`The CONCACAF Champions League's return has fully kicked off now, will all eight matchups in the Round of 16 through the first leg. Earlier in the week, Toronto FC embarrassed in Panama by Independiente, while the Houston Dynamo and New York Red Bulls both won their games and kept clean sheets.
Thursday night concluded the action with the only U.S.-Mexico tie of the round and the debut of Atlanta United in the North American competition. Sporting KC beat Toluca 3-0 at home, but Atlanta was upset 3-1 on the road.
Sporting KC With A Statement Win
As the only MLS side to play Leg 1 at home, Sporting Kansas City had possibly the toughest opponent in the opening round but felt confident heading into the match. 14,000 showed up at Children's Mercy Park to see the perennial Western Conference contenders take on Deportivo Toluca, currently fourth the Liga MX Clausura table.
Much is made of the fact that MLS sides enter the tournament before the domestic league kicks off on the back of a short preseason while other clubs are in midseason form already. That didn't help Toluca, which entered the match having failed to win any of its last five matches.
A first-half goal by Krisztián Nemeth ended up being the deciding goal before Gerso Fernandes and Ilie Sánchez netted in the second half to settle the tie 3-0.
Ilie with a thunderbolt from the top of the box! Make it 3 for SKC (via @UnivisionSports) pic.twitter.com/nNv1p5toIc
— Planet Fútbol (@si_soccer) February 22, 2019
SKC heads to Toluca, Mexico next week with a three-goal lead and having kept a clean sheet have the away goal rule leaning in their favor if needed. The winner between SKC and Toluca will take on Independiente unless Toronto can manage a massive turnaround in Canada next week.
A Night Atlanta United Would Like To Forget
After a year in which everything went Atlanta's way — MLS Cup, hosting the final, massive crowds throughout the season, huge transfer deal by a top player to the Premier League and signing the South American Player of the Year as a replacement — Thursday night was about a bad a night as ATL fans have yet experienced.
To be fair Atlanta has started slowly in all three of its seasons, but the Concacaf Champions League doesn't allow for missteps. The MLS champs traveled to Costa Rica to face Herediano, which entered the tournament by way of winning the 2018 Concacaf League (think Europa League for the region). Herediano won the 2018 Apertura, but sits ninth in the current Clausura.
Atlanta's backline confirmed the club was in preseason form by making two costly errors in the first half. A poor header back to the keeper by Leandro Gonzalez Pirez put Jose Guillermo Ortiz in for the first goal of the match. Then Ortiz slotted Randall Azofeifa through, completely breaking the Atlanta high line.
2017 MLS Rookie of the Year Julian Gressel pulled one back for the Five Stripes side before half time. But Atlanta's defense once again fell asleep, giving up a third of the night from a free kick sent into the box. United will be disappointed in the performance on the night; owner Arthur Blank traveled to Costa Rica to watch the match but will take some solace in the away goal.
¡Felicidades a Randall Azofeifa de @csherediano1921, por ser el Jugador Del Partido! | #SCCL2019 #CSHvATL pic.twitter.com/lGdcaH7Jah
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) February 22, 2019
Next week the sides will play leg two at Fifth Third Bank Stadium on Kennesaw State University's campus, and not Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The new Atlanta stadium isn't available due to monster truck and Supercross events. If Atlanta manages to advance, future home matches are scheduled to be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Concacaf Champions League returns Tuesday with home legs for both the Houston Dynamo and Toronto FC. You can catch those matches on Univision and the Yahoo! Sports app.
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