RSL to face historic Herediano and Tauro in 2012-13 Champions League

On this blustery, gloomy Tuesday, we've learned something a bit brighter than our weather and surroundings: the CONCACAF Champions League draw! While draws in and of themselves are not entirely enthralling, learning who we'll soon be facing is. Should I bury the lead? No, likely not: We're in Group 2 with Costa Rica's C.S. Herediano and Panama's Tauro F.C..

Some will be glad we've not ended up with a Mexican side in our group, but it's worth remembering that U.S. clubs and Mexican clubs were quite purposefully split up in the drawing process. Given the new three-club group stage setup — only one team escapes the group, and each team will play the other two teams home and away — it's not terribly surprising, even if it does leave a bit of a bad taste in one's mouth.

Let's learn more about these sides we'll be facing, shall we?

C.S. Herediano

C.S. Herediano, founded in 1921 and the first Costa Rican champions, play at the 8,144-capacity Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero in Heredia, Costa Rica. They're 22-time winners of the Costa Rican Primera Division, making them the third-most successful club in Costa Rica — behind Deportivo Saprissa and LD Alajuelense. Their fans had to wait 19 years for their most recent title, having won the 2012 Campeonato de Verano, which is the second half of the season.

Despite their success in the final weeks of the season, they only narrowly made the semifinals of the Verano with 34 points over 20 games — just one point and four goal difference ahead of Alajuelense. However, their success during the regular portion of the first stage of the season — the Campeonato de Invierno, when they placed first with 39 points — saw them end top of the Primera, ending the season two points ahead of Alajuelense.

Tauro F.C.

The most successful club in the Panamanian Football League with 11 titles, Tauro F.C. was founded in 1984.  Despite their historic successes, Tauro missed out on the 2011 Apertura semifinals, ending the first half of the season three points short of the all-important playoff spot. In the second half of the season, they narrowly made the Clausura playoffs, but when it came down to the wire, they managed to win the competition.

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It's clear that both sides are held in high regard in their respective leagues. Despite both having some trouble, the magic of playoffs means they've made it into the CONCACAF Champions League. Having narrowly lost the 2010-2011 competition, our boys will be looking to find success.

With a little bit of luck, a lot of hard work, and attention to detail, we should handily make it through the group stage and into the knockout rounds of the Champions League. It's time we go out and try to win it again.