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MLS San Jose Earthquakes

San Jose Earthquakes to Face LD Alajuelense in Quarterfinals of 2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup

January 14, 2004 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


San Jose (Wednesday, January 14, 2004) - The San Jose Earthquakes will face Costa Rican power LD Alajuelense in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup following the Champions Cup draw held today in New York City. The Quakes earned a berth in the competition by winning the 2003 MLS Cup.

"We are looking forward to competing in the Champions Cup for the third straight year," said Earthquakes head coach Dominic Kinnear. "LD Alajuelense has always been a strong team in the region and we expect an exciting series against them."

The Quakes, who have never faced a Costa Rican opponent, will travel first to Costa Rica to take on Alajuelense before playing the second leg of the two-leg series at Spartan Stadium. The tentative dates for the matches are Wednesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 24. Game times will be confirmed at a later date. 2004 Earthquakes season ticket holders should use their Bonus Game "A" ticket for the match at Spartan Stadium.

2004 marks San Jose's third consecutive appearance in the Champions Cup. In 2002, the Earthquakes defeated CD Olimpia of Honduras 1-0 and 3-1 in the Round of 16, before being eliminated by Pachuca CF of Mexico in the quarterfinals 3-1 on aggregate. Last year, CSD Municipal (Guatemala) eliminated the Earthquakes in the Round of 16. Municipal won the first leg in Guatemala 4-2, but the Quakes came back to tie the overall series by taking a 2-0 lead in the second leg. However, a late Municipal goal clinched the series for the Guatemalan club 5-4.

Founded in 1919, LD Alajuelense is one of the most storied teams in Costa Rica, winning over 20 league championships in its history, while also capturing the Champions Cup in 1986 and finishing runner-up in 1992.

The Champions Cup is comprised of eight teams, two from the United States, two from Mexico, two from Costa Rica, one from El Salvador and one from Trinidad & Tobago.

If the Quakes should advance to the semifinals they would take on the winner of the series between CF Monterrey of Mexico and CD F.A.S. of El Salvador. The semi-final dates are April 14 and April 21, while the finals will be played on May 4 and May 11. The CONCACAF Champions Cup is the longest running international competition in the region and has been the premier club competition in the Confederation since its inception in 1962.

The winner of this year's Champions Cup will qualify, along with the 2003 Champion CD Toluca FC (MEX), as the CONCACAF representatives to the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship, which will be played in the CONCACAF Region.

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