Well into the playoff phase in Central America's domestic leagues, as two leagues approach the finals and a new champion has been crowned in Panama. Here's a summary of what happened over the past seven days: BELIZE ??? COSTA RICA Alajuelense and Herediano will meet in the final of the Invierno tournament.

A roundup of action from around Central America, as all of the leagues are now in playoff stage. BELIZE I have no idea what's happening in Belize. COSTA RICA Alajuelense scored an important victory in the Invierno playoffs with a 1-0 first leg victory at Saprissa. The Purple Monsters has to play almost 50 minutes with ten men after Jairo Arrieta was sent off in the 43rd minute.

It isn't that Seattle Sounders FC's defense was poor, in fact is was quite good. The team gave up only 50 goals in all 48 competitive games for a 1.04 Goals Against Average. But there were two chronic issues - a weakness on the counter and probably merely average against set-pieces. Underlying the stopping of the opposition is a desire and recognition at the club to be better playing the ball out of the back.

UEFA Champions League on Fox Soccer: Marseille - Arsenal at 2:30pm and Barcelona - Viktor Pizen at 5pm. Fox Soccer Plus has Chelsea - Genk at 2:30pm. CONCACAF Champions League on Fox Soccer and TeleFutura: Santos Laguna - Colorado at 8pm. TeleFutura also has UNAM Pumas - Tauro at 10pm. Herediano - Comunicaciones is on Galavision at 10pm.

STARTERS
Its official - France v USA - Fri Nov 11 in Paris at Stade de France - 2pm CT on ESPN2.
-Alright, who out there in du Nord land has frequent flyer miles to get you & me to Paris for this game. I will get us the game tix.
dN
Ticket sales in Seattle for the Sounders final regular season home game on Saturday have now topped 61,000!

The Seattle Sounders can cement a place in the CONCACAF Champions League knockout stage with a win or a draw when they take on Comunicaciones in Guatemala. The game is a rematch of a 4-1 Sounders victory in the opening game of group play, when Michael Fucito scored twice while Seattle was down a man.

At the end of a stressful work week spent on the road I like to take a moment to go over the things that I love about Seattle. I love living in city where the people are friendly and even the view from the C-Link parking lot can take your breath away. I love that no matter where I am in the city I'm about five minutes away from a good local coffee shop.

We've got a lot to talk about this time out; the Sounders waxing of DC United, the loss of Mauro Rosales, the loss to CS Herediano, Seattle's final Cascadia Cup match of the season this Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps and the future of Nate Jaqua and Pat Noonan are all discussed at length.

We've got a lot to talk about this time out; the Sounders waxing of DC United, the loss of Mauro Rosales, the loss to CS Herediano, Seattle's final Cascadia Cup match of the season this Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps and the future of Nate Jaqua and Pat Noonan are all discussed at length.

El Seattle Sounders FC desaprovechó la oportunidad de asegurar su clasificación a cuartos de final de la Liga de Campeones Concacaf al perder 0-1 ante el CS Herediano de Costa Rica en el CenturyLink Field. Un gol de tiro libre de Yosimar ARIAS en el minuto 25 fue la diferencia del encuentro que mantiene a [.

By JASON MITCHELL

SEATTLE – The Seattle Sounders went into Tuesday night's CONCACAF Champions League match boasting a perfect record in group play, but badly needing rest for a squad feeling the fatigue of a full fixture list. With that in mind, the Sounders trotted out a team of mostly reserves to try and keep their group stage record undefeated.

When CS Herediano beat the Seattle Sounders on Tuesday night it was not because they dominated play. It was because the team in Electricity acted more like a car battery that was low on charge and couldn't push the starter over. There were only a handful of opportunities for either side and the Costa Rican team's keeper had a brilliant save or two that took a game from a possible draw to a 1-nil win.

TFC pulled off the win over Tauro FC, so lets see what Seattle can do in their CONCACAF Champions League clash versus Herediano. It should be a tougher test.
Sounders lineup: GK Keller, D Scott, D Ianni, D Hurtado, D Gonzalez, M Carrasco, M Sanyang, M Neagle, M Levesque, F Jaqua, F Noonan.

TFC pulled off the win over Tauro FC, so lets see what Seattle can do in their CONCACAF Champions League clash versus Herediano. It should be a tougher test.
Sounders lineup: GK Keller, D Scott, D Ianni, D Hurtado, D Gonzalez, M Carrasco, M Sanyang, M Neagle, M Levesque, F Jaqua, F Noonan.

As Group D of the CONCACAF Champions League settles in it has become quite clear that the Seattle Sounders learned quite a bit from last year's dreary international journey. They travel differently, stopping in Dallas on the way south now. They play differently, taking advantage of different defensive styles of Latin ball.

It's a make-or-break night in the CONCACAF Champions League for Toronto FC. If TFC can't come up with a home victory over Panamanian side Tauro FC at BMO Field, then the Reds face an extremely difficult uphill battle in their remaining two Group C games. A win, however, would put Toronto in a decent spot moving forward.

STARTERS
Bob Bradley is scheduled to be in Cairo on Wednesday. Will this seal the deal?
-Andrew Das of the New York Times looks at the situation Bradley will face.
dN
Holy Gasperini Batman! Inter Milan has now started their new season with a 2nd loss in 3 games, this time 3-1 to newly promoted Novara.

There's no two ways about it: Mauro Rosales' injury sucks. Whether it's two or four weeks or somewhere in between, every game the Seattle Sounders have to play without their MVP candidate they are a worse team. It's no coincidence that the Sounders have gone 12-3-6 in games Rosales has started and just 2-3-3 in their other matches.

STARTERS
Stuart Holden is said to be in the starting 11 for Bolton tomorrow in the English League Cup. Hooray hooray hooray! Oh Yeah!
-The team website has words from the man himself.
dN
Javier Morales is traveling with Real Salt Lake this week for the first time since suffering a severely broken ankle back in May.

Carling Cup Third Round on Fox Soccer Plus: Leeds United - Manchester United at 2:30pm. Serie A on Fox Soccer: Novara - Inter Milan at 2:30pm. CONCACAF Champions League on Fox Soccer: Toronto - Tauro at 8pm and Seattle - Herediano at 10pm. All Times Eastern

With a game against CS Herediano that can nearly lock-up entry into the knockout round of the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday and a Saturday game against the Vancouver Whitecaps that can assure the MLS Cup Playoffs things were generally upbeat at Starfire for the Seattle Sounders. There are still individual players who are carrying injuries and others recovering from injuries/fitness that will change how Sigi Schmid manages his gameday lineups.

The Seattle Sounders came away with another victory and carrying another injury. The 3-0 victory was a bit more than the numbers suggest, but Sagarin sees Seattle as strong against an average team at home so it wasn't unexpected. Seattle and Real Salt Lake are also the two teams with 7 wins against top 8 teams in MLS.

Mauro Rosales won't be getting an MRI until Monday, so how long he won't be in the lineup is still up in the air. But what we do know is that he will not be playing Tuesday night against CS Herediano. Doing a bit of research though, he was unlikely to start anyway. He had only started in one of the previous CONCACAF Champions League matches.

Martes 20 de Septiembre de 2011 Toronto vs Tauro 19:00 hrs Monterrey vs Comunicaciones 19:00 hrs Seattle Sounders vs Herediano 21:00 hrs Miércoles 21 de Septiembre de 2011 Dallas vs Pumas 19:00 hrs Colorado Rapids vs Real España 21:00 hrs Alajuelense vs Los Angeles Galaxy 21:00 hrs Jueves 22 de Septiembre de 2011 Santos Laguna vs Metapán 19:00 hrs Motagua vs Morelia 21:00 hrs Gracias por tu visita Estadísticas de Fútbol

By JASON MITCHELL

SEATTLE, WA - Seattle answered any questions about whether last week's disappointing loss to Real Salt Lake would be more than a hiccup with a resounding 3-0 win over D.C. United Saturday.

In a clash of the old guard and the new rife with both playoff and Supporters' Shield implications, Seattle (14-6-9) unleashed their characteristic attacking, aesthetically-pleasing soccer in keeping the pressure on league-leading Los Angeles Galaxy.

STARTERS
In Dallas this Saturday the fans ritual march to the stadium will be in honor of Bobby Rhine who passed away last week. Leading this march will be MLS Commissioner Don Garber along with members of Bobby's family, plus FCD midfielder Brek Shea and FCD President Doug Quinn.

A pretty disappointing Saturday afternoon gave way to a pretty wonderful Tuesday evening, and though the Sounders loss to Real Salt Lake most likely put Seattle's Supporters Shield chances well out of reach a nice win against Herediano in the CONCACAF Champions League has them in excellent shape. So, not the best week we've ever had but far from the worst, and with a bit more of an idea as to where things stand the Sounders can now approach the home stretch with a bit more of a singular focus.

A pretty disappointing Saturday afternoon gave way to a pretty wonderful Tuesday evening, and though the Sounders loss to Real Salt Lake most likely put Seattle's Supporters Shield chances well out of reach a nice win against Herediano in the CONCACAF Champions League has them in excellent shape. So, not the best week we've ever had but far from the worst, and with a bit more of an idea as to where things stand the Sounders can now approach the home stretch with a bit more of a singular focus.

A pretty disappointing Saturday afternoon gave way to a pretty wonderful Tuesday evening, and though the Sounders loss to Real Salt Lake most likely put Seattle's Supporters Shield chances well out of reach a nice win against Herediano in the CONCACAF Champions League has them in excellent shape. So, not the best week we've ever had but far from the worst, and with a bit more of an idea as to where things stand the Sounders can now approach the home stretch with a bit more of a singular focus.

STARTERS
Bob Bradley has officially been hired as head coach of Egypt. El Badil with the story.
dN
Jozy Altidore got the first goal for AZ in a Europa League win today.
STORY OF THE DAY
ESPN has the story of Richard Sanchez who was born and raised in the USA but played goalkeeper for the Mexican national team this summer when they won the U17 World Cup.

By JASON MITCHELL

What a difference a year, and some experience, is making for the Seattle Sounders.

The Sounders scrounged a meager three points from six group-stage matches last summer and fall, their first foray into CONCACAF Champions League.

Nine points. Through three matches of CONCACAF Champions League group stage play, the Seattle Sounders remain perfect after beating Herediano in Costa Rica 2-1. Just think about that for a second.

When CCL play started, we knew the Sounders would have two of their first three matches in Mexico and Costa Rica.

Here's your weekly Former SKC Wizards update. No really big former player news this week.
Active without a club or unknown
Chris Brunt
Doug DeMartin
Mauro Fuzetti
AJ Godbolt
Willy Guadarrama
Santiago Hirsig
Eddie Johnson
Nikos Kounenakis
Michael Kraus
Ryan McMahen
Michal Mravec
JT Murray
Anthony Noriega
Ofori Sarkodie
Sam Scales
Ryan Smith
Ivan Trujillo
Lance Watson
MLS
Stephane Auvray - New York - Started and played 61 minutes in New York's 1-1 draw with Vancouver.

The CONCACAF Champions League does not have the fame of its European counter-part. Part of that is because at this time the CCL has a single significant league. The Seattle Sounders could help rewrite that second sentence with a win in Wednesday night's match in Costa Rica against CS Herediano. Nine points in just three matches with two of the remaining at home changes the way Sigi Schmid can manage his roster for the rest of Group D and MLS Regular Season play.

CS Herediano is one of those strong teams with a poor recent history. They have 21 titles down in Costa Rica, but their last was from the 1992/3 season. Entering this edition of the CONCACAF Champions League by finishing 2nd Leo Gonzalez former club has a case of dualistic forms. In CCL play they haven't won in three matches, with their only points coming from the Preliminary Round drubbing (10-2 aggregate) against Alpha United of Guyana.

UEFA Champions League on Fox Soccer: Benfica - Manchester United at 2:30pm and Manchester City - Napoli at 5pm (2:30pm on Fox Soccer Plus). Fox Soccer Plus has Dinamo Zagreb - Real Madrid at midnight. CONCACAF Champions League on Fox Soccer: Dallas - Tauro at 8pm and Herediano - Seattle at 10pm. On TeleFutura: UNAM Pumas - Toronto at 8pm and Comunicaciones - Monterrey at 10pm.

Normally about now, we'd put together a fancy lineup card for you, but not this week. Guessing Sigi Schmid's lineup against CS Herediano of Costa Rica is difficult. The lineup for Herediano nearly impossible. When the Seattle Sounders beat CF Monterrey it was the least conventional set of XI we have seen him use.

La próxima semana tendremos partidos de Concachampions, les presento la posición actual de los grupos y los partidos a jugarse esta semana.
Grupo A Pts PJ PG PE PP GF GC Dif LA Galaxy 6 2 2 0 0 4 0 4 Morelia 3 2 1 0 1 4 1 3 Alajuelense 3 2 1 0 1 1 2 -1 Motagua 0 2 0 0 2 0 6 -6
Grupo B Pts PJ PG PE PP GF GC Dif Colorado Rapids 4 2 1 1 0 4 3 1 Isidro Metapán 3 2 1 0 1 4 3 1 Santos 3 2 1 0 1 3 4 -1 Real España 1 2 0 1 1 3 4 -1
Grupo C Pts PJ PG PE PP GF GC Dif FC Dallas 6 2 2 0 0 2 0 2 Toronto FC 3 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 Tauro FC 1 2 0 1 1 1 2 -1 Pumas 1 2 0 1 1 0 1 -1
Grupo D Pts PJ PG PE PP GF GC Dif Seattle Sounders FC 6 2 2 0 0 5 1 4 Monterrey 3 2 1 0 1 5 1 4 Comunicaciones 3 2 1 0 1 3 4 -1 Herediano 0 2 0 0 2 0 7 -7
Martes 13 de Septiembre de 2011
Morelia vs Los Angeles Galaxy 19:00 hrs
Real España vs Metapán 21:00 hrs
Colorado Rapids vs Santos Laguna 21:00 hrs
Miércoles 14 de Septiembre de 2011
Dallas vs Tauro 19:00 hrs
Pumas vs Toronto 19:00 hrs
Herediano vs Seattle Sounders 21:00 hrs
Comunicaciones vs Monterrey 21:00 hrs
Jueves 15 de Septiembre de 2011
Motagua vs Alajuelense 21:00 hrs
Gracias por tu visita Estadísticas de Fútbol

For the Seattle Sounders the month of September starts with a long rest, at least during a three season competition. Considering the way that the schedule gets so crowed with MLS, US Open Cup, CONCACAF Champions League and finally the MLS Cup Playoffs in October this chance at rest combined with a home heavy schedule gives the Sounders a chance to go into the fury of a stretch as strong as they ever have.

A review of the rosters for the USA's opponents in the upcoming friendlies against Costa Rica and Belgium reveals a lot of talent as well as some very familiar faces.
For the USA's first friendly against Costa Rica since 1995, interim head coach Ronald Gonzalez has chosen four players from MLS, handing Portland Timbers defender Rodney Wallace his first call-up.