CONCACAF Champions League 2013: Xolos through to quarters, Arabe win

The CONCACAF Champions League has its first quarterfinalist -- Tijuana. A loss by Victoria clinched Group 7 for Xolos and confirmed their spot in the knockout stages, making them the sole team to have guaranteed advancement after four matchdays. Not bad for a team that didn’t even play this week.

Arabe Unido jumped back into first place in Group 1 on Thursday, but W Connection did not make things easy on them. The Trinidad and Tobago side created chances and a couple came within inches of going in, but their shots skidded just wide of the post, keeping Arabe Unido alive.

Nobody has booked their spot in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League yet, but Toluca basically has thanks to a win on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the LA Galaxy are in the driver’s seat in Group 8 after a win of their own, while Herediano has themselves where a home win on the final matchday may put them through.

So the teams in the knockout stages are still to be determined, but the picture looks awfully clear now, or at least much clearer than it did at the start of the day.

After a pair of away wins to start their Champions League campaign, Sporting slumped to a draw at home thanks to some shoddy finishing and non-existent set piece finishing. Sporting dominated the opening half, but they couldn’t find the frame and turn their chances into goals. When they did -- and it was not often -- Justo Lorente was there to deny them, sending the home side into halftime frustrated and level.

While Kansas City may be disappointed with a draw, the result was enough to eliminate Real Esteli and move four points clear of Olimpia. Los Leones will host the Nicaraguan side before traveling to KC for a showdown with Sporting that could determine the winner of Group 2.