One more slot for the Champions League

Well I hope those of you in the USA had an enjoyable and safe 4th of July weekend.  I returned late on Sunday and worked very late on Monday, so I'm just getting to a new post tonight.

It looks like the timing of my earlier post on the Champions League was perfect, as the Guatemalan and Nicaraguan playoffs were played last week.  Municipal defeated Deportivo Jalapa 3-2 on aggregate to advance to the group stage (Jalapa to the preliminary round), while Real Estelí defeated Walter Ferreti 1-0 on aggregate to earn Nicaragua's only slot into the continental competition.  The Honduran playoff is being played as I'm writing this, and it's a single match in San Pedro Sula between Olimpia and Marathón.

So now there is just one more slot to be decided for the Champions League, and it will come from the winner of the Canadian Championship.  Toronto FC blew a chance to take control of the competition when they lost 1-0 at home to the Vancouver Whitecaps.  Tomorrow's match in Vancouver between the 'Caps and TFC will be critical to the MLS side's chances.  Montreal Impact is waiting the final match of the competition against TFC on 22 July, knowing that they will only need a point to win the championship.

UPDATE (2029): Olimpia have just won 3-1 over Marathón, so they will advance directly to the group stage while Marathón play Isidro Metapán in the qualifying round.