2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League group stage explained

See main article: 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League.

The 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League group stage took place between 16 September 2008 and 26 November 2008. It consisted of 16 clubs arranged into four groups of four with the top-two in each group advancing to the knockout stage.

Tie-breaking criteria

If two teams are tied on points, the following tie-breaking criteria shall be applied, in order, to determine the ranking of teams:^[1]

Greater number of points earned in matches between the teams concerned
Greater goal difference in matches between the teams concerned
Greater number of goals scored away from home in matches between the teams concerned
Reapply first three criteria if two or more teams are still tied
Greater goal difference in all group matches
Greater number of goals scored in group matches
Greater number of goals scored away in all group matches
Drawing of lots

Groups

All times local

Group A

Club	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
align=left	Marathón	6	4	1	1	12	5	+7	13
align=left	Cruz Azul	6	3	1	2	8	4	+4	10
align=left	Saprissa	6	3	1	2	7	9	-2	10
align=left	D.C. United	6	0	1	5	4	13	-9	1

Cruz Azul is ranked ahead of Saprissa based on head-to-head record, which is the first tiebreaker.^[1]

----

The Marathón – Saprissa match originally scheduled for 23 October 2008 was rescheduled for 5 November 2008 due to flooding in San Pedro Sula.^[2]

Group B

Club	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
align=left	UNAM	6	3	3	0	18	7	+11	12
align=left	Houston Dynamo	6	2	3	1	9	9	0	9
align=left	Luis Ángel Firpo	6	2	2	2	6	8	-2	8
align=left	San Francisco	6	0	2	4	4	13	-9	2

----

The Houston Dynamo – Luis Ángel Firpo match originally scheduled for 17 September 2008 was rescheduled for 26 November 2008 due to the effects of Hurricane Ike.^[3]

Group C

Club	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
align=left	Atlante	6	3	2	1	6	3	+3	11
align=left	Montreal Impact	6	3	2	1	10	5	+5	11
align=left	Olimpia	6	2	2	2	10	6	+4	8
align=left	Joe Public	6	1	0	5	3	15	-12	3

Atlante is ranked ahead of Montreal Impact based on head-to-head record, which is the first tiebreaker.^[1]

----

Group D

Club	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
align=left	Santos Laguna	6	3	1	2	14	11	+3	10
align=left	Puerto Rico Islanders	6	2	2	2	9	10	-1	8
align=left	Tauro	6	2	2	2	9	10	-1	8
align=left	Municipal	6	1	3	2	12	13	-1	6

Puerto Rico Islanders is ranked ahead of Tauro based on head-to-head record, which is the first tiebreaker.^[1]

----

Notes and References

Web site: CONCACAF Champions League Regulations 2008/2009 . CONCACAF . PDF . 25 September 2008 .
News: Marathon-Saprissa match rescheduled for 5 November . CONCACAF . 2008-10-23 . 23 October 2008.
News: Houston-Firpo match in Champions League rescheduled for 26 November . CONCACAF . 22 September 2008 . 25 September 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080924182349/http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.aspx?id=4392 . 24 September 2008 . dead .