Columbus Crew are through to the quarterfinals of this season’s CONCACAF Champions League after theysaw of Real Esteli of Nicaragua in the first round of the competition.

MLS Cup holders Columbus Crew had done the majority of the job in the first leg and the second leg at home was almost inconsequential. Despite this, the mls football giants still manage to beat their visitors.

Columbus Crew ran out 1-0 winners in the second leg played on Thursday with Bradley Wright-Phillips getting the only goal of the game with four minutes left on the clock.

Veteran mls football striker Wright-Phillips dribbled his way into the opposition box before unleashing a 12-yard shot that found its way into the back of the net for the game’s only goal. The strike ensured that Columbus Crew sealed a 5-0 aggregate victory over their opponents from Nicaragua.

Wright-Phillips spent seven seasons with New York Red Bulls before moving to Los Angeles FC (LAFC) last season. His contract at LAFC was not renewed for the current season and that prompted him to join the MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew.

The reward for seeing off Esteli is a tricky tie with Monterrey of Mexico for mls football giants Columbus Crew. Just like what was obtainable with Columbus Crew, Monterrey also had it easy in the first round. The Mexican club saw off Atletico Pantoja of the Dominican Republic 6-1 on aggregate. Monterrey had won the away leg 3-0 before finishing the tie off with a 3-1 victory at home on Thursday night.

The teams from mls football did well in the first round of this season’s CONCACAF Champions League with all five teams booking their place at the next stage, the quarterfinals.

Other quarterfinal ties in the CONCACAF Champions League apart from the aforementioned Columbus Crew v Monterrey are Portland Timbers of the MLS v Club America of Mexico, Atlanta United v Philadelphia Union and Toronto FC of the mls v Cruz Azul of Mexico. It must be pointed out that both Philadelphia Union and Atlanta United are from mls football.