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Joe Public face Honduras' Olimpia in CONCACAF Champions League
Tuesday, September 23rd 2008
Honduran champion club CD Olimpia are scheduled to arrive in Port of Spain today to take on T&T Pro League club bmobile Joe Public in the second match of the CONCACAF Champions League group phase at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya at 8 p.m. tomorrow.
Like their opponents Joe Public, who lost 2-0 to Montreal Impact in their opening group clash last week, Olimpia also went down 1-0 to Mexican side Atlante FC on Thursday night.
The result left them behind Montreal Impact on goal difference in Group C after the first round of group matches.
Montreal goalkeeper Matt Jordan had to make seven saves to deny Joe Public last week and head coach Keith Griffith felt his side was a bit unlucky.
"They got the early lead and after that we were chasing them," said Griffith, who refused to use cold weather in Canada as an excuse for the loss.
"The next time we meet the Impact at 'Marvin Lee', we'll beat them by four goals clear, for sure," said Griffith, adding that Montreal keeper Jordan "can't be that brilliant again".
Canada's CBC Sports reported that, based on the end result, Impact head coach John Limniatis could only smile when told about his counterpart's prediction for their rematch in Trinidad on October 8.
"Unless he has a direct line to God and He tells him what the result will be..." said Limniatis. "He has every right to be confident, but you have to show it on the field.
"From this game, I don't see how he can say they'll win by four goals. They do have offensive talent, but the other way they're very suspect."
In Olimpia's loss last week, Atlante earned three corner kicks in the first ten minutes and, while rarely looking dangerous, finally went ahead when Munoz was given time and space to turn, take one touch and strike a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that skidded inside the right post.
Athough Atlante lead Group 1 in the Mexican Apertura, the win was only their second since August 9. They have scored only nine goals in their eight league matches so far this season, and while they had most of the possession, struggled to create quality chances against the Honduran side.
Olimpia, who have scored eight goals in ten rounds and are fifth in the Honduran League, had even more trouble creating scoring chances, repeatedly giving the ball away in the first half and rarely maintaining any possession in the offensive third.
They went on to enjoy more possession and threatened more frequently in the second half, but were largely limited to shots from distance.
Their best chance came in the 72nd when Walter Castro put a right-footed shot off the right post.
Two minutes later, Atlante had an opportunity to get an insurance goal when Fernando Navarro headed Ignacio Hierro's cross from the six-yard box, but goalkeeper Noel Vallardes made a reaction save with his right hand and Navarro put the rebound off the left post.
Tuesday, September 23rd 2008
Honduran champion club CD Olimpia are scheduled to arrive in Port of Spain today to take on T&T Pro League club bmobile Joe Public in the second match of the CONCACAF Champions League group phase at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya at 8 p.m. tomorrow. Like their opponents Joe Public, who lost 2-0 to Montreal Impact in their opening group clash last week, Olimpia also went down 1-0 to Mexican side Atlante FC on Thursday night.
The result left them behind Montreal Impact on goal difference in Group C after the first round of group matches.
Montreal goalkeeper Matt Jordan had to make seven saves to deny Joe Public last week and head coach Keith Griffith felt his side was a bit unlucky.
"They got the early lead and after that we were chasing them," said Griffith, who refused to use cold weather in Canada as an excuse for the loss.
"The next time we meet the Impact at 'Marvin Lee', we'll beat them by four goals clear, for sure," said Griffith, adding that Montreal keeper Jordan "can't be that brilliant again".
Canada's CBC Sports reported that, based on the end result, Impact head coach John Limniatis could only smile when told about his counterpart's prediction for their rematch in Trinidad on October 8.
"Unless he has a direct line to God and He tells him what the result will be..." said Limniatis. "He has every right to be confident, but you have to show it on the field.
"From this game, I don't see how he can say they'll win by four goals. They do have offensive talent, but the other way they're very suspect."
In Olimpia's loss last week, Atlante earned three corner kicks in the first ten minutes and, while rarely looking dangerous, finally went ahead when Munoz was given time and space to turn, take one touch and strike a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that skidded inside the right post.
Athough Atlante lead Group 1 in the Mexican Apertura, the win was only their second since August 9. They have scored only nine goals in their eight league matches so far this season, and while they had most of the possession, struggled to create quality chances against the Honduran side.
Olimpia, who have scored eight goals in ten rounds and are fifth in the Honduran League, had even more trouble creating scoring chances, repeatedly giving the ball away in the first half and rarely maintaining any possession in the offensive third.
They went on to enjoy more possession and threatened more frequently in the second half, but were largely limited to shots from distance.
Their best chance came in the 72nd when Walter Castro put a right-footed shot off the right post.
Two minutes later, Atlante had an opportunity to get an insurance goal when Fernando Navarro headed Ignacio Hierro's cross from the six-yard box, but goalkeeper Noel Vallardes made a reaction save with his right hand and Navarro put the rebound off the left post.
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