CONCACAF News Release - www.concacaf.com

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

NEW YORK -- With the qualification of the last of the 24 teams in the CONCACAF Champions League, the definitive schedule for the Preliminary Round has been determined. The USL First Division's Puerto Rico Islanders will square off with Major League Soccer's Toronto FC in the Preliminary Round after reaching the tournament Semifinals in the inaugural 2008-09 edition.

The first of 78 games in the 2009-2010 Champions League will start with D.C. United at home against Chalatenango of El Salvador on Tuesday, July 28. The Preliminary Round will finish with the second leg between Real Espana of Honduras at home against Liberia of Costa Rica on Thursday, August 6.

With Toronto FC’s 6-1 victory over the Montreal Impact on Thursday in the final game of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, the Major League Soccer side claimed its first berth in the Champions League and will open at home against the Puerto Rico Islanders on Wednesday, July 29. Puerto Rico, who was ousted in the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League tournament via penalty kicks in the Semifinals in April, will host the second leg on Tuesday, August. 4.

The eight winners of the Preliminary Round will advance to the Group Stage, which will begin the week of August 18-20. Watch video of the draw at CONCACAF's official site.

PRELIMINARY ROUND SCHEDULE BY GROUPS/PAIRINGS
Times local (US Eastern in parentheses)

GROUP C
Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR)
L1: Wednesday, July 29 @ Toronto -- 8 pm (8 pm)
L2: Tuesday, Aug 4 @ Puerto Rico -- 8 pm (8 pm)

Herediano (CRC) vs. Cruz Azul (MEX)
L1: Thursday, July 30 @ Herediano -- 8 pm (10 pm)
L2: Wednesday, Aug 5 @ Cruz Azul -- 7 pm (8 pm)

GROUP B
D.C. United (USA) vs. Chalatenango (SLV)
L1: Tuesday, July 28 @ DC -- 8 pm (8 pm)
L2: Tuesday, Aug 4 @ Chalatenango -- 8 pm (10 pm)

San Francisco (PAN) vs. San Juan Jabloteh (TRI)
L1: Wednesday, July 29 @ San Francisco -- 7 pm (8 pm)
L2: Thursday, Aug 6 @ San Juan -- 8 pm (8 pm)

GROUP D
W Connection (TRI) vs. New York Red Bulls (USA)
L1: Thursday, July 30 @ W Connection -- 8 pm (8 pm)
L2: Wednesday, Aug 5 @ New York -- 8 pm (8 pm)

Liberia (CRC) vs. Real Espana (HON)
L1: Wednesday, July 29 @ Liberia -- 8 pm (10 pm)
L2: Thursday, Aug 6 @ Real Espana-- 8 pm (10 pm)

GROUP A
Pachuca (MEX) vs. Jalapa (GUA)
L1: Tuesday, July 28 @ Pachuca -- 9 pm (10 pm)
L2: Tuesday, Aug 4 @ Jalapa -- 8 pm (10 pm)

Olimpia (HON) vs. Arabe Unido (PAN)
L1: Thursday, July 30 @ Olimpia -- 8 pm (10 pm)
L2: Thursday, Aug 6 @ Arabe Unido -- 7 pm (8 pm)

PRELIMINARY ROUND SCHEDULE BY DATE
Times local (USA Eastern in parentheses); home teams listed first

FIRST LEG
Tuesday, July 28
D.C. United (USA) vs. Chalatenango (SLV), 8 pm (8 pm)
Pachuca (MEX) vs. Jalapa (GUA), 9 pm (10 pm)

Wednesday, July 29
Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR), 8 pm (8 pm)
San Francisco (PAN) vs. San Juan Jabloteh (TRI), 7 pm (8 pm)
Liberia (CRC) vs. Real Espana (HON), 8 pm (10 pm)

Thursday, July 30
W Connection (TRI) vs. New York Red Bulls (USA), 8 pm (8 pm)
Herediano (CRC) vs. Cruz Azul (MEX), 8 pm (10 pm)
Olimpia (HON) vs. Arabe Unido (PAN), 8 pm (10 pm)

SECOND LEG
Tuesday, August 4
Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) vs. Toronto 8 pm (CAN), (8 pm)
Jalapa (GUA) vs. Pachuca (MEX), 8 pm (10 pm)
Chalatenango (SLV) vs. D.C. United (USA), 8 pm (10 pm)

Wednesday, August 5
New York Red Bulls (USA) vs. W Connection (TRI), 8 pm (8 pm)
Cruz Azul (MEX) vs. Herdiano (CRC), 7 pm (8 pm)

Thursday, August 6
Arabe Unido (PAN) vs. Olimpia (HON), 7 pm (8 pm)
San Juan Jabloteh (TRI) vs. San Francisco (PAN), 8 pm (8 pm)
Real Espana (HON) vs. Liberia (CRC), 8 pm (10 pm)