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Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images For the first time since the 2010-11 season, the Columbus Crew will compete on an international stage this year as part of the CONCACAF Champions League. The Black & Gold earned the right to be a part of this regional tournament last December when the team lifted its second ever MLS Cup trophy thanks to a 3-0 win against the Seattle Sounders. On Wednesday night, the Crew learned that it will face Nicaraguan side Real Esteli in a two-leg affair in the Round of 16. The first of these legs is scheduled for early April at Estadio Independencia in Esteli with the second leg back in Columbus the week following. ....
Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images One lingering question about the 2021 season was answered on Wednesday when the Columbus Crew discovered it will play Real Esteli in Nicaragua in early April for its first game of the new year. The other lingering question about 2021 that still remains is if fans will be able to attend matches? This is something that, like many things were in 2020 and to start this new year, still seems to be up in the air. Speaking on Wednesday after the CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16 draw, Crew head coach Caleb Porter remarked on that question. “We don’t know yet, obviously,” he said. “Things are still fluid. We’ll do, like last year, what’s safe. We’ll follow the advice of the league and our medical experts and certainly our government, what they say.” ....
Other first round matchups have Mexico's América against Honduras' Olimpia, Mexico's Cruz Azul against Haiti's Arcahaie, Mexico's Monterrey against the Dominican Republic's Pantoja. Mexico's Leon will face the winner of the Canadian championship between MLS's Toronto and Forge, a Hamilton, Ontario, club in the Canadian Premier League. First legs of the total-goals series will be April 6-8 and second legs April 13-15. ....
Concacaf Champions League Draw Open Thread Share this story Photo credit should read MARVIN RECINOS/AFP via Getty Images It’s officially time for the draw! The Portland Timbers are back in the Concacaf Champions League after winning the MLS is Back Tournament in 2020. They haven’t been in the tournament since 2016, when they lost to Costa Rican side and now potential opponent Deportiva Saprissa. They also lost to another potential matchup back in 2014, when they fell to Honduran side C.D. Olimpia. Below we have the draw pots as well as the procedure for how it’ll all happen. Now we’ll just wait and see who Portland draws. Join in on the fun! ....