by Shaun Fuentes - The Marvin Lee Stadium will host yet more international football action on August 26 from 8pm when local club Joe Public takes on New England Revolution in the CONCACAF Champions League competition.

Joe Public will host the first leg with the second to be played in Boston on September 2.The the winner advancing to the tournament’s group stage.

The complete schedule for the preliminary round, as well as the group stage pairings, will be revealed at a later date.

New England qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League by virtue of its runner-up status at MLS Cup 2007. The Revolution also secured a place in the tournament through its 2007 U.S. Open Cup championship, but as the club had already qualified, that spot was given to the team with MLS’ second-best record last season, Chivas USA.

Joe Public FC finished as the T&T Pro League’s  runner-up in 2007. The club, which is one of three Caribbean qualifiers, earned its spot in the tournament by finishing as the runner-up in the 2007 Caribbean Football Union Club Championship.

Public’s national team midfielder Kerry Baptiste is anticipating the contest.

“This is an extremely big game for Joe Public because it puts us up against one of the best clubs from the MLS and it will allow us to showcase our talent. If we can get a good result here it will be a great boost for the club. We are always aspiring for higher heights and all the players are preparing strongly and really looking forward to face the Revs on Tuesday,” Baptiste said.

Defender Keyeno Thomas, another T&T National, has experience playing against New England, having been a member of Colorado Rapids a few seasons ago.

“I think we can match them once we are up to scratch on the day. I have played in the MLS and the difference in the standard of play isn’t great. We have me good talent in our squad as well and some experience too. I believe once we can settle early and work to our plan then a good result is a definite possibility. This is the next step after international football and if we can move on the next level in Concacaf I think we would see it as something successful for Joe Public and club football in Trinidad,” Thomas said.

New England defeated DC United 2-1 on Wednesday behind goals from Taylor Twellman and Jeff Larentowicz  . They  reclaimed first place in the overall MLS standings with the win at Gillette Stadium.

New England was buoyed by the returns of Michael Parkhurst and Vincentian Shalrie Joseph from Olympic duty and suspension. Their team includes Gambian Under 20 international forward  Kenny Mansally and midfielder Sainey Nyassi who played for Gambia at the FIFA World Youth Cup in 2007. Honduras National Team player Mauricio Castro is also a force in their midfield.

For the Champions League, he winners of the eight preliminary stage match-ups will join eight previously seeded teams in the group stage, which consists of four groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the Quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League. These eight teams will be drawn into four Quarterfinal pairings to play home-and-away match-ups in February 2009. The four Quarterfinal winners will then play in two Semifinal home-and-away match-ups in March and April 2009, with the two Semifinal winners meeting in the home-and-away 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League Final in late April 2009.

The CONCACAF Champions League winner will qualify as the CONCACAF representative to the 2009 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Game: Joe Public FC (Trinidad and Tobago) plays New England Revolution FC (USA)
Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Time: 8 PM
Cost: Adults - $40, Kids - $20

 Joe Public FC:

- Runner Up 2007 Pro League
- 2007 Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation FA Cup Winner
- 2007 Toyota Cup Champion