Major League Soccer is still searching for an elusive CONCACAF Champions League title, and with two clubs remaining in this year’s tournament, that reality could finally be nearing.
[ MORE: UCL quarterfinals predictions ]
The New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC remain in contention in the 2018 edition of the CCL as the semifinal round prepares to kick off on Tuesday.
TFC, the defending MLS Cup champions, will take on Liga MX side Club America, while the Red Bulls face off against Chivas Guadalajara from Mexico.
With the possibility of an all-MLS final still in the cards, both the Red Bulls and TFC have to prepare in different ways for their respective semifinal ties.
Greg Vanney and Toronto host Leg 1 from BMO Field on Tuesday, whereas the Red Bulls must go on the road to Estadio Akron the following evening.
While the tactics for both clubs will likely be different, as they should be, the end goal is the same for each team. Stay in contention ahead of the second leg.
In the last round, the Red Bulls did well to earn two critical away goals against Club Tijuana, before rounding up a 5-1 aggregate result against the Mexican side.
Meanwhile, Toronto picked up an important home win against Tigres in Leg 1 before dropping the return leg in Mexico, but still advancing.
The Champions League has been in existence since 1962, however, the current CCL format has existed for the past 10 years -- during which no MLS sides have managed to win the competition.
During the previous Champions’ Cup era, D.C. United (1998) and the LA Galaxy (2000) each brought home titles under the old format
