Houston Dynamo V Arabe Unido – August 27
After escaping with a scoreless drawn from their opening CONCACAF Champions League Group 1 encounter in Trinidad & Tobago against W Connection the Dynamo really must gain maximum points at home to get their campaign up and running. Arabe Unido from Panama kicked their tournament off with a maximum haul when they comfortably defeated Connection 3-1 on their own ground. Unlike the European equivalent of this event which consists of four team groups and the top two advancing only the winners here from a three team group will go through to the knockout stage, so a quick start is imperative. Unido are off to a slow start in their domestic league this term and although they have not being beaten yet they have drawn two of their opening four games. The two sides were drawn together previously in the 2009/10 competition and after drawing 1-1 in Panama the Dynamo won in a canter 5-1 on home soil, a result they would snap your hand off if it was offered to them before play. The two meet in the final group game in Panama in October when all the marbles could be on the line.
[divider]
Olimpia V Sporting Kansas City
The visitors hit the ground running as they went to Nicaragua to face Real Esteli in their opening CCL Group 2 tie and came back with three points after goals from Ike Opera and Dom Dwyer saw them secure a 2-0 victory. Again they are on their travels as they complete their away games with a trip to Honduras to face Olimpia. The home side also opened their campaign with a trip to face Esteli and although they won they could only score one goal. A victory by Sporting would give them a huge advantage as it would appear that the group winners will come from these two teams, who have never previously faced each other. In their home league the hosts have had a mixed start having won two, drawn one and lost one of their opening games.
[divider]
Heredia V San Jose Earthquake August 28
After losing their Group 5 opener on the road to Montreal by a single goal, San Jose need to get something in Guatemala if their CCL campaign is not going to be all but over, as these two teams meet for the first time. The home side started their tournament with a win over the Impact thanks to a goal from Charles Cordoba Sanchez, although they did have to wait until 3 minutes from time to secure the spoils, after the same player had missed a first-half penalty even though the Canadian side had played just over half the game with ten men after Adrian Lopez Rodriguez had being red carded. In the fledgling Liga Nacional this term Heredia have won two and lost one.