But, Antoniuk was in Cincinnati Saturday, helping the Sockers defend their crown, as they beat Mexico’s Guerreros de La Raza de Guadalajara 10-6 in the PASL final. Antoniuk scored in the victory.

On a brisk but tolerable night at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, Real Salt Lake was able to show what many had expected out of it coming into this CONCACAF Champions League Quarter-final matchup against the Columbus Crew. Its 4-1 victory showed the dominance over their opponent that many had expected given the relative stability of the two lineups.

The11 caught up with Will Johnson at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, in the midst of final preparations with Real Salt Lake for the final leg of their CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal matchup against the Columbus Crew. We asked Will about the rumors swirling that FIFA may be set to grant CONCACAF a fourth spot for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and about Team Canada’s important summer this year in Gold Cup action.

With less than a month to go before First Kick, Major League Soccer has finally confirmed the new playoff structure for 2011. As hinted by commissioner Don Garber at last year’s MLS Cup in Toronto, the playoffs will expand to 10 teams from eight.

The announced attendance was officially 4,665 but the few brave souls that turned out to Crew Stadium for the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal numbered less than that.

Football in February. It’s rare in Ohio. And for good reason. With the temperature clocking in below the freezing mark, the 10-man Columbus Crew and nine-man Real Salt Lake battled to a first-leg 0-0 draw in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals in extreme conditions at Crew Stadium.

If his preseason is any indication, 2011 is going to be a busy year for Dejan Jakovic. The 25-year-old central defender had been in camp with D.C. United for a two-week stretch before receiving the call to join up with Canada for the Feb. 6 friendly over in Larissa, Greece. Jakovic went 90 minutes in the 1-0 loss to Greece, and the hectic travel schedule required him crossing half the globe and back as his club team continued MLS preparations in Florida. However, after a couple of days off, he jetted out to Oxnard, Calif. well rested, where he’ll spend this week continuing to prepare for the 2011 MLS season

Columbus hosts Real Salt Lake Tuesday night in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final. Tuesday’s weather forecast for Columbus? A chilly -2 C with a chance of snow — maybe just a tad colder than it was for last year’s MLS Cup in Toronto.

The Montreal Impact has been making some waves over the past couple of days, announcing a friendly with the New York Red Bulls and signing a new keeper. The Impact will play Thierry Henry, Rafa Marquez and the Red Bulls at Stade Saputo May 11.

With seven members of his national championship side off to the pro ranks, coach Caleb Porter has to replenish the cupboards at the University of Akron. What Porter has established in his five years has helped the cause. “We’re always going to have to work hard,” Porter says of recruiting. “Everybody wants those (top recruits) guys and we’re going to have to work to get them. I think our biggest sell right now is not so much that we’ve won but it’s the way we play. The way we play helps to develop players for the next level.