One year removed from the embarrassment of having two teams eliminated in the preliminary round, Major League Soccer saw a positive start to this year's CONCACAF Champions League. Though Toronto FC can't be too excited by their 1-0 win over Honduras's Motagua, a win's a win, the old truism holds, with this win marking a huge turnaround from last year.
Then, in the first match of their preliminary round tie, Toronto lost to the Puerto Rico Islanders 1-0 at BMO. A win over Motagua has to be a much greater achievement than a close loss to those lowly, second division Puerto Rico Islanders, right?
Most reading this will have picked up on the question's sarcasm, and after last night's performance at Home Depot Center, even labeling PRI "second division" carries a heavy amount of paradox.
CONCACAF Champions League, Preliminary Round Results
Toronto (CAN) 1, Motagua (HON) 0
Goals: Barrett 20'
Next match at Motagua on Tuesday, August 3
Winner joins Real Salt Lake and Arabe Unido in Group A
San Juan Jabloteh (TT) 0, Santos Laguna (MEX) 1
Goals: Ruiz 83'
Next match at Santos Laguna on Wednesday, August 4
Winner joins Columbus Crew and Municipal in Group B
San Francisco (PAN) 2, Cruz Azul (MEX) 3
Goals: Villa 3', 55' 72'; Jimenez 20'; Torres 44'
Next match at Cruz Azul on Tuesday, August 3
Winner joins Real Salt Lake and Arabe Unido in Group A
Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) 1, Puerto Rico Islanders (PR) 4
Goals: Foley 26'; Addlery 45', 81'; Hansen 81'; Martinez (og) 83'
next match at Puerto Rico on Wednesday, August 4
Winner joins Toluca and Olimpia in Group D
At Major League Soccer-leading Los Angeles Galaxy, Puerto Rico posted a 4-1 victory. David Foley and Nicolas Addlery had PRI up 2-0 at halftime, with Josh Hansen's goal ten minutes after break affirming the Galaxy nightmare. Addlery added a fourth late, with an own goal giving Los Angeles their only consolation.
The Galaxy's Champions League is now on life support, needing to turn around the three goal margin next week at the Estadio Juán Rámon Loubriel. In the interim, Bruce Arena needs to determine what went wrong.
Los Angeles clearly did not bring a Champions League-level effort to last night's game, part of MLS clubs' continued underestimation of both Division II teams and the commitment needed to do well in this competition. How many Puerto Rico Islanders or Montreal Impacts need to make Champions League waves before Major League Soccer gives them their due respect?
But in addition, Puerto Rico was exceedingly efficient, converting almost every chance they creating, capitalizing on a series of poor performances at the back from a Galaxy team that's allowing just over half-a-goal per match in league this year.
If one or two of these factors were absent, Puerto Rico still wins, and we are still left wondering why Major League Soccer's best team lost to a club at the bottom of their Division II conference. But in last night's 4-1 result, there was an element of stars aligning. Whereas last year one of USL-1's best teams knocked-out a struggling MLS side, this year a middle-of-the-table USSF Division II team routed the MLS's gold standard.
I never knew gold was worth so little.
A team with Los Angeles's talent can't be written off for next week's return leg. Still, the Galaxy play Chicago on Sunday in league action while Puerto Rico have the weekend off. That weekend match could provide Los Angeles their excuse to re-focus on league play and become the latest, beguiling Champions League failure for MLS.
And On Toronto ...
Not to overlook Toronto, who got a first half goal from Chad Barrett to build a 1-0 lead for the return leg in Honduras, but their match now seems like last night's forgettable but good appetizer. "Yeah, that was good.
"Too bad dinner gave me food poisoning."
Still, TFC got the result they couldn't get last year, giving them reason for hope come next week.
Motagua still has to be considered the favorite. It had been three months since their last match, with the effects of the lay-off evident in their inability to craft a final ball. That rust combined with the travel made their 0-1 loss a relatively good result.
Seattle's Champions League Debut
Seattle Sounders FC hosts Metápan tonight at Qwest Field, and to the club's credit, they seem intent on bringing more intensity than was seen from Los Angeles last night.
As featured at Sounder at Heart:
Whether it was Steve Zakuani and Sigi Schmid openly comparing the CCL to Europe's much more famous version or Fredy Montero basically saying that he'd rather play in this game than the MLS All-Star Game against Manchester United, it's pretty clear the Sounders have received that message.
"This is our Champions League," Zakuani said. "We all grew up watching the European Champions League. It's the same magnitude, but it's our region. I think we're going to be focused on that game (as opposed to the All-Star Game)."
In it's short history in Major League Soccer, Seattle has brought a refreshing energy and perspective to the league, something that could help Major League Soccer solve Champions League struggles that continue to disappoint fans. Perhaps Seattle is too new to the league to know that you're supposed to hedge your bets in Champions League - give yourself an excuse, should the competition prove too much to battle. Perhaps Seattle will treat the competition like a confederation championship.
Are they really that naive? Let's hope so.
For more on Seattle's preparations for tonight's match, you can visit Sounder at Heart or read Sounders saying all right things about CCL.
8 comments
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Jul 29
CONCACAF Champions League, Preliminary Round: What Happened To The Galaxy?
8
Jul 28
Comments
I ventured out to talk with the group of Seattle fans at RFK a few weeks ago, and I was told they were proud of the Sounders’ emphasis on getting the club into the World Club Championship. The quickest route: U.S. Open Cup (check), then CONCACAF.
I read somewhere, though I’ve unfortunately forgotten where, that Puerto Rico was taking the same approach to CONCACAF. It’s CONCACAF first, USL/NASL second. Whether that’s true or not, the CONCACAF distraction has surely hurt their USL/NASL campaign, and I don’t think they’re disheartened at all if they can claim the Galaxy’s scalp.
by Beau Dure on Jul 28, 2010 12:41 PM EDT reply actions
Not to harp on this for the second day in a row ...
… but given where USSF D-II sits, can you blame Puerto Rico for prioritizing CCL? I appreciate where all of USSF, USL, and NASL sit in their respective worlds, but the end product (a league in soccer purgatory) has to be difficult to prioritize if you’re PRI, having CCL to look forward to.
-rf
by Richard Farley on Jul 28, 2010 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Re: CR prioritizing the CCL
They may be doing that, but even though they’re last in their Conference, they’re still sitting in a playoff spot. Remember, unlike MLS, it’s top in each conference, plus next six in a full table (not sure what tiebreakers are, but I’m assuming GD (may be a bad assumption, but the USSF is running it this year, so expect a more common tiebreaker)).
With three games in hand over Minnesota, there’s a really good chance that by the end of the season, they’ll make the playoffs. And after that, anything can happen. Last year it was #4 vs. #5 in the final (or something like that). And, of course, look who won the MLS Cup.
To me, it looks like PRI are pacing themselves. Too bad the fans are getting grumpy about it. I’m starting to think Clark is overdue for another shot at MLS. Maybe that team could win the CCL for MLS.
by reklemrov on Jul 28, 2010 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed, and great points ...
… PRI is last in their conference, but there are caveats. They’re in the strong half, and they should be fine going forward.
And Clark certainly deserves his plaudits.
-rf
by Richard Farley on Jul 28, 2010 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
MLS is missing out on not taking CONCACAF seriously
Even though I lived in an MLS market and went to games religiously for the first couple of years of the league, I find it very hard to make myself care about domestic games enough to keep up to date. On the other hand, US clubs taking on clubs from other countries is compelling to me.
I’m sure that’s an anomaly but if even 5% of the present fan base is attracted by international club competition, that’s significant.
by PhilipVU94 on Jul 29, 2010 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Anglocisms
“in the first match of their preliminary round tie”
Unless you’re actually from the UK, I think your use of confusing Anglicisms is counterproductive. I’d think your article would be more accessible in US English.
by PhilipVU94 on Jul 29, 2010 2:03 AM EDT reply actions
Pfft, and I should learn to spell in any kind of English
Anglicisms. Which technically isn’t defined as what I’m talking about, but close enough.
by PhilipVU94 on Jul 29, 2010 2:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for the feedback, Phillip ...
… something or me to think about. When I do use non-U.S. English terms, it is with consideration. I’ve chosen to use tie because, while confusing, it is the best stylistic choice – a more efficient term than corresponding U.S. English terminology.
However, I’m not set-in-stone on that. I’m open to a good argument in favor of ditching it.
-rf
by Richard Farley on Jul 29, 2010 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
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