BIO Brian Dunseth is a former professional player who serves as a play-by-play announcer and analyst on CONCACAF Champions League TV partner the Fox Soccer Channel in the United States. He played 171 games in eight years in Major League Soccer from 1997-2005 and was the captain of the U.S. Olympic team that finished fourth at the Sydney Games. ARCHIVE: 4/20/12 | 3/30/12 | 3/10/12 | 9/23/11 | 8/19/11 | 7/29/11 | 4/29/11 | 4/7/11 | 3/04/11 | 10/01/10 | 8/21/10 | 7/30/10

With all but one team having played two matches in the CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage, the cream is starting to settle at the top.

The beginning of the tournament raised questions of how the format changes would alter the approach to the tournament with goal difference being the first tie breaker, should it come to that.

And despite the changes, some teams continue to take risks with younger players while others have gone with their most experienced veterans to get maximum points early -- all while trying to balance their respective league schedules.

The Houston Dynamo are a perfect example of a team trying to make the most out of their team depth. Having taken four points in those first two games on the road, will we see head coach Dominic Kinnear continue with the same trend, knowing the chance to take the top spot in the group is within their grasp? How much will the late summer run-up to the MLS playoffs influence his decision?

Santos Laguna switched things a bit this time around, utilizing more experienced players in the early stages than we've seen in the past. Toronto FC paid for that decision, surrendering goals in the 90th to Daniel Luduena and to Candido Ramirez in the 92nd to lose 3-1 at BMO Field, a head-to-head match-up that was a must-win game with a date in Torreon still to play.

Over the course of 90 minutes, mistakes and referee decisions can impact the game within the game.

Can you imagine being a head coach with all the factors that come into play? Let's use a simple red card as an example.

Standing there on the sideline, you find your team down a man with plenty of time remaining and you have to make a split-second decision. What's the score? Where are you at in the standings? Are you on the road or are you at home?

What's the goal difference? Who's your opponent? Can you hold on for a point? Do you risk making an attacking adjustment to get yourself back in the game? If you do make that attacking adjustment, will you get punished? Will the opposing coach bring on a game-changing sub as well?

Where are you at in league play? Home or away at the weekend? Did you go with youth players or veterans at the start of the match? Are you willing to risk players coming back from injury that might make a difference?

What about heavy legs from the travel? Did you fly commercial or were you fortunate enough to be on a chartered flight? Field conditions - grass or artificial? Raining?

That's just a quick review of some questions that go through the minds of managers in CONCACAF Champions League, and what they have to constantly evaluate to have a chance of winning the title.