Monterrey retains top spot in Concacaf Club Rankings

MIAMI – The latest edition of the Concacaf Club Rankings is out, with Mexican and Concacaf giants Monterrey retaining the top spot.

The Confederation launched a revamped rankings system earlier this year. Clubs gain points for results in official domestic league matches, regional cup matches, and Concacaf Champions Cup play.

Further details explaining the rankings and how clubs earn points can be found here: Concacaf launches new ranking system for region’s clubs and leagues.

America shrinks the distance to Monterrey to just 1 point

Monterrey (1,265 points) and Club America (1,264) are the first and second-ranked teams, respectively. The two Mexican clubs have had a stranglehold over the top two spots this year, with Monterrey overtaking America for first place last month.

The one-point difference is the minimal gap of separation this year. The clubs were previously separated by as little as two points in the March 4 rankings.

Both teams remain alive in their quest to win another Champions Cup. They could face each other in the final if they win their respective series.

All 4 Champions Cup semifinalist are in the Top 5

All four Concacaf Champions Cup semifinalists rank among the top five in the latest rankings. In that order, CF Monterrey, Club America, and CF Pachuca are first through third. Columbus Crew rose to fifth place, one point behind Tigres UANL, the team the MLS side defeated in a penalty shootout after a deadlocked quarterfinal series.

The Crew (1,228) jumped into the top ten last December. From ninth place, the club has risen to eighth, sixth, and now fifth place in the rankings.

Fellow MLS side Houston Dynamo FC (1,175), whom the Crew eliminated in the CCC Round of 16, rose to no. 25. Moving up eight spots, the Dynamo were among the biggest movers along with #80 San Francisco of Panama, #93 Genesis of Honduras, and #128 Universidad O&M of the Dominican Republic.

Sapprisa closes gap with Olimpia in Central American Clubs ranking

Top of the table in Honduras, #41 Olimpia (1,157) is the highest-ranked Central American club. Not far behind is #43 Saprissa (1,152) in second place. Herediano has fallen by five points to no. 46 overall, following losses in the quarterfinals to Pachuca, who has risen from no. 4 to third overall.

Next in the Central American rankings are #49 Alajuelense and #52 Comunicaciones, #53 Municipal, #54 Antigua GFC, #57 Motagua, #58 Club Atletico Independiente de La Chorrera, and #59 Marathon.

Columbus provides the biggest upsets after eliminating #3 Tigres in Champions Cup

The Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals saw a direct matchup between two top-six clubs. Formerly sixth-ranked Columbus Crew upset then third-ranked Tigres UANL with a penalty shootout win at the Estadio Universitario in Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

The two sides were even at 2-2 on aggregate after tying 1-1 in the first and second legs. Extra time was not enough to separate the two sides. Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte was the star of the shootout after blocking attempts from Tigres UANL legends Andre-Pierre Gignac and Guido Pizarro.

The Crew will look to pull off another upset over another Monterrey-based club when they meet no. 1 ranked Rayados in the semifinals on April 24 and May 1.

Liga MX extends the point difference with MLS to 245 points

Liga MX reigns supreme after seeing three clubs advance to the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals. Three of the quarterfinal series featured MLS vs. Liga MX matchups where Monterrey and Club America moved on.

Columbus Crew advanced over Tigres UANL on penalties to remain the lone MLS survivor in the tournament after Inter Miami CF and New England Revolution bowed out.

The latest league rankings saw Liga MX (9,910 points) take a +27 increase while MLS (9,665) took a -19 hit. Last month, the leagues were separated by 199 points.

Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Honduras (9,292), Primera División de Costa Rica (9,274), and Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala (9,126) round out the top five.