If you like exciting, down to the wire soccer, then this week...well...wasn’t for you.
Leg 2 of the 2019 Concacaf Champions League was basically a formality for a large group of teams in the field: Santos Laguna were ruthless at home against minnow Marathón, Independiente’s 4-0 lead in its return leg never looked like being seriously challenged, the Red Bulls added two goals in the first half of its match against Pantoja to ice its tie, and Sporting Kansas City shut the door with an early away goal at Toluca.
Things were interesting in Houston as the Dynamo fell behind on away goals thanks to Aarón Navarro’s 72nd-minute strike for Guastatoya, but eventually saw itself through on a pair of markers by Mauro Manotas 8 minutes apart. Pesky Alianza hung in with favored Monterrey until an 86th-minute penalty by Nicolás Sánchez pushed Los Rayados to the next round.
Toronto FC (CAN) 1-1 Independiente (PAN)
Aggregate: 1-5
Tigres (MEX) 5-1 Saprissa (CRC)
Aggregate: 5-2
Houston Dynamo (USA) 2-1 Guastatoya (GUA)
Aggregate: 3-1
Santos Laguna (MEX) 5-0 Marathón (HON)
Aggregate: 11-2
New York Red Bulls (USA) 3-0 Atlético Pantoja (DOM)
Aggregate: 5-0
Monterrey (MEX) 1-0 Alianza (SLV)
Aggregate: 1-0
Toluca (MEX) 0-2 Sporting Kansas City (USA)
Aggregate: 0-5
2019 Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals
Monterrey vs. Atlanta United
Independiente vs. Sporting Kansas City
Houston Dynamo vs. Tigres
New York Red Bulls vs. Santos Laguna