The 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League was the 44th edition of the premier association football club competition organized by CONCACAF, the regional governing body of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. This was the first iteration of the competition to be known as CONCACAF Champions League, having been previously known as the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

The championship began on August 26, 2008, and it concluded on May 12, 2009. Atlante of Mexico won the championship after defeating Cruz Azul, also from Mexico in the final. As champions, they represented CONCACAF in the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup.

Qualification

24 teams from 13 nations participated in the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League from the North American, Central American, and Caribbean zones. Nine of the teams came from North America, twelve from Central America, and three from the Caribbean. Below is the qualification scheme for the 2008-09 competition:

Teams in bold qualify directly for the group stage.

AssociationClubQualifying methodNorth America (9 teams) Mexico4 berthsAtlante2007 Apertura winnersSantos Laguna2008 Clausura winnersU.N.A.M2007 Apertura runners-upCruz Azul2008 Clausura runners-up United States4 berthsHouston Dynamo2007 MLS Cup winnersD.C. United2007 MLS Supporters' Shield winnersNew England Revolution2007 U.S. Open Cup winners and 2007 MLS Cup runners-upChivas USA2007 MLS Supporters' Shield runners-up1 Canada1 berthMontreal Impact2008 Canadian Championship winnersCentral America (12 teams) Costa Rica2 berthsSaprissa2007 Invierno and 2008 Verano winnersAlajuelense2008 Verano runners-up2 Honduras2 berthsMarathón2007 Apertura winnersOlimpia2008 Clausura winners Guatemala2 berthsJalapa2007 Apertura winnersMunicipal2008 Clausura winners El Salvador2 berthsLuis Ángel Firpo2007 Apertura and 2008 Clausura winnersIsidro Metapán2008 Clausura runners-up3 Panama2 berthsSan Francisco2007 Clausura and 2008 Apertura winnerTauro2008 Apertura runners-up4 Belize1 berthHankook Verdes2007–08 Belize Premier Football League winners Nicaragua1 berthReal Estelí2007 Apertura and 2008 Clausura winnersCaribbean (3 teams) JamaicaHarbour View2007 CFU Club Championship winners Trinidad and TobagoJoe Public2007 CFU Club Championship runners-up Puerto RicoPuerto Rico Islanders2007 CFU Club Championship third place

1 New England was both the 2007 U.S. Open Cup winners and the 2007 MLS Cup runners-up, so Chivas USA claimed USA4 as the 2007 MLS Supporters' Shield runners-up.

2 Saprissa was both the 2007 Invierno and 2008 Verano winners, so Alajuelense has claimed CRC2 as the 2008 Verano runners-up.

3 Luis Ángel Firpo was both the 2007 Apertura and 2008 Clausura winners, so Isidro Metapán has claimed SLV2 as the 2008 Clausura runners-up.

4 San Francisco was both the 2007 Clausura and 2008 Apertura winners, so Tauro has claimed PAN2 as the 2008 Apertura runners-up.

Format There was a two-legged preliminary round for 16 clubs, with the eight winners advancing to the group stage. They were joined by the other eight teams who were seeded directly into the group stage. The clubs involved in the group stage were placed into four groups of four with each team playing the others in its group in both home and away matches. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout rounds, which will consist of two-legged ties. The final round, to be held in late April 2009, was also two-legged. Also, unlike the previously contested CONCACAF Champions' Cup, the away goals rule is used in the CONCACAF Champions League, but does not apply after a tie goes into extra time.

Group StagePot A Atlante Santos Laguna Houston Dynamo D.C. UnitedPot B Saprissa Olimpia Municipal Luis Ángel FirpoPreliminary roundPot A Universidad Nacional Cruz Azul New England Revolution Chivas USA Alajuelense Marathón San Francisco Montreal ImpactPot B Jalapa Isidro Metapán Tauro Hankook Verdes Real Estelí Harbour View Joe Public Puerto Rico Islanders

Schedule RoundDraw dateFirst legSecond legPreliminary roundPreliminaryJune 11, 2008 (New York, US)August 26–29, 2008September 2–4, 2008Group StageMatchday 1September 16–18, 2008Matchday 2September 23–25, 2008Matchday 3September 30–October 2, 2008Matchday 4October 7–9, 2008Matchday 5October 21–23, 2008Matchday 6October 28–30, 2008Championship roundQuarterfinalsDecember 10, 2008February 24–26, 2009March 3–5, 2009SemifinalsMarch 17–18, 2009April 7–8, 2009FinalApril 22, 2009May 12, 2009

Preliminary round

The draw for the preliminary round was held on 11 June 2008 in New York City. The first legs of the preliminary round were played 26–28 August 2008, while the second legs were played 2–4 September 2008.

The effects of Hurricane Gustav led to the cancellation of the first leg of the Harbour View - UNAM tie, and as a result the tie was contested as a single match.

Group stage

The Group Stage draw was held on 11 June 2008 in New York City and was unveiled on 16 June 2008. Winners and runners-up of each group advance to the quarterfinals.

Group A ClubPldWDLGFGAGDPts Marathón6411125+713 Cruz Azul631284+410 Saprissa631279−210 D.C. United6015413−91 DCUSAPCRUMARD.C. United–0–20–12–4Saprissa2–2–1–02–1Cruz Azul2–04–0–1–1Marathón2–02–02–0– Cruz Azul were ranked ahead of Saprissa based on head-to-head record, which is the first tiebreaker.

Group B ClubPldWDLGFGAGDPts UNAM6330187+1112 Houston Dynamo62319909 Luis Ángel Firpo622268−28 San Francisco6024413−92 HOULAFSFRUNAMHouston Dynamo–1–02–11–3Luis Ángel Firpo1–1–1–01–1San Francisco0–02–3–1–1UNAM4–43–06–0–

Group C ClubPldWDLGFGAGDPts Atlante632163+311 Montreal Impact6321105+511 Olimpia6222106+48 Joe Public6105315−123 ATLOLIJOEMONAtlante–1–00–12–1Olimpia1–1–4–01–2Joe Public0–21–3–1–4Montreal Impact0–01–12–0– Atlante were ranked ahead of Montreal Impact based on head-to-head record, which is the first tiebreaker.

Group D ClubPldWDLGFGAGDPts Santos Laguna63121411+310 Puerto Rico Islanders6222910−18 Tauro6222910−18 Municipal61321213−16 SANMUNPRITAUSantos Laguna–3–23–03–0Municipal4–4–2–22–23–10–1– 2–1Tauro2–02–12–2– Puerto Rico Islanders were ranked ahead of Tauro based on head-to-head record, which is the first tiebreaker.

Championship round

The draw for the championship round was held on 10 December 2008. In each round, teams will play their opponent once at home and once away. The four group winners from the group stage will play the second leg at home in the quarterfinals. The order of the home and away matches for the semifinals and Finals were determined at the draw.

In all rounds, if two teams are tied after both legs then two 15-minute halves of extra time are played. If the two teams are still tied on total goals after extra time, a penalty shootout determines the winner.

Bracket

Quarterfinals The first legs of the quarterfinals were played from 24 February 2009 to 26 February 2009, while the second legs were played from 3 March 2009 to 5 March 2009.

Semifinals The first legs of the semifinals were played on 17 March and 18 March 2009, while the second legs were played on 7 April and 8 April 2009.

Final

The two-legged Final was played on 22 April and 12 May 2009. The second leg was originally scheduled for 29 April, but was postponed until 12 May by CONCACAF due to concerns over an outbreak of Swine Flu in Mexico.

CONCACAF Champions League2008–09 championsAtlanteSecond title

Top goalscorers RankNameClubGoals1 Javier Orozco Cruz Azul72 Agustín Enrique Herrera Santos Laguna5 Francisco Palencia UNAM Guillermo Ramírez Municipal Gregory Richardson Joe Public6 Brunet Hay Tauro4 Edwin Aguilar Tauro Christian Benítez Santos Laguna Roberto Brown Montreal Impact Milton Núñez Marathón Carlos Quintero Santos Laguna Vicente Matías Vuoso Santos Laguna Pablo Zeballos Cruz Azul

References