CONCACAF Champions League 2012-13 Preview: It’s Time To Get Out

This week, a lot of teams will kiss their CONCACAF Champions League hopes goodbye. For many, they have been realistically eliminated for weeks, but now it becomes mathematically official and you can’t fight math. That is unless you’re a politician. Any politicians out there? No. Okay, you can’t fight math.

Group 1

Toronto couldn’t possibly fail to beat Aguila and eliminate themselves before their (slim) chance at beating Santos Laguna in the finale for a spot in the knockout stages, could they? Of course they could. They are TFC.

Group 2

Herediano (Costa Rica) vs. Tauro FC (Panama) - Tuesday, 10:00 p.m. ET

Herediano are even with Salt Lake, but have a trip to Rio Tinto Stadium looming in the group stage finale next month. Get your points while you can, which they will probably do with a 1-0 win. Three of their four Champions League in the last two years have come by that scoreline.

Group 3

FAS (El Salvador) vs. Olimpia (Honduras) - Thursday, 10:00 p.m. ET

Losing your first three matches is bad enough, but managing a -9 goal difference in those matches? FAS is extra special and teams that special should be banned from the Champions League for a decade.

Group 4

Marathon (Honduras) vs. Caledonia (Trinidad and Tobago) - Wednesday, 10:00 p.m. ET

Meaningless matches are meaningless. Seattle already clinched the group.

Group 5

Puerto Rico Islanders (Puerto Rico) vs. Isidro Metapan (El Salvador) - Thursday, 8:00 p.m. ET

A loss will eliminate Metapan from the competition and send the Galaxy to the knockout stages. Luckily for them, the Islanders are terrible. Nicolas Munoz knows that well, having scored a hat trick when these teams met earlier.

Group 6

Alajuelense (Costa Rica) vs. Real Esteli (Nicaragua) - Wednesday, 10:00 p.m. ET

The Costa Ricans can move to the top of the group with a win, which would set up a fantastic finale at UANL Tigres. This is the second consecutive tournament that Alajuelense has played exceptionally, only to be put in a very difficult group. If the football gods have a heart, they will give Alajuelense some help.

Group 7

Monterrey (Mexico) vs. Municipal (Guatemala) - Tuesday, 10:00 p.m. ET

A win or draw for Monterrey puts them through to the knockout stages, while a Municipal win by at least two goals sends them on. The smart money is on the two-time defending champions because they are at home and, well, much better, but a truly competitive and important match is a nice change for this tournament.

Group 8

W Connection (Trinidad and Tobago) vs. Chivas Guadalajara (Mexico) - Wednesday, 8:00 p.m. ET

Chivas are going to win, whatever. That just sets up the tantalizing finale, which will see Cinderella Xelaju visit Guadalajara where just a draw puts them through. That one match will make this entire competition worth it.