Toronto FC were 45 minutes away from making history, 45 minutes from not only shocking CONCACAF but from taking a giant step forward that would benefit all of MLS.
Then the bottom fell out.
Santos Laguna scored four second-half goals to down the Canadians by 6-2 on Tuesday and won their CCL semifinal series by an aggregate score of 7-3. Santos killed MLS’s hopes of having a representative in the final for the second consecutive year.
There are two things that came out of this result. First, Toronto FC fought harder and lasted longer than many gave them credit for. Secondly, MLS is still far behind the Mexican league level.
Now, Toronto FC is not exactly the bar for MLS teams. That bar has been raised and held there by Real Salt Lake and the Galaxy and a scant few others but for the most part the bar is set. That bar is still well below Mexico’s bar. Now, there are reasons for this. Mexican teams have no salary cap, greater resources, greater support from their communities and run unopposed in their media and within the Mexican culture. MLS clubs don’t enjoy the financial resources as their Mexican counterparts nor do they enjoy the other luxuries Mexican teams have.
Within those guidelines then, Toronto FC’s run was made more remarkable. Toronto FC got past the supposed juggernaut the Galaxy were and fared better than Seattle against the same Santos side – Seattle gave up two quick goals and all hope seemed lost afterward.
Toronto FC won’t be challenging for the MLS Cup title, at least few can see that happening. Their league form this season has been poor – losses to Seattle, San Jose and Columbus have marred the start of their season. And still, even while not being part of the cup contenders, Toronto FC nearly found themselves playing for a much bigger prize.
Now, while MLS is not quite the powerhouse league many would like to believe it is but when less-successful teams like Toronto FC can battle and scrap their way and find a modicum of success against teams like Santos, that has to bode well for both club and league.
Showing posts with label 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League. Show all posts
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Toronto FC's Monumental Challenge
Toronto FC faces a monstrous challenge today. If Toronto FC is to become the first Canadian club and second MLS side to reach the CONCACAF Champions League final, the task will be monumental.
Beat Santos at Santos.
Well, I take that back. They technically don't have to win. They can tie 2-2 or 3-3 or etc., and win the series on away goals. A 1-1 draw sends the match to extra time while a scoreless draw sends Santos through.
No way this match finishes in a goalless draw. This one has goals written all over it. Santos beat Seattle by 6-1 in Torreon last time out and Toronto FC has scored five goals in their three previous CCL encounters.
But Toronto FC will be missing Danny Koevermans and of course Torsten Frings. Without their two European standouts, the task of scoring goals and stopping Santos from scoring becomes even more difficult.
Still, nothing is impossible. Few gave Toronto FC a chance to get this far, and few gave them a shot of beating Santos at home. While they did not win the home leg, a 1-1 score is surprising to some and a decent enough result heading down to Mexico.
That Toronto FC is the last MLS club standing is a shock. FC Dallas and Colorado did not survive the group stage while LA Galaxy fans surely relished the opportunity of playing Toronto FC instead of Seattle in the quarterfinals.
Toronto FC may go down in flames and they may be swallowed up by the budding Mexican juggernaut in Torreon but the club has done itself proud and done MLS proud in this tournament regardless of the result. And if they do pull off the supposed miracle, they will surely have more MLS supporters in their corner come the final.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Escaping With A Draw
Toronto FC were strong against Santos Laguna in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal match, escaping with a respectable 1-1 draw.
Toronto FC were a bit unlucky not to get the second goal and take a victory down to Mexico. Santos went down to 10 men for the final quarter hour but Toronto FC were unable to take advantage.
Is this a great result for Toronto FC? Honestly, no. Toronto FC will need to win outright or draw by at least 2-2 in order to win the series. A 1-1 draw sends the match to extra time while a 0-0 draw or a Santos win eliminates Toronto FC.
Toronto FC now have one win and two draws from their CCL campaign while having just two bad losses to show for their league efforts.
What will make it complicated in the second leg will be the absence of Danny Koevermans. The Dutch striker was booked against Santos on Tuesday and will now serve a one-match suspension because of it. Pity, but Toronto FC have Ryan Johnson, Nick Soolsma and Luis Silva to pick up the slack. It's troubling but not disastrous.
I suppose down in the second leg that anything short of a 6-1 loss won't reflect too poorly within MLS. After all, one of the league's best sides fell by that much down in Torreon.
This team may not be a power but they also are survivors. Perhaps nobody outside their locker room believes in them, but that probably won't bother them much at all. That underdog mentality will only help the club down in Mexico, when nobody will give them a chance to do anything against Santos Laguna.
No Chance For Toronto FC?
Toronto FC and Santos Laguna. The two don't belong on the same field let alone in the same competition, right?
After all, Santos Laguna have won Mexican titles before - los Guerreros were the first Mexican team to win a short-season title, capturing the Invierno 96 crown. They may not be one of Mexico's Big Four but they are a well-respected team within their league and one of the few Mexican teams to have built their own stadium recently, a testament to the passionate support the club enjoys in Torreon.
Toronto FC meanwhile... well, they're just a sad sack of a club, or so the perception is. Toronto FC have yet to make the playoffs, yet to win an MLS match that matters, have gone through countless coaches and players in their short existence.
And yet, here they are, these two clubs from opposite ends of the success/respect spectrum, fighting for a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League final.
Toronto FC were not a hapless club against the LA Galaxy. Now there's a team that was heavily favored, was supposed to waltz through TFC, supposed to capture attention throughout the region and the world by making a CCL run and TFC did not care. TFC did not bat an eyelid. When the Galaxy overcame a 2-0 deficit to level terms late in the first leg, ensuring that a low-scoring draw would be good enough to get through to the semifinals, Toronto FC did well to keep a level head. When Toronto FC scored an own goal to tie the second leg and give the Galaxy the edge, the Canadians kept fighting, kept battling and scored, and did not let the high-flying Galaxy back into the match.
And it is Toronto FC who are deserved semifinal representatives. Remember, this is the same Toronto FC squad that tied Pumas at home in the group stage and punched their ticket into the quarterfinals with a 3-0 win at FC Dallas. They earned their spot in the knockout rounds and earned their spot in the semifinals.
Now, their league form is terrible. Two losses by a combined 6-1 is probably most were expecting out of Toronto in their series against the Galaxy. But that matters nothing against Santos.
Of course the Mexicans are heavily favored to win the series. Mexican teams have dominated the CCL. Santos are in fine form in league and demolished Seattle by 6-1 to book their spot in the semifinal round. And with the second leg scheduled for Torreon on April 4, Santos has an advantage in this series too.
But nobody told Toronto FC that they were supposed to lose to the Galaxy. And I doubt they got the message that Santos Laguna should prevail here either.
After all, Santos Laguna have won Mexican titles before - los Guerreros were the first Mexican team to win a short-season title, capturing the Invierno 96 crown. They may not be one of Mexico's Big Four but they are a well-respected team within their league and one of the few Mexican teams to have built their own stadium recently, a testament to the passionate support the club enjoys in Torreon.
Toronto FC meanwhile... well, they're just a sad sack of a club, or so the perception is. Toronto FC have yet to make the playoffs, yet to win an MLS match that matters, have gone through countless coaches and players in their short existence.
And yet, here they are, these two clubs from opposite ends of the success/respect spectrum, fighting for a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League final.
Toronto FC were not a hapless club against the LA Galaxy. Now there's a team that was heavily favored, was supposed to waltz through TFC, supposed to capture attention throughout the region and the world by making a CCL run and TFC did not care. TFC did not bat an eyelid. When the Galaxy overcame a 2-0 deficit to level terms late in the first leg, ensuring that a low-scoring draw would be good enough to get through to the semifinals, Toronto FC did well to keep a level head. When Toronto FC scored an own goal to tie the second leg and give the Galaxy the edge, the Canadians kept fighting, kept battling and scored, and did not let the high-flying Galaxy back into the match.
And it is Toronto FC who are deserved semifinal representatives. Remember, this is the same Toronto FC squad that tied Pumas at home in the group stage and punched their ticket into the quarterfinals with a 3-0 win at FC Dallas. They earned their spot in the knockout rounds and earned their spot in the semifinals.
Now, their league form is terrible. Two losses by a combined 6-1 is probably most were expecting out of Toronto in their series against the Galaxy. But that matters nothing against Santos.
Of course the Mexicans are heavily favored to win the series. Mexican teams have dominated the CCL. Santos are in fine form in league and demolished Seattle by 6-1 to book their spot in the semifinal round. And with the second leg scheduled for Torreon on April 4, Santos has an advantage in this series too.
But nobody told Toronto FC that they were supposed to lose to the Galaxy. And I doubt they got the message that Santos Laguna should prevail here either.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Frings Injury No Death Blow For Toronto FC
Throughout Toronto FC's CONCACAF Champions League series with the LA Galaxy, I was most impressed with two playres - Ryan Johnson and Torsten Frings. Johnson needs no explanation - his goals were clutch and well-taken. He nearly scored the dagger with a rocket from outside the box late in the second leg but still had a tremendous series overall.
Frings meanwhile was the architect to the defense. Normally a central midfielder, Frings was always a step ahead, a thought ahead of the Galaxy. Playing primarily a three-man backline, Frings was able to help keep both Robbie Keane and Edson Buddle off the score sheet as the Galaxy could only score two goals (from their own players' feet anyway) in 180 minutes. I told some colleagues that if Frings were to play the entire MLS season at defender, he'd be a strong candidate for Defender of the Year.
Now word comes out that Frings is injured. A hamstring injury will sideline him for 4-6 weeks according to Toronto FC. That means he will miss both legs of Toronto's CONCACAF Champions League series against Santos Laguna and may not return until May.
A death blow for Toronto, right?
Well, in Champions League it may be. Toronto will be massive underdogs against Santos Laguna, who polished off Seattle with a 6-1 drubbing in Torreon a week ago. Toronto need to head to Mexico with at least a two-goal edge in order to have a chance but a home win of any kind seems difficult against the Mexicans. With Frings, perhaps. Without Frings... massively challenging.
In league, though, their chances may not be as bleak. Consider this: Toronto FC will play four of their next five matches at home. Their upcoming schedule:
March 24: San Jose
March 31: Columbus
April 7: at Montreal
April 14: Chivas USA
April 21: Chicago
Four matches at home, the fifth away to the expansion Impact in what could be a charged bit of a rivalry match.
The next four games are also favorable... well, aside from the first one...
April 28: at Real Salt Lake
May 5: DC United
May 19: at DC United
May 26: Philadelphia
It seems what could save Toronto during this time is that they play in the Eastern Conference. Their toughest match is the away fixture to Real Salt Lake. Aside from Chivas and San Jose, not exactly Western powers, the rest of the schedule is filled with Eastern clubs.
Losing Frings may have killed Toronto FC's CCL hopes but their league campaign should be strong. And if it doesn't, it won't be something their fans aren't used to.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Galaxy-Santos? Epic Storylines
We're not daydreaming here at all. Well, maybe a little but we're looking ahead at the potential Galaxy-Santos matchup and, well, we like what we see.
That's not to say a Galaxy/Toronto-Seattle series wouldn't be grand. It would mean a lot to MLS to have another Champions League finalist, but the possible series between the Galaxy and Santos Laguna is brimming with storylines, possibly the grandest storylines of any potential matchup anywhere down the road in this tournament.
Consider...
* Herculez Gomez vs. LA Galaxy - The legend of Herculez was created at Home Depot Center. Gomez was one of the bright spots in a successful 2005 season, and the breakthrough kid won over hearts while consistently filling the back of the net. Gomez was dealt away a year later and after mixed success in MLS found his form in Mexico.
* Landon Donovan vs. Oswaldo Sanchez - Do we really need to say more? Well, okay. Donovan and Sanchez had some epic battles in previous US-Mexico games. A lot of back-and-forth and trash-talking has gone on, with Donovan usually having had the last laugh. Donovan scored on Sanchez in a friendly in 2007, afterward Sanchez slid into Eddie Johnson; later that year, Donovan buried a penalty kick past Sanchez in the Gold Cup final.
* Landon Donovan vs. Mexico - Santos is not representative of Mexico but anytime Donovan steps on Mexican soil (in a soccer capacity anyway) he instantly becomes Public Enemy No. 1. His reception in Morelia last year was hostile, and Torreon should be equally as inviting.
* David Beckham's first trip to Mexico - That was supposed to have happened when the Galaxy played in Morelia but Beckham was left behind in order to give him some extra rest - three games in eight days was too much for Becks in 2011. Beckham would presumably visit Santos and touch off a frenzy, as he did in Costa Rica and Honduras a year ago.
* MLS vs. Mexico - This is an ever-present storyline and one that will not cease to exist. How do MLS clubs fare against their Mexican counterparts? In this case, the question will be how does the top team in MLS, the one with the high-priced big-name stars, fare against a solid Mexican club.
I may have missed a storyline there somewhere but I think those would be plenty to grab attention on both sides of the border to begin with.
Of course, I'm not necessarily hoping this happens. In all honesty, I'd like to see another MLS team in the final, and an LA/Toronto vs Seattle series would guarantee that, but the games will have to be played before we can really start hammering out story ideas.
That's not to say a Galaxy/Toronto-Seattle series wouldn't be grand. It would mean a lot to MLS to have another Champions League finalist, but the possible series between the Galaxy and Santos Laguna is brimming with storylines, possibly the grandest storylines of any potential matchup anywhere down the road in this tournament.
Consider...
* Herculez Gomez vs. LA Galaxy - The legend of Herculez was created at Home Depot Center. Gomez was one of the bright spots in a successful 2005 season, and the breakthrough kid won over hearts while consistently filling the back of the net. Gomez was dealt away a year later and after mixed success in MLS found his form in Mexico.
* Landon Donovan vs. Oswaldo Sanchez - Do we really need to say more? Well, okay. Donovan and Sanchez had some epic battles in previous US-Mexico games. A lot of back-and-forth and trash-talking has gone on, with Donovan usually having had the last laugh. Donovan scored on Sanchez in a friendly in 2007, afterward Sanchez slid into Eddie Johnson; later that year, Donovan buried a penalty kick past Sanchez in the Gold Cup final.
* Landon Donovan vs. Mexico - Santos is not representative of Mexico but anytime Donovan steps on Mexican soil (in a soccer capacity anyway) he instantly becomes Public Enemy No. 1. His reception in Morelia last year was hostile, and Torreon should be equally as inviting.
* David Beckham's first trip to Mexico - That was supposed to have happened when the Galaxy played in Morelia but Beckham was left behind in order to give him some extra rest - three games in eight days was too much for Becks in 2011. Beckham would presumably visit Santos and touch off a frenzy, as he did in Costa Rica and Honduras a year ago.
* MLS vs. Mexico - This is an ever-present storyline and one that will not cease to exist. How do MLS clubs fare against their Mexican counterparts? In this case, the question will be how does the top team in MLS, the one with the high-priced big-name stars, fare against a solid Mexican club.
I may have missed a storyline there somewhere but I think those would be plenty to grab attention on both sides of the border to begin with.
Of course, I'm not necessarily hoping this happens. In all honesty, I'd like to see another MLS team in the final, and an LA/Toronto vs Seattle series would guarantee that, but the games will have to be played before we can really start hammering out story ideas.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
A True Mugging In Morelia
Thievery. Robbery. A mugging.
The crime rate is high in
Morelia, and that doesn’t stop from extending onto the soccer fields there.
Estadio Morelos was site of one
of the biggest non-violent crimes in Morelia’s recent history. On Tuesday, the
Galaxy had a goal and a victory stolen from them.
With the match tied 1-1 in the 90th
minute, Omar Gonzalez smashed a header on goal. Morelia’s Federico Vilar made
the save but the ball remained on the goal line. Robbie Keane raced onto it,
pushed it into the back of the net and appeared to have given the Galaxy the
victory.
But somehow the goal did not
stand. Honduran assistant referee Oscar Velasquez raised his flag just as Keane
raced away from the goal to celebrate.
Absolute thievery. Total robbery.
An atrocious mugging.
Moments later, Miguel Sabah
scored the game-winner and the Galaxy walked away empty handed.
The replays show clearly that
Keane was at least a yard onside when Gonzalez made contact. Keane passed the
last defender sometime after the ball past him. When the ball fell on top of
the goal line, Keane was already there.
But that’s because he’s quick and
has great instincts, not because he was offside. Perhaps that’s the biggest
problem. Velasquez referees the Honduran league, which is not a highly-regarded
league in CONCACAF. Mexico is, of course. MLS is getting there. MLS does have
top talents such as Keane and perhaps Velasquez is unable to decipher between
what a talented goalscorer and what a player who is poaching offside looks
like.
Whatever the case is, the Galaxy
lost a game they should have won. Stolen from them. Taken right away from them.
It’s a shame really, not just
that it happened to the Galaxy but that this happens all the time in this
tournament. It’s almost like it’s a requirement to have things like this happen
in the CONCACAF Champions League.
It seems that no matter what
Champions League game you watch, you almost expect something bad to happen. You
expect the game to go to hell in a matter of minutes. Bad calls are as much a
part of the game as set pieces. So when the flag was raised and Keane’s goal
was harshly called back, it really wasn’t a surprise to anybody.
Anger? Sure, but nobody was
surprised.
And that’s the real shame.
Hating On Landon
Landon Donovan and Mexico go hand-in-hand like meat and rabid dogs. It seems that every time Donovan plays against Mexico, be it the national team or a Mexican club, Donovan seems to bring out some emotions from Mexican supporters.
He certainly has drawn some emotions out from the locals here in Morelia.
As the Galaxy began to go through their warm-ups in a mostly-empty and relatively quiet Estadio Morelos on Monday, a shout came down from above.
"Donovan! Fuck you motherfucker! Your ass is mine motherfucker!"
A small group of locals had gotten to a gate where at least part of the field was visible to them. Their villain, Public Enemy No. 1 'round these parts, was down below so why not serenade him?
I wrote a story on some of the issues that perturbs the fans. Donovan has long been a thorn in Mexico's side, having scored five goals against the national team, including the dagger in the 2002 World Cup win over El Tricolor.
Now, on Monday almost without looking for it, we found some pure Donovan hatred. A group of us went to a marketplace to look for soccer jerseys. We wound up talking to one of the vendors for about an hour on various things and the topic of our visit came up. As soon as he found out we were there for the Galaxy-Morelia match, he let loose about Donovan.
"Ask anybody here. Nobody likes him. I heard two guys walking past earlier and they were saying how they were going to go to the game just to talk shit to Donovan."
The vendor, Rafael, was adamant that Donovan did not like Mexicans. He asked several of the people around him "What was it that Donovan said about Mexico?" as if there was something that Donovan had actually said that would have inflamed Mexicans.
If you're talking about goals, that's a good enough reason to dislike Donovan I suppose. And pissing on the field in Estadio Jalisco is something so ridiculous that it's laughable. There's not a field in this planet that hasn't been pissed on.
But perhaps that's where this notion that Donovan does not like Mexicans stems from. At some point, perception certainly became reality and old habits die hard.
Maybe in the United States, Mexican supporters arent' quite as vicious in their attacks over Donovan as they are here. Perhaps since they have the chance to see him play more and, more importantly, they hear him do interviews in Spanish, they have seen for themselves that whatever supposedly racist ideas he carried were never really there.
But don't tell that to the Morelia faithful. If not all, many certainly seem to think he really does not like Mexicans. And you can rest assured that they will let him hear how much they dislike him the moment he takes the field for warm-ups in Estadio Morelos.
Primed For Success
When Galaxy coach Bruce Arena trotted out a different-looking lineup against Colorado, it wasn't just with Colorado in mind.
Sure, Chad Barrett and Paolo Cardozo did well against the Rapids but playing the likes of Barrett, Cardozo, Bryan Jordan and Donovan Ricketts allowed for the Galaxy to rest up some players for Tuesday's match against Morelia.
The Galaxy will face Morelia in a match that could set the club up well for the remainder of the group stage. If the Galaxy beat Morelia, they will have nine points and could be six points clear of the rest of the group of Motagua beat Alajuelense this week. The pressure would be off the Galaxy, not completely off but things would certainly be a bit less tense in Champions League.
Based on what I've seen in recent games and what Bruce Arena has shown, this is my best shot at a Galaxy Starting XI: Josh Saunders; Todd Dunivant, Omar Gonzalez, AJ De La Garza, Frankie Hejduk; Mike Magee, Landon Donovan, Chris Birchall, Sean Franklin; Adam Cristman, Robbie Keane.
That lineup would be a fresh one. Of the 11 players, five did not play on Friday - Saunders, Hejduk, Magee, Birchall, Cristman. A sixth - Keane - played 30 minutes. The rest - Donovan, Dunivant, Gonzalez, De La Garza, Franklin - are extremely fit.
Off the bench, Arena has some options for goals if it comes to it. Barrett made the trip; Cardozo and Miguel Lopez are here as well. The Galaxy are primed for a strong effort and some planning ahead on Arena's part has done the team well.
Sure, Chad Barrett and Paolo Cardozo did well against the Rapids but playing the likes of Barrett, Cardozo, Bryan Jordan and Donovan Ricketts allowed for the Galaxy to rest up some players for Tuesday's match against Morelia.
The Galaxy will face Morelia in a match that could set the club up well for the remainder of the group stage. If the Galaxy beat Morelia, they will have nine points and could be six points clear of the rest of the group of Motagua beat Alajuelense this week. The pressure would be off the Galaxy, not completely off but things would certainly be a bit less tense in Champions League.
Based on what I've seen in recent games and what Bruce Arena has shown, this is my best shot at a Galaxy Starting XI: Josh Saunders; Todd Dunivant, Omar Gonzalez, AJ De La Garza, Frankie Hejduk; Mike Magee, Landon Donovan, Chris Birchall, Sean Franklin; Adam Cristman, Robbie Keane.
That lineup would be a fresh one. Of the 11 players, five did not play on Friday - Saunders, Hejduk, Magee, Birchall, Cristman. A sixth - Keane - played 30 minutes. The rest - Donovan, Dunivant, Gonzalez, De La Garza, Franklin - are extremely fit.
Off the bench, Arena has some options for goals if it comes to it. Barrett made the trip; Cardozo and Miguel Lopez are here as well. The Galaxy are primed for a strong effort and some planning ahead on Arena's part has done the team well.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Galaxy Trip Down South
There are times when covering soccer is not all that fun. Ridiculously tight deadlines, dealing with uncooperative people, dull matches... been there, done that.
But there are also times when soccer is superb. Now is one of those times.
I'm writing this post from a hotel in Morelia, Mexico, where I've traveled to for the Galaxy's Champions League match against Morelia. On Tuesday, the Galaxy will face a tough Morelia side and will try and take control of Group A.
I don't often travel for soccer. I have, but it hasn't been often. In fact, this is my first trip to Galaxy away game, unless you count the Galaxy's game against Xolos in San Diego.
It's nice here in Morelia. My parents are from the state Morelia is in, Michoacan, and I've lived here in this state on two separate occasions. But this is my first visit to Michoacan for soccer and my second time coming to Mexico for soccer (US-Mexico in 09 was the other).
Watching the Galaxy play in a place like Estadio Morelos, a stadium I've seen on TV for years, will seem a bit surreal. Already, just walking into the stadium earlier on Monday for a training session was quite an experience. I can't imagine seeing the Galaxy play in this setting.
It will be a great game and it's already been a great experience.
As for the game, well, it's garnered a lot of attention. Now some of that was on David Beckham and his first-ever trip to Mexico. That didn't happen as Beckham did not make the trip. But Landon Donovan is still very much hated here.
I wrote a story for MLSsoccer.com/LAGalaxy.com on the topic and when it is published.
Friday, August 5, 2011
CONCACAF Groups Set
CONCACAF Champions League groups were finally set after the second legs were completed this week. There weren't too many surprises as all MLS and Mexico teams went through - although Olimpia of Honduras made things interesting with Santos Laguna.
Each group looks difficult and each group has its challenges but perhaps the most challenging group is.... well, let me write about each group and decide.
Group A
LA Galaxy (USA)
Alajuelense (Costa Rica)
Morelia (Mexico)
Motagua (Honduras)
The Galaxy will try and put last year's qualifying debacle behind them as they will get their first crack at the Champions League (they've played in several Champions Cups prior). But the road is difficult for all teams. Tegucigalpa could be the most difficult venue amongst the quartet but Motagua has struggled on the road in their brief CONCACAF history. Morelia shredded their Haitian opposition in qualifying but in league, they are coming off a loss to Pumas. Morelia will meet up against Monterrey and Guadalajara before the tournament begins, which could reveal what kind of side Monarcas could be in league. Alajuelences meanwhile are a traditional power in Costa Rica and are trying to re-establish themselves, having won the last two Costa Rican league titles.
Group B
Colorado Rapids (USA)
Real Espana (Honduras)
Santos Laguna (Mexico)
Isidro Metapan (El Salvador)
Colorado won MLS Cup 2010 ahead of FC Dallas and claimed a spot in the tournament proper because of that, but the Rapids are not having as strong of a season as their cup rivals are. Colorado looked to have suffered some doom when forward Conor Casey was lost for the season recently but the team has responded well, with eight goals in three games since. Isidro Metapan will participate in the group stage for the second time as they reached the 09-10 edition, but the El Salvadorans seem like a longshot to advance. Santos Laguna have won their first two league games by a combined 7-1 and figure to be the toughest side in this group while Real Espana will have their challenging venue in San Pedro Sula as an advantage.
Group C
Pumas UNAM (Mexico)
Tauro (Panama)
FC Dallas (USA)
Toronto FC (Canada)
Pumas could be the best team in the entire tournament. The current Mexican league champions, Pumas have three wins in three games in the Apertura 2011 season thus far. Traditionally, though, Pumas have fielded reserves and youngsters for their international competition. How serious Pumas take this tournament should be evident from the start. Tauro of Panama reached the tournament directly and can be a tricky side - Tauro ousted Chivas USA from the tournament in 2008. This is the lone group with two MLS sides as Toronto and FC Dallas will square off two more times. FC Dallas has the horses to compete for a spot in the knockout rounds while Toronto has a new-look side who could come together well in this tournament. And Toronto could have the edge over FC Dallas and Tauro - Toronto tied Cruz Azul in Mexico in the tournament last time around, a rare result for an MLS side.
Group D
Monterrey (Mexico)
Comunicaciones (Guatemala)
Seattle Sounders (USA)
Herediano (Costa Rica)
The champions of CONCACAF lead Group D as Monterrey returns and will try to defend their title. Monterrey will be tough both home and away, as their second-leg victory over Real Salt Lake in the final earlier this year proved. Herediano are in their first group stage and were embarrassed by Cruz Azul in their first attempt at qualifying, losing at home by 6-2 in 2009. Comunicaciones have won 24 Guatemalan league titles and won a CONCACAF crown in the 70s but will be hard-pressed to do well in this tournament. Seattle Sounders meanwhile have the experience from 2010-11 to count on and did well to take care of San Francisco of Panama when they needed to in the preliminary round. Certainly Seattle have the talent to do well in this tournament.
Alright, based on my observations, some of which I included above, it seems to me that the toughest group is Group A. Motagua are a dangerous team loaded with strong players such as Amado Guevara, Guillermo "Pando" Ramirez and Ivan Guerrero - all former MLSers. Group A is wide open as any of the four could finish anywhere from first to last.
The weakest group seems like Group D. Guatemalan sides traditionally have fared poorly in this tournament while Herediano are wide-eyed first-timers. Group C looks top-heavy with Pumas playing so well of late but Toronto could surprise and be a bit of a wild card in the mix. Group B looks quite balanced. Although Santos have done well, they lost Christian Benitez and will rely on Oribe Peralta for offense.
The tournament kicks off on Aug. 16, and just what group proves to be the trickiest will begin to sort out soon enough.
Each group looks difficult and each group has its challenges but perhaps the most challenging group is.... well, let me write about each group and decide.
Group A
LA Galaxy (USA)
Alajuelense (Costa Rica)
Morelia (Mexico)
Motagua (Honduras)
The Galaxy will try and put last year's qualifying debacle behind them as they will get their first crack at the Champions League (they've played in several Champions Cups prior). But the road is difficult for all teams. Tegucigalpa could be the most difficult venue amongst the quartet but Motagua has struggled on the road in their brief CONCACAF history. Morelia shredded their Haitian opposition in qualifying but in league, they are coming off a loss to Pumas. Morelia will meet up against Monterrey and Guadalajara before the tournament begins, which could reveal what kind of side Monarcas could be in league. Alajuelences meanwhile are a traditional power in Costa Rica and are trying to re-establish themselves, having won the last two Costa Rican league titles.
Group B
Colorado Rapids (USA)
Real Espana (Honduras)
Santos Laguna (Mexico)
Isidro Metapan (El Salvador)
Colorado won MLS Cup 2010 ahead of FC Dallas and claimed a spot in the tournament proper because of that, but the Rapids are not having as strong of a season as their cup rivals are. Colorado looked to have suffered some doom when forward Conor Casey was lost for the season recently but the team has responded well, with eight goals in three games since. Isidro Metapan will participate in the group stage for the second time as they reached the 09-10 edition, but the El Salvadorans seem like a longshot to advance. Santos Laguna have won their first two league games by a combined 7-1 and figure to be the toughest side in this group while Real Espana will have their challenging venue in San Pedro Sula as an advantage.
Group C
Pumas UNAM (Mexico)
Tauro (Panama)
FC Dallas (USA)
Toronto FC (Canada)
Pumas could be the best team in the entire tournament. The current Mexican league champions, Pumas have three wins in three games in the Apertura 2011 season thus far. Traditionally, though, Pumas have fielded reserves and youngsters for their international competition. How serious Pumas take this tournament should be evident from the start. Tauro of Panama reached the tournament directly and can be a tricky side - Tauro ousted Chivas USA from the tournament in 2008. This is the lone group with two MLS sides as Toronto and FC Dallas will square off two more times. FC Dallas has the horses to compete for a spot in the knockout rounds while Toronto has a new-look side who could come together well in this tournament. And Toronto could have the edge over FC Dallas and Tauro - Toronto tied Cruz Azul in Mexico in the tournament last time around, a rare result for an MLS side.
Group D
Monterrey (Mexico)
Comunicaciones (Guatemala)
Seattle Sounders (USA)
Herediano (Costa Rica)
The champions of CONCACAF lead Group D as Monterrey returns and will try to defend their title. Monterrey will be tough both home and away, as their second-leg victory over Real Salt Lake in the final earlier this year proved. Herediano are in their first group stage and were embarrassed by Cruz Azul in their first attempt at qualifying, losing at home by 6-2 in 2009. Comunicaciones have won 24 Guatemalan league titles and won a CONCACAF crown in the 70s but will be hard-pressed to do well in this tournament. Seattle Sounders meanwhile have the experience from 2010-11 to count on and did well to take care of San Francisco of Panama when they needed to in the preliminary round. Certainly Seattle have the talent to do well in this tournament.
Alright, based on my observations, some of which I included above, it seems to me that the toughest group is Group A. Motagua are a dangerous team loaded with strong players such as Amado Guevara, Guillermo "Pando" Ramirez and Ivan Guerrero - all former MLSers. Group A is wide open as any of the four could finish anywhere from first to last.
The weakest group seems like Group D. Guatemalan sides traditionally have fared poorly in this tournament while Herediano are wide-eyed first-timers. Group C looks top-heavy with Pumas playing so well of late but Toronto could surprise and be a bit of a wild card in the mix. Group B looks quite balanced. Although Santos have done well, they lost Christian Benitez and will rely on Oribe Peralta for offense.
The tournament kicks off on Aug. 16, and just what group proves to be the trickiest will begin to sort out soon enough.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
CCL Draw: Challenging Group For Galaxy
The CONCACAF Champions League draw was held Wednesday, finally. The draw was supposed to have been held at 8 a.m. PT but the results were not announced until about four hours later, which made for some frustrating moments.
Regardless, here is how the LA Galaxy fared.
The Galaxy were drawn into Group A and the only team that is for sure in the group is Costa Rica's Alajuelense.
Joining the Galaxy and Alajuelense will be the winner of the Motagua-Municipal series as well as the loser of the Clausura 2011 final between Pumas and Morelia. The Mexican side will need to qualify as they'll face a Caribbean team in the preliminary phase but barring a major upset, Pumas/Morelia will go through.
Dates are still TBD but at least the road to CONCACAF glory is a lot more clearer than it was this morning.
Initial thoughts... it's not an easy group. Pumas are the stronger side and are favored to beat Morelia, but either team would be difficult. Pumas have been the more consistent side so if Morelia upset Pumas, than the Galaxy would really have it difficult. Still, Morelia are no slouches and getting a result from Estadio Morelos would be challenging.
Motagua and Municipal each pose problems. Motagua feature several former MLS players, including Guillermo "Pando" Ramirez, whose goal in MLS Cup 2005 gave the Galaxy their second MLS Cup title, as well as Ivan Guerrero and Amado Guevara. "El Lobo" was a star for New York and is very much a formidable player still. Motagua would be the tougher of the two but Municipal have a lot of supporters in Southern California.
Alajuelense meanwhile are the only known commodity. The Costa Ricans won the 2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup, going through San Jose and Monterrey en route to the final. Alajuelense beat bitter rivals Saprissa to win the championship but did not get to participate in the Club World Cup as it was on hiatus then. Alajuelense are based just outside of the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. The Galaxy has some history there as in 2006 the Galaxy led 2-0 at halftime against Saprissa only to see the lead crash and lost by a 3-2 score.
Games will be played in August, September and October, which will test the Galaxy's depth and roster. Presumably the club will be battling for the Western Conference title, if not the Supporters' Shield, and balancing both league and cup tournaments will be tricky.
If nothing else, it will be interesting to see the Galaxy play in competitive games against Mexican and Central American competition. It will make for some very interesting and entertaining midweek games in late summer and early fall.
The rest of the tournament shaped out this way:
Group B
Colorado Rapids
Real Espana (HON)
Santos (MEX) or Olimpia (HON)
Metapan (SLV) or Caribbean Club champ
Group C
Pumas/Morelia winner
Tauro (PAN)
FC Dallas or Alianza (SLV)
Vancvouer/Toronto or Nicaraguan qualifier
Group D
Monterrey (MEX)
Comunicaciones (GUA)
Seattle or San Francisco (PAN)
Herediano (CRC) or Caribbean Club 3rd place
The Preliminary Round will be held in late July and early August and will determine the rest of the field but for now, this is what the tournament looks like.
Regardless, here is how the LA Galaxy fared.
The Galaxy were drawn into Group A and the only team that is for sure in the group is Costa Rica's Alajuelense.
Joining the Galaxy and Alajuelense will be the winner of the Motagua-Municipal series as well as the loser of the Clausura 2011 final between Pumas and Morelia. The Mexican side will need to qualify as they'll face a Caribbean team in the preliminary phase but barring a major upset, Pumas/Morelia will go through.
Dates are still TBD but at least the road to CONCACAF glory is a lot more clearer than it was this morning.
Initial thoughts... it's not an easy group. Pumas are the stronger side and are favored to beat Morelia, but either team would be difficult. Pumas have been the more consistent side so if Morelia upset Pumas, than the Galaxy would really have it difficult. Still, Morelia are no slouches and getting a result from Estadio Morelos would be challenging.
Motagua and Municipal each pose problems. Motagua feature several former MLS players, including Guillermo "Pando" Ramirez, whose goal in MLS Cup 2005 gave the Galaxy their second MLS Cup title, as well as Ivan Guerrero and Amado Guevara. "El Lobo" was a star for New York and is very much a formidable player still. Motagua would be the tougher of the two but Municipal have a lot of supporters in Southern California.
Alajuelense meanwhile are the only known commodity. The Costa Ricans won the 2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup, going through San Jose and Monterrey en route to the final. Alajuelense beat bitter rivals Saprissa to win the championship but did not get to participate in the Club World Cup as it was on hiatus then. Alajuelense are based just outside of the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. The Galaxy has some history there as in 2006 the Galaxy led 2-0 at halftime against Saprissa only to see the lead crash and lost by a 3-2 score.
Games will be played in August, September and October, which will test the Galaxy's depth and roster. Presumably the club will be battling for the Western Conference title, if not the Supporters' Shield, and balancing both league and cup tournaments will be tricky.
If nothing else, it will be interesting to see the Galaxy play in competitive games against Mexican and Central American competition. It will make for some very interesting and entertaining midweek games in late summer and early fall.
The rest of the tournament shaped out this way:
Group B
Colorado Rapids
Real Espana (HON)
Santos (MEX) or Olimpia (HON)
Metapan (SLV) or Caribbean Club champ
Group C
Pumas/Morelia winner
Tauro (PAN)
FC Dallas or Alianza (SLV)
Vancvouer/Toronto or Nicaraguan qualifier
Group D
Monterrey (MEX)
Comunicaciones (GUA)
Seattle or San Francisco (PAN)
Herediano (CRC) or Caribbean Club 3rd place
The Preliminary Round will be held in late July and early August and will determine the rest of the field but for now, this is what the tournament looks like.
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