CONCACAF Champions League Semifinal Numbers

Tuesday and Wednesday brings us the second legs of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals.  Puerto Rico carries a 2-0 lead into the away leg at Cruz Azul.  Santos Laguna won 2-1 at home to setup the return leg at Atlante.

Since this is the first season of the Champions League, we take a look back at its predecessor the CONCACAF Champions Cup to see if we can spot any trends.  Though the Champions Cup dates back to 1962, we don't get a true home and away semifinal round until the 2002 tournament. 

Number of times a team trailing after the semifinal first leg has come back to win the second leg: 3

Pachuca over LD Alajuelense in 2002.  Toluca came back from a 4-1 first leg loss to Club America to take the series in extra time.  Houston had a 2-0 lead over Pachuca in 2007 and lost the second leg 5-2.

Number of times the home team in the away leg advances to the final: 9 out of 14 series

Number of times a Mexican club has lost a semifinal series against a non-Mexican club: 2

Number of times any of the four teams involved in the 2009 tournament have made it to the final: 7

Cruz Azul won the Champions Cup five times under various formats, the last time in 1997.  Atlante won in 1983 and lost in 1994.

Number of times one country has had multiple teams in the semifinals: 11

Two Teams
Mexico - 02
Costa Rica - 04
Mexico - 05
Mexico - 06
Costa Rica - 06
Mexico - 07
USA - 07
Mexico - 08
USA - 08

Three Teams
Mexico - 09

Four Teams
Mexico - 03