[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] In contrast to MLS failures by New England and Chivas USA, the USL-1’s Montreal Impact reached the group stage of the Concacaf Champions League Tuesday night thanks to a 0-0 tie with Nicaraguan club Real Esteli in a game played in Comayagua, Honduras.
The Impact won the two-game series, 1-0, thanks to its victory in last week’s first leg.
Real Esteli’s Elmer Mejia came close when he hit the crossbar in the first half, but goalie Matt Jordan otherwise held off the Nocaraguan champion. Real Esteli’s Juan Paulo Chacon was ejected in the 86th minute.
The Impact will be joined in Group C by Mexico’s Atlante, Honduran club Olimpia and Trinidad and Tobago’s Joe Public, which beat the New England Revolution.
The group stage begins Sept. 16.