MIAMI -- Defending champion Cruz Azul of Mexico will open CONCACAF Champions League play in Group 6 with Alajuelense of Costa Rica and Chorrillo FC of Panama. Cruz Azul won its record sixth title in April, beating fellow Mexican club Toluca. Also Wednesday, Major League Soccer champion Sporting Kansas City was drawn into Group 2 with Saprissa of Costa Rica and Real Esteli of Nicaragua. The groups will be contested in a round-robin, home-and-away format from August to October. The eight group winners will advance to the quarterfinals. The groups: Group 1: Pachuca (Mexico), Real Espana (Honduras), Municipal (Guatemala). Group 2: Sporting Kansas City (U.S.), Saprissa (Costa Rica), Real Esteli (Nicaragua). Group 3: New York Red Bulls (U.S.), Toronto FC or Montreal Impact (Canada), FAS (El Salvador). Group 4: Tauro FC (Panama), D.C. United (U.S.), Waterhouse FC (Jamaica). Group 5: Olimpia (Honduras), Portland Timbers (U.S.), Alpha United (Guyana). Group 6: Alajuelense (Costa Rica), Cruz Azul (Mexico), Chorrillo FC (Panama). Group 7: Leon (Mexico), Isidro Metapan (El Salvador), Belmopan Bandits (Belize). Group 8: Comunicaciones (Guatemala), Club America (Mexico), Puerto Rico Bayamon FC (Puerto Rico). Jay Novacek Womens Jersey . His absence against the Celtics comes a day after he scored 43 points in the Heats 100-96 win at Cleveland. Bob Lilly Jersey . He has spent much of his adult life trying to give back to his native South Sudan, the war-torn African nation the Cavaliers forward and his family fled when he was a young boy. https://www.cowboyssportsgoods.com/Womens-Tony-Dorsett-Inverted-Jersey/ . Vargas (8-3) allowed four singles and two walks while striking out five, allowing only two runners from a diluted Twins lineup to reach second base. Mike Moustakas and Jarrod Dyson hit RBI singles in the second inning against Kevin Correia (4-10), and that was all Vargas needed. Demarcus Lawrence Youth Jersey . Al Harrington, another former Knicks forward, scored 22 of his 24 points after halftime for the Nuggets, allowing them to withstand Anthonys attempt to rally the Knicks after his poor shooting had them behind until the final minutes of regulation. Anthony finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds, missing 20 of 30 shots in the Knicks sixth straight loss. Taco Charlton Youth Jersey . On Sunday, head coach Patrick Roy said the teams leading scorer will skate at Mondays morning practice and the club will make a decision on his status for Game 6 at that point.Following what the players and coach described as an "embarrassing" loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis remains willing, patient and fully committed to Randy Carlyle. "The pressure right now should be placed on the players, Nonis told The Dreger Report on Wednesday. "I know Randy and the coaching staff is working hard. Im not now, nor have I ever contemplated making a coaching change. The players have to respond." Nonis refuted the notion that the players are no longer listening to Carlyle, or have tuned out the veteran coach and says at the end of their season exiting meetings after the Leafs Game 7 meltdown to the Boston Bruins last spring, that every Toronto player - to a man - credited Carlyle and his staff as the main reason the Leafs qualified for the postseason last year. The Hits Keep Coming Now Trevor Smith broke his hand in the 3-1 loss to the Panthers and could be out for the next eight weeks, further taxing Torontos depleted centre ice position as Tyler Bozak and Dave Bolland are still weeks away with long-term injuries as well. Centre Jerred Smithson was recalled from the Toronto Marlies to help fill the void, but Nonis can see the toll - particularly up the middle - that his teams steady stream of injuries is taking on the club. Nonis has been trolling the league looking for trades and admits he has had offers on James van Riemsdyk, Nazem Kadri, Jake Gardiner, Morgan Rielly and both his goalies. However, the general managers with the most interest have yet to produce anything beyond older playeers in return or trade packages that are not useful to the Maple Leafs in the long term.dddddddddddd More On Gardiner Following back-to-back bad games resulting in a benching against the Panthers, Jake Gardiners availability has once again become topical. Nonis insists hes not shopping Gardiner, but rival management sources say Gardiners name has been brought up by Toronto in trade discussions in Noniss search for a top-six forward. At the moment, there doesnt appear to be a trade fit that makes sense, so amid the growing frustration in Leaf Nation, Noniss plan is to sit tight, pray for good health in the New Year and do whatever is necessary to help this team keep its head above water. Broadway Banter Meanwhile, New York Rangers general manager Glen Sather continues to shop defenceman Michael Del Zotto. Toronto is among the teams with some interest, but the expected return of a young defenceman may be too steep for the Leafs. Its believed the Rangers would prefer a right-handed shot on the blue line, so Cody Franson is a likely target for New York as well. Sources say the Ottawa Senators are also still in the mix, although the sudden and impressive emergence of rookie Cody Ceci may have cooled the Sens interest. And providing Ceci can maintain his play, the Senators may be willing to move either Eric Gryba, Joe Corvo or Patrick Wiercioch to one of the many teams in the market for a defenceman. With the holiday roster freeze looming, its unlikely well see any big-time action prior to the break. But the appetite for change is growing among some of the NHLs big market clubs. ' ' '