# 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League

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.
| Association | Club | Qualifying method |
| North America (9 teams) |||
| Mexico 4 berths | Atlante | 2007 Apertura winners |
| Mexico 4 berths | Santos Laguna | 2008 Clausura winners |
| Mexico 4 berths | U.N.A.M | 2007 Apertura runners-up |
| Mexico 4 berths | Cruz Azul | 2008 Clausura runners-up |
| United States 4 berths | Houston Dynamo | 2007 MLS Cup winners |
| United States 4 berths | D.C. United | 2007 MLS Supporters' Shield winners |
| United States 4 berths | New England Revolution | 2007 U.S. Open Cup winners and 2007 MLS Cup runners-up |
| United States 4 berths | Chivas USA | 2007 MLS Supporters' Shield runners-up$^1$ |
| Canada 1 berth | Montreal Impact | 2008 Canadian Championship winners |
| Central America (12 teams) |||
| Costa Rica 2 berths | Saprissa | 2007 Invierno and 2008 Verano winners |
| Costa Rica 2 berths | Alajuelense | 2008 Verano runners-up$^2$ |
| Honduras 2 berths | Marathón | 2007 Apertura winners |
| Honduras 2 berths | Olimpia | 2008 Clausura winners |
| Guatemala 2 berths | Jalapa | 2007 Apertura winners |
| Guatemala 2 berths | Municipal | 2008 Clausura winners |
| El Salvador 2 berths | Luis Ángel Firpo | 2007 Apertura and 2008 Clausura winners |
| El Salvador 2 berths | Isidro Metapán | 2008 Clausura runners-up$^3$ |
| Panama 2 berths | San Francisco | 2007 Clausura and 2008 Apertura winner |
| Panama 2 berths | Tauro | 2008 Apertura runners-up$^4$ |
| Belize 1 berth | Hankook Verdes | 2007–08 Belize Premier Football League winners |
| Nicaragua 1 berth | Real Estelí | 2007 Apertura and 2008 Clausura winners |
| Caribbean (3 teams) |||
| Jamaica | Harbour View | 2007 CFU Club Championship winners |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Joe Public | 2007 CFU Club Championship runners-up |
| Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico Islanders | 2007 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 Stage :
| Pot A | Atlante | Santos Laguna | Houston Dynamo | D.C. United |
| Pot B | Saprissa | Olimpia | Municipal | Luis Ángel Firpo |
| Preliminary round |||||
| Pot A | Universidad Nacional | Cruz Azul | New England Revolution | Chivas USA |
| Pot A | Alajuelense | Marathón | San Francisco | Montreal Impact |
| Pot B | Jalapa | Isidro Metapán | Tauro | Hankook Verdes |
| Pot B | Real Estelí | Harbour View | Joe Public | Puerto Rico Islanders |

## Schedule

| Round | Round | Draw date | First leg | Second leg |
| Preliminary round | Preliminary | June 11, 2008 (New York, US) | August 26–29, 2008 | September 2–4, 2008 |
| Group Stage | Matchday 1 | June 11, 2008 (New York, US) | August 16–18, 2008 | August 16–18, 2008 |
| Group Stage | Matchday 2 | June 11, 2008 (New York, US) | August 23–25, 2008 | August 23–25, 2008 |
| Group Stage | Matchday 3 | June 11, 2008 (New York, US) | September 30–October 2, 2008 | September 30–October 2, 2008 |
| Group Stage | Matchday 4 | June 11, 2008 (New York, US) | October 7–9, 2008 | October 7–9, 2008 |
| Group Stage | Matchday 5 | June 11, 2008 (New York, US) | October 21–23, 2008 | October 21–23, 2008 |
| Group Stage | Matchday 6 | June 11, 2008 (New York, US) | October 28–30, 2008 | October 28–30, 2008 |
| Championship round | Quarterfinals | December 10, 2008 | February 24–26, 2009 | March 3–5, 2009 |
| Championship round | Semifinals | December 10, 2008 | March 17–18, 2009 | April 7–8, 2009 |
| Championship round | Final | December 10, 2008 | April 22, 2009 | May 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.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Jalapa | 1–5 | San Francisco | 1–0 | 0–5 |
| Joe Public | 6–1 | New England Revolution | 2–1 | 4–0 |
| Alajuelense | 2–3 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Cruz Azul | 12–0 | Hankook Verdes | 6–0 | 6–0 |
| Harbour View | 0–3 | UNAM | N/A | 0–3 |
| Tauro | 3–1 | Chivas USA | 2–0 | 1–1 |
| Montreal Impact | 1–0 | Real Estelí | 1–0 | 0–0 |
| Isidro Metapán | 3–4 | Marathón | 2–2 | 1–2 |
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

| Club | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Marathón | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 5 | +7 | 13 |
| Cruz Azul | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 10 |
| Saprissa | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 10 |
| D.C. United | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 13 | −9 | 1 |
| | DCU | SAP | CRU | MAR |
| D.C. United | – | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–4 |
| Saprissa | 2–2 | – | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Cruz Azul | 2–0 | 4–0 | – | 1–1 |
| Marathón | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | – |
* Cruz Azul were ranked ahead of Saprissa based on head-to-head record, which is the first tiebreaker.

### Group B

| Club | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| UNAM | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 7 | +11 | 12 |
| Houston Dynamo | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Luis Ángel Firpo | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 8 |
| San Francisco | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 13 | −9 | 2 |
| | HOU | LAF | SFR | UNAM |
| Houston Dynamo | – | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 |
| Luis Ángel Firpo | 1–1 | – | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| San Francisco | 0–0 | 2–3 | – | 1–1 |
| UNAM | 4–4 | 3–0 | 6–0 | – |

### Group C

| Club | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Atlante | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 11 |
| Montreal Impact | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 11 |
| Olimpia | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 8 |
| Joe Public | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 15 | −12 | 3 |
| | ATL | OLI | JOE | MON |
| Atlante | – | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 |
| Olimpia | 1–1 | – | 4–0 | 1–2 |
| Joe Public | 0–2 | 1–3 | – | 1–4 |
| Montreal Impact | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – |
* Atlante were ranked ahead of Montreal Impact based on head-to-head record, which is the first tiebreaker.

### Group D

| Club | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Santos Laguna | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 10 |
| Puerto Rico Islanders | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 10 | −1 | 8 |
| Tauro | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 10 | −1 | 8 |
| Municipal | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 13 | −1 | 6 |
| | SAN | MUN | PRI | TAU |
| Santos Laguna | – | 3–2 | 3–0 | 3–0 |
| Municipal | 4–4 | – | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Puerto Rico Islanders | 3–1 | 0–1 | – | 2–1 |
| Tauro | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | – |
* 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 | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Puerto Rico Islanders | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | |
| Marathón | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | |
| Marathón | 1 | 0 | 1 | Puerto Rico Islanders | 2 | 1 | 3 (2) | | | | |
| | | | | Cruz Azul (p) | 0 | 3 | 3 (4) | | | | |
| Cruz Azul | 1 | 1 | 2 | Cruz Azul (p) | 0 | 3 | 3 (4) | | | | |
| UNAM | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | | | | |
| UNAM | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | Cruz Azul | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | | | | | | | | Atlante | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Montreal Impact | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | Atlante | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Santos Laguna | 0 | 5 | 5 | | | | | | | | |
| Santos Laguna | 0 | 5 | 5 | Santos Laguna | 2 | 1 | 3 | | | | |
| | | | | Atlante | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | |
| Houston Dynamo | 1 | 0 | 1 | Atlante | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | |
| Atlante | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | |

### 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.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Houston Dynamo | 1–4 | Atlante | 1–1 | 0–3 |
| Montreal Impact | 4–5 | Santos Laguna | 2–0 | 2–5 |
| Puerto Rico Islanders | 3–1 | Marathón | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| Cruz Azul | 2–0 | UNAM | 1–0 | 1–0 |

### 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.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Puerto Rico Islanders | 3–3 (2–4 p) | Cruz Azul | 2–0 | 1–3 (aet) |
| Santos Laguna | 3–4 | Atlante | 2–1 | 1–3 |

### 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.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Cruz Azul | 0–2 | Atlante | 0–2 | 0–0 |
* CONCACAF Champions League 2008–09 champions
* Atlante Second title

## Top goalscorers

| Rank | Name | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Javier Orozco | Cruz Azul | 7 |
| 2 | Agustín Enrique Herrera | Santos Laguna | 5 |
| 2 | Francisco Palencia | UNAM | 5 |
| 2 | Guillermo Ramírez | Municipal | 5 |
| 2 | Gregory Richardson | Joe Public | 5 |
| 6 | Brunet Hay | Tauro | 4 |
| 6 | Edwin Aguilar | Tauro | 4 |
| 6 | Christian Benítez | Santos Laguna | 4 |
| 6 | Roberto Brown | Montreal Impact | 4 |
| 6 | Milton Núñez | Marathón | 4 |
| 6 | Carlos Quintero | Santos Laguna | 4 |
| 6 | Vicente Matías Vuoso | Santos Laguna | 4 |
| 6 | Pablo Zeballos | Cruz Azul | 4 |