WASHINGTON, August 31, 2011—American teams from Major League Soccer are dominating play in the early rounds of the CONCACAF Champions League. Even more importantly, two MLS teams have beaten Mexican clubs in Mexico, which is a first. The Seattle Sounders beat Mexican defending champion Monterrey, while FC Dallas downed famed Mexican club Pumas on the road.
MLS teams are undefeated in eight games with seven wins and a tie through the first two rounds of the CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage, and lead all four groups with a third of the schedule complete.
The Los Angeles Galaxy lead Group A with six points after a pair of 2-0 home wins over Motagua and Alajuelense. The Costa Rican champion team is in second with three points, just ahead of Morelia, having beaten the Mexican side in the opening week. Morelia defeated winless Motagua 4-0 on Thursday to sit third.
With four points from two matches, the Colorado Rapids lead Group B. After its 2-0 upset of Santos Laguna, El Salvador’s Isidro Metapan is second with three points, ahead of Santos on their head-to-head result. Real Espana is in fourth with one point. FC Dallas has been the most impressive of all the teams, winning away at both Pumas and Toronto to sit atop Group C with six points.
Toronto FC is in second with three points after beating Tauro of Panama in the first round, while Tauro and Pumas share third place with one point.
The Sounders have won at home and away to lead Group D with a six points. After beating Comunicaciones in Seattle, it became the second MLS team to win in Mexico, topping Monterrey 1-0 on August 23. Defending champion Monterrey is second with three points, ahead of Comunicaciones on goal difference. Costa Rica’s Herediano is last with two losses. Round 3 of the Group Phase will begin September 13.
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