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CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals: Your Running Commentary

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One of two Major League Soccer teams is guaranteed a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals, and the first step to finding out which team that will be takes place tonight in Columbus when the Crew hosts Real Salt Lake (8 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel/Galavision) in the first leg of their quarterfinal matchup.

The Crew hardly resembles the team that got through the group stage, with a bevy of key players from its 2010 squad no longer on the roster. Real Salt Lake, on the other hand, will try to steal a result on the road with a veteran, cohesive group that has had plenty of success over the last two seasons.

In the night's other quarterfinal first leg, Cruz Azul hosts Santos Laguna, which just fired its coach this week, in one of two all-Mexican quarterfinals (10 p.m., Telefutura).

If you will be watching either match — or both — please feel free to share any thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. Oddly enough, the Crew were the attacking team there.

    But he didn’t even touch him, and yes, he rolled over the line with the ball.

    This game is disgusting.

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  2. Yep, this is why none of the preseason games are being televised…despite the diehard fans that would love to get the season started.

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  3. Shouldnt that have been a goal? Romando rolled past the line with the ball in hand…. Im confused. It couldnt have been a foul cause it was his own teammate who hit him.

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  4. Pathetic time wasting by RSL gk. Game is pretty bad but it is early preseason, freakin’ cold and icy. Not sure you could expect too much under the circumstances

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  5. I’ve been to dozens of college games that were of a higher quality than this.

    These teams cannot string together 5 passes without a turnover.

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  6. Becuase there is no replay. FSC was busy showing out of focus images of the grass when all the stuff was going on. Terrible camerawork and direction from the producer’s truck

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  7. After watching this game tonight, I am reminded why I hate FSC’s coverage and announcers. Im dissappointed that MLS will return to FSC this yeas.

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  8. I stepped away and didn’t see how Borchers and Renteria got sent off. And of course FSC hasn’t shown a replay of anything. What happened?

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  9. The tackle was a diving tackle into the side of Gaven’s ankles.

    No problem with him getting a yellow for that. Being on a yellow already, he obviously did not take heed of the official’s warning, and at the start of the second half none the less.

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  10. Thank God neither of them are playing in Mexico tonight.

    Obvious they are both in preseason form.

    That said, some encouraging signs from the Crew.

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  11. Nothing to do with the game, but I just want to say props to Avi and the rest of the writers I’m not familiar with for yet another great week of Soccer By Ives while the boss was on vacation. I think I speak for all of the readers in saying that.

    That said, welcome back Ives, Hope the much needed vacation went well.

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  12. RSL is lucky to have a nil nil scoreline at half. Columbus was the better team in the first 45. I’m hoping we see better possession from RSL in the second half…too many poor passes.

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  13. What’s up Jose?! I was a devoted reader of yours when you covered the Sounders for the Seattle Times (season-ticket holder).

    At this point I’m convinced that Christian Miles and Christopher Sullivan are the worst commentating tandem in American sports. I just can’t take them, and I feel like I’ve given them a fair shot.

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  14. So true! That always tripped me out with Sullivan. But I don’t have to watch him. Watching in Arizona on Galavision. Props to the Nordecke who showed up on a cold, cold night in C-Bus.

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  15. Don’t like either team too much, but I am happy to see Two MLS teams play again in a meaningful game….. I guess I am pulling for RSL, as I think they can get further in the tourney.

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