I got home from work a few minutes ago, so I've missed most of the Montreal Impact-Real Esteli match. Tonight's matches in the Champions League are on, so let's go!
Scores and liveblog beneath the jump.
Montreal Impact 1-0 Real Esteli
Alajuelense 1-1 Puerto Rico Islanders
Isidro Metapán 2-2 Marathón
Gjertsen scored in the first half. Over 13,000 at Stade Saputo - by far the largest attendance in the Champions League so far.
1851: The Real Esteli 'keeper Mendieta has saved two Impact goals in the last ten minutes. Impact have controlled the middle of the field.
1852: And a hard challenge by Leduc on Esteli's Martínez right on the edge of the area draws a yellow card and a free kick to the Nicaraguan side. Very fortunate not to be a penalty!
1854: Free kick intended for the top corner, but hits the top of the Montreal wall. Two minutes left.
1858: Okay, now into the second minute of stoppage time. Esteli approach to within 25 yards of the Impact goal but then run out of ideas.
1859: Now into the third minute of stoppage time...
1900: Full time. Montreal Impact 1-0 Real Esteli.
The Impact will be happy with the result, but so will Esteli. The tie's still open going into the return leg in Nicaragua next week.
1913: FSC is showing Alajuelense-Puerto Rico right now. The teams are on the field and we're ready for kickoff. At the same time, Metapán and Marathón are playing.
1916: And we're off in Costa Rica!
1925: Alajuelense have had most of the action so far, but the Islanders have made a couple of forays. Alajuelense seem content to make shots from outside the area.
1938: I have said that Alajuelense are enjoying most of the action, but to be honest not much action is happening. Lack of ideas in the final third.
And I'm looking for an update on the Metapán-Marathón match.
1941: Okay I found something. It's 1-1 between Metapán and Marathón. Metapán scored on a goal by Mario Aguilar after 40 seconds, but the Honduran side equalized through Saúl Martínez after 14 minutes. Quite a game so far!
1942: GOAL -Alajuelense
Argenis Fernández with a great run on the right side from 30 yards out, cuts across the field into the net, and then shoots the ball past the Puerto Rico 'keeper into the near post.
1951: Three minutes to halftime in San Salvador. Sounds like an exciting game. Metapán is making forays into the Marathón half but their finishing shots are poor, and Metapán's defense is being stretched out by the collective speed of the Honduran side.
1952: Close for Alajuelense - Quintanilla's freekick curves into the box and is well-saved by Gaudet. The ball is collected for a quick Puerto Rico counter, Fabrice Noel makes a good run but drags his shot wide.
1958: Halftime in San Salvador. Metapán 1-1 Marathón. The Salvadoran side came out of the blocks perfectly, but Marathón struck back and it's anyone's game.
2000: One minute of stoppage time to be added in Alajuela.
2004: Halftime - Alajuelense 1-0 Puerto Rico Islanders
Stoppage time came and went without anyone noticing.
2014: Second half's underway in Alajuela. And in San Salvador.
2017: GOAL - Marathón
And the Hondurans take the lead through Mariano Acevedo!
2030: GOAL - Isidro Metapán
A persistent run of attacks into the Marathón end yields a goal by the substitute Williams Reyes. He came close a few minutes earlier.
Metapán-Marathón is the match of the night -- and the match of the round, for that matter.
2032: GOAL - Puerto Rico Islanders
A curling corner kick by Puerto Rico, deflected by Noel, and Osei Telesford is there on the far post to knock the ball into the net. That is a vital away goal by the USL side.
2034: Both USL sides, in contrast to the two MLS sides last night, are getting good results tonight.
2036: An update on the Metapán-Marathón game: both sides are playing at a very high pace. An intense match.
2040: Metapán is still attacking, and almost scored through Héctor Mejía but his shot went just wide.
2043: And an audacious overhead kick by an Alajuelense player was well-saved by Gaudette to preserve the draw. Just a hint of handball but nonetheless a great save.
2045: Fifteen minutes to go in both places. Metapán is enjoying most of the ball right now, and in Alajuela the Islanders are pressing but for the most part lying back for a counterattack.
2047: My, my, my. Henry applies just enough of a shoulder charge to deny Alajuelense's Castro a goal-scoring chance. Howls from the crowd for a penalty but the referee says no.
2050: There's a long way to go, but the refereeing has been a pleasant surprise. A couple calls can be debated, but nothing especially glaring.
2054: Five minutes to go. Islanders holding on to a 1-1 draw in Costa Rica, and Marathón guarding the 2-2 in El Salvador.
2056: Not a good foul committed by Henry, and he was lucky not to get a yellow card for dissent. Free kick to Alajuelense with two minutes left.
2057: And the free kick...looks like it was in, but it hit the side netting. Still 1-1.
2058: About to go into stoppage time in both places.
And... PENALTY TO ALAJUELENSE!
Looking at the replay - there was some contact in the box, but frankly the referee has turned down penalty appeals for more contact in this game.
2100: PENALTY SAVED - Puerto Rico Islanders
Bill Gaudette goes low to his left and saves from Carlos Castro!! The defense sinks into the box and forces the rebound high, and it remains level!
2102: Into the fourth minute of stoppage time in Alajuela. And Castro was fortunate to still be on the field after his two-footed challenge on Krauss(sp?).
2103: FULL TIME -- Isidro Metapán 2-2 Marathón
A thrilling match in El Salvador ends in a draw. Advantage goes to Marathón for the return leg in Honduras.
2104: FULL TIME -- Alajuelense 1-1 Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico absorbs Alajuelense's challenges and takes advantage of its one opportunity. That away goal will come in handy.
Well this has been quite a night for the CONCACAF Champions League. Drama, lots of goals, and some good crowds (especially in Montreal). See you tomorrow!
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