The first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League and the first round of the Copa Libertadores ended this week. In North and South America, the opening games brought a mixture of confusion, missed chances and some early advantages, but few of them were truly resolved heading into the second period.

Cougars implosion gives SDFC major advantage

San Diego Football Club’s (SDFC) hometown fans have plenty to celebrate at the club’s debut in the CONCACAF Champions League. The MLS West side defeated Pumas UNAM in Mexico City in a Liga MX vs. MLS match that took a dramatic turn after halftime.

Despite being scoreless in the opening quarter, San Diego’s offensive pressure steadily increased throughout the game. Once a breakthrough was achieved after 60 minutes, the floodgates opened. SDFC scored four goals in the last minute to win the first leg 4-1. Pumas’ only goal came from a brilliant bicycle kick by Robert Morales, but it was little more than a footnote as SDFC made it 4-1 in the first half as it was 0-1.

The Cougars scored early and seemed content to defend to protect what they hoped was a manageable score. This approach backfired once Santiago found rhythm and space. The Cougars have not won the CONCACAF Champions League since 1989 and will face a first-round exit unless they can put together a remarkable performance in Mexico. With a three-goal cushion, San Diego FC can afford to stop the bus on the return trip.

Strongest and 2 de Mayo ahead of Libertadores

Bolivia’s Most Powerful team fired 26 shots and took two penalties to beat Atlético Tachira 2-1. While Bolivia dominated large stretches of the match, Tachira remained within striking distance heading into the return leg in Venezuela.

Paraguayan team 2 de Mayo narrowly defeated the Union Madrid team 1-0 in their first match. The gap between the two sides is slim and the second leg will be held in Peru with the score still undecided.

Reggio giants disappoint away fans

Tigres and Monterrey’s poor away performance in the first round of the CONCACAF Champions League has left the Sultan of the North frustrated, with large numbers of fans tuning in on Monterrey’s RG 690 sports radio station over the next few days.

The Tigers experienced one of their coldest games of the tournament, a 0-0 draw with Canadian Premier League side Forge FC. Despite fielding a near-first-choice lineup, the Tigers were unable to break through. Forge goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud performed well, stopping about 20 Tigers shots as the home team defended deep in the cold weather.

Forge faced a tough task at the UANL in Monterey, but the Tigres had little satisfaction with the outcome other than surviving the inclement weather.

Meanwhile, Monterrey Laados held to a 1-1 draw away from Guatemala’s Serraju, which cannot be blamed on conditions. Despite controlling nearly 70% of possession, a heavily rotated Rayados side made up of five young players including forward Joaquín Moxica struggled to create clear chances. Seraju’s attacking threat was limited, but they still found a breakthrough in the 83rd minute when Joffre Escobar headed a header past Uruguay international Santiago Mele.

A shocking result seemed likely until veteran Tecatito Corona saved Monterrey with a stunning long-range shot to tie the game. The game now moves to the BBVA Stadium, where Rayados are still heavily favored. However, a team led by Domenech Torrent and featuring internationals such as Anthony Martial has looked worryingly lackluster and lacking in creativity every week.

Cruz Azul and América return home with advantages

Cruz Azul never expected to find himself in trouble against Vancouver FC, and the first leg went according to script. With Mexico international Jorge Sanchez heading to PAOK in Greece, La Maquina is adjusting to life without him. The transition looked smooth, with three different players scoring in a convincing 3-0 away win that all but sealed promotion.

Club America needed a late intervention to avoid another devastating result against Olimpia in Honduras. Ramon Juarez’s late goal ensured America’s return to Mexico with a draw and a slim 2-1 advantage. Questions remain surrounding this América team, who struggled to convert possession into danger despite enjoying 68% possession, while Olimpia struggled to maintain a defensive presence throughout the 90 minutes.

After the first leg of CONCACAF’s tie, a major upset remains unlikely in the remainder of the fixtures.

Main photo credit: Smartframe Images