MIAMI, Florida – The first leg matches of the Round of 16 of the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League wrapped up on Thursday night with some big statements.
Here are five takeaways from Thursday night’s action.
MLS champs hit the ground running
Since the start of the year, Columbus Crew SC had not played any matches while foes Real Esteli had 12 games under their belt in 2021 going into Thursday’s contest. Any fears of rust that Columbus may have had were put to bed by halftime, as they scored four first half goals to earn an impressive 4-0 win in Nicaragua, thanks in part to a pair of strong finishes from Gyasi Zardes and the playmaking of Lucas Zelarayan. The reigning MLS champions look like they have picked up where they left off last December.
Monterrey take shape of title contender
There is just something about the SCCL that almost always seems to bring out the best in Monterrey. The four-time SCCL champions took the first step toward a fifth crown with a commanding 3-0 win at Atletico Pantoja. Even with some of their starters unavailable, like FW Rogelio Funes Mori, Rayados’ attack was flying high and gave every indication that they will be in the mix for the title again.
Goals numbers jump
Even though one fewer match was played on Thursday compared to Tuesday and Wednesday’s action, Thursday’s games produced the most goals of any single day thus far in the SCCL. Tuesday’s three-game slate yielded five goals, while the six teams in action on Wednesday combined for six goals. Only four teams were in action on Thursday, but between Columbus and Monterrey, the two combined for seven goals to set the tone for next week’s return legs.
Another achievement for Aguirre
Javier Aguirre’s track record as a Head Coach is beyond reproach. The Mexico City native has enjoyed many successes managing in Mexico’s domestic league, Spain’s La Liga and the Mexican National Team, among others. But the veteran manager achieved a first on Thursday night with Monterrey, as his team’s 3-0 win over Atletico Pantoja was the first time Aguirre had ever managed in a Concacaf club competition. In his previous stops in Mexican football with Atlante and Pachuca, Aguirre’s sides did not participate in the Concacaf Champions’ Cup, making Thursday a long-awaited debut for the 62-year-old.
MLS teams complete unbeaten start
Since the inception of the Round of 16 format in the SCCL in 2018, at least one team from MLS has suffered a defeat in a first leg in the Round of 16. That was the case until this year, as all five MLS teams recorded a result of some kind in their matches. What is even more impressive is that all five results were earned as the away team. The Portland Timbers drew 2-2 in Honduras against Marathon, a 10-man Atlanta United pulled out a 1-0 win at Costa Rica’s Alajuelense, the Philadelphia Union debuted in the SCCL with a 1-0 win at Costa Rican giants Saprissa, Toronto FC left Mexican soil with a 1-1 draw versus Club Leon and Columbus Crew SC were 4-0 winners in Nicaragua against Real Esteli. These results could be the first step toward a history-making title run for one the five teams.
