CONCACAF Champions League: Kansas City eliminated, quarterfinals set

Forgive me if you've heard this story before.

A team from Major League Soccer only has to avoid losing by multiple goals on a difficult road trip to Central America in order to qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, but fails to do so.

Oh, wait, this just happened on Tuesday. And it happened again on Thursday.

This time, the victim was Sporting Kansas City, a team that was expected by a lot of people around MLS to have a real shot at contending for the title. That is out the window now, after a 2-0 loss at CONCACAF's most hostile venue, Costa Rican power Saprissa's notorious tinderbox.

(You may think that the Estadio Azteca in Mexico wins that honor. It does not. You can ask any U.S. national team player who has ever been part of a World Cup qualifier there, including Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes.)

Saprissa advanced to the quarterfinals on an away goals tiebreaker. As a result, just two of the five MLS teams in this season's competition - D.C. United and the Montréal Impact - got out of the group stage.

But if it's any consolation, Mexico also ended up with just two teams in the quarters. Costa Rica got three, the most of any nation. Give credit where it's due, because those clubs earned the right to advance. There are legitimate talents in the Costa Rican league, including some young stars who might end up on MLS clubs' radars.

Here are the quarterfinal matchups. The high seed in each will host the second leg. Games are expected to be played in late February and early March.

1. D.C. United (United States) vs. 8. Alajuelense (Costa Rica)
2. Club América vs. 7. Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica)
3. Herediano (Costa Rica) vs. 6. CD Olimpia (Honduras)
4. Montréal Impact (Canada) vs. 5. Pachuca (Mexico)

And here are the highlights from Thursday's games.

Deportivo Saprissa: Heiner Mora 22', Ariel Rodríguez Araya 46'

Club Léon 4, Isidro Metapán 1

Club Léon: José Ruíz Vargas 55', José Ruíz Vargas 65', Yamilson Rivera 81', Yamilson Rivera 89'
Isidro Metapán: Nicolás Muñoz 88'