Mixed Start for MLS Teams in CONCACAF Champions League

By: Daryl | July 29th, 2010

puerto rico islanders Forget the MLS All-Star game vs Man Utd. If you really want to judge MLS teams against international opposition, the best place to do so is the CONCACAF Champions League. If you have no idea what the acronymtastic competition is, imagine the UEFA Champions League, but instead of Barcelona and Man Utd it features the best clubs from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. So there’s no big money and not a great deal of glamour, but in terms of MLS teams measuring themselves against regional rivals, it’s the best yardstick available.

With the level of talent in MLS, I’d argue the teams should be doing better in the CONCACAF Champions League. Just two MLS teams have lifted the oversized trophy so far (DC United in 1998 and LA Galaxy in 2000). That’s 25 less trophies than Mexican teams, four less than Costa Rican teams, one less than El Salvadorian teams and the same number as teams from Suriname. Obviously MLS only started in 1996 and so were out of the picture for a while, but it’s about time the teams started catching up.

The latest attempt began this week, with three MLS teams – LA Galaxy, Seattle and Toronto – playing the first leg of the Preliminary Round, attempting to join Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake in the Group Stage. The results were… mixed.

Seattle Sounders 1-0 Isidro Metapán
The Sounders were at home to Isidro Metapán of El Salvador, and got a 1-0 win after Colombian hotshot Fredy Montero came off the bench in the 60th minute and scored almost instantly. I hope he thanked keeper Misael Alfaro afterwards.

We’ll find out if a 1-0 home win was enough on August 3rd, when these two play the second leg in El Salvador.

Toronto FC 1-0 Motagua

Toronto faced a tougher challenge, against a Honduran Motagua side featuring the talents of Amado Guevara and Georgie Welcome. They managed to win 1-0 with a Chad Barrett goal, which you can see above. I’ve set the highlights to start about a minute earlier, just so you can hear what happens to a Spanish language commentator’s “Gooooooooooooool!” call, when it’s cut short by a linesman’s flag. Is it just me? Or is that hilarious?

TFC blogger Mark was happy with Toronto’s 1-0 win, especially because it means no away goals for Motagua. Second leg is August 3rd in Honduras.

LA Galaxy 1-4 Puerto Rico Islanders

This is the game that semi-explains why MLS teams don’t do quite as well as they should in the CONCACAF Champions League. Puerto Rico Islanders (pictured in huddle at top of post) actually play in the second tier of the American soccer pyramid, where they’re currently dead last in the USL conference. They should not be beating LA Galaxy (top of MLS Western Conference) 4-1. But they did.

Galaxy fielded a strongish team (Landon Donovan, Eddie Lewis, Edson Buddle and so on) but several players possibly had the All-Star game vs Man Utd on their minds (goalkeeoer Donovan Ricketts traveled but didn’t play for example). Even coach Bruce Arena may have been thinking about his clash with Alex Ferguson the next day. Not his fault or the players’ fault, but one of those weird mangled scheduling that is the (unavoidable?) curse of MLS. ~~Galaxy did get one away goal~~ (d’oh, they were at home). We’ll see if Galaxy can turn this around when they visit Puerto Rico for the second leg on August 4th.

Read the report of giant-killing on Puerto Rico Islanders Offside.

- We’ll have CONCACAF tickets to upcoming Champions League games available soon, so as the round progress keep an eye on that page for group stage tickets.

Some Related Stories:

Category: CONCACAF

Tags: CONCACAF, CONCACAF Champions League, LA Galaxy, Seattle, Toronto

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Alexinho

Oh for God's sake re: Galaxy.

It drove me nuts...NUTS...how Galaxy coach Bruce Arena kept Galaxy player (and America's best player) Landon Donovan on the bench until the 80th minute or thereabouts for the Man U game. It was clear he wasn't taking it too seriously.

But he took it more seriously than this game? Come on. Once again the MLS' premier team and its management lets the US down on the biggest stages.
Alexinho

THANK YOU DARYL for the post. It's a shame I can't see these games in my situation right now, but thank you.

Congrats Seattle. To be an expansion side one year and the next to be representing your country in the continent must be great. It must be better for the fans.
Diego

There was barely a soul in the LA stadium? What good is a home game if nobody bothers to go see it? The Galaxy will probably get a better crowd experience in Puerto Rico. At least they can PRETEND the cheers are for them.
edgar

The tournament won't get much respect until Mexican clubs start taking it seriously.
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Daryl

D'oh. Thanks Colman. I think the scoreline had me convinced they were away from home. Post has been corrected.
Brenton

That fourth goal by the Islanders was embarrassing for LA. Who was that defender who gave the ball away so easily? And LA could only manage a lucky consolation goal? Seems like they needed to take this game a little more seriously.

I imagine at this point it actually costs the team, rather than being a pay-out, as it is in Europe.
Chris99

Yeah, the Galaxy are pretty much done. I think in order for the MLS to continue to progress as a league, this tournament needs to become more important for teams. Obviosuly, as we all know, the CHampions League and Europa League are VERY important for teams. There are some clubs that would put winning the CL over winning their domestic league. I do not think MLS players of coaches take this tournament very seriously. Which is shame.

Also, daryl, give your email a check.
Colman

"Galaxy did get one away goal".

The game was in LA...even a 3-0 win in Puerto Rico won't get them into the group phase.