks is striker Chad Barrett, who is on the bench tonight.

The Galaxy XI: Josh Saunders-Todd Dunivant, Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLagarza-Landon Donovan, Juninho, David Beckham, Mike Magee-Adam Cristman, Robbie Keane

Jonathan McDonald, Alajuelense's leading scorer and the player who scored last week to beat Morelia 1-0 in the opening CONCACAF Champions League fixture, will not play tonight because of injury.

It's a clash of the two leaders of their respective leagues tonight: the visitors lead the Costa Rican league with four wins and one draw having scored a dozen coals and conceding just five.

The game is on Fox Soccer Channel.

Refresh this post for updates throughout the game