By IVES GALARCEP
The New York Red Bulls will be facing a familiar foe in the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, with the reigning MLS Supporters Shield holders set to face the winner of the Toronto FC/Montreal Impact Canadian Championship Final.
The eight three-team groups were determined for the 2014/2015 CONCACAF Champions League, with Sporting Kansas City drawn in against perennial Costa Rican power Deportivo Saprissa and the Portland Timbers drawn into a group including Honduran side CD Olimpia.
D.C. United will face Panamanian power Tauro FC in their group stage match-up. The groups consist of a home-and-away, four-game format, from August to October. The winner of each group advances to the quarterfinals, which will take place in early 2015.
Here are how all eight groups were drawn:
2014/2015 CONCACAF Champions League Groups
Group 1: Pachuca (Mexico), Real España (Honduras), Municipal (Guatemala)
Group 2: Sporting Kansas City (USA), Saprissa (Costa Rica), Real Esteli (Nicaragua)
Group 3: New York Red Bulls (USA), Toronto FC or Impact de Montreal (Canada), FAS (El Salvador)
Group 4: Tauro FC (Panama), D.C. United (USA), Waterhouse FC (Jamaica)
Group 5: Olimpia (Honduras), Portland Timbers (USA), Alpha United (Guyana)
Group 6: Alajuelense (Costa Rica), Cruz Azul (Mexico), Chorrillo FC (Panama)
Group 7: Leon (Mexico), Isidro Metapan (El Salvador), Belmopan Bandits (Belize)
Group 8: Comunicaciones (Guatemala), Club America (Mexico), Puerto Rico Bayamon FC (Puerto Rico)