The LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC can finally start making their plans for March.
The schedule for the CONCACAF Champions League “Championship Round” – the quarterfinals and beyond – was announced on Tuesday afternoon via press release from CONCACAF's headquarters in New York.
The Championship Round opens with defending champion Monterrey going on the road to face Mexican rivals Morelia on Tuesday, March 6.
All three MLS sides are in action the following night, when the Galaxy travel to Toronto and Seattle host Santos Laguna of Mexico.
The final first leg match is on March 8, when Mexico’s UNAM Pumas travel to El Salvador to face Isidro Metapán.
The second leg of the quarters begins the following Tuesday, with the Monterrey vs. Morelia rematch. Wednesday, March 14, will see another MLS double-header as the Galaxy host TFC and the Sounders travel to Torreon to face Santos.
The second leg concludes on March 15, with Metapán playing at Pumas.
The quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals, which are set for March 27-29 and April 3-5. The two-leg final is set for April 17-19 and April 24-26.
The winner of the 2011/12 CONCACAF Champions League will earn a berth to the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup.
CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
All Times U.S. Eastern (local times in parentheses)
First Leg
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Morelia (MEX) vs. Monterrey (MEX), 10 p.m. (9 p.m.)
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Toronto FC (CAN) vs. LA Galaxy (USA), 8 p.m. (5 p.m. PT)
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Santos (MEX), 10 p.m. (7 p.m.)
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Isidro Metapán (SLV) vs. Pumas (MEX), 8 p.m. (7 p.m.)
Second Leg
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Monterrey (MEX) vs. Morelia (MEX), 10 p.m. (8 p.m.)
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Santos (MEX) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA), 8 p.m. (6 p.m.)
LA Galaxy (USA) vs. Toronto FC (CAN), 10 p.m. (7 p.m. PT)
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Pumas (MEX) vs. Isidro Metapán (SLV), 10 p.m. (8 p.m.)
Semifinals
First Leg
March 27-29, 2012
LA Galaxy-Toronto FC winner vs. Santos-Seattle Sounders winner
Monterrey-Morelia winner vs. Pumas-Isidro Metapán winner
Second Leg
April 3-5, 2012
Santos-Seattle Sounders winner vs. LA Galaxy-Toronto FC winner
Pumas-Isidro Metapán winner vs. Monterrey-Morelia winner
Finals
First Leg
April 17-19, 2012
Monterrey-Morelia/Pumas-Metapán winner vs. LA Galaxy-Toronto FC/Santos-Seattle Sounders winner
Second Leg
April 24-26, 2012
LA Galaxy-Toronto FC/Santos-Seattle Sounders winner vs. Monterrey-Morelia/Pumas-Metapán winner