Top Stories

CONCACAF Champions League: Your Running Commentary

6a00e54ef2975b88330133f2996d6c970b

Toronto FC and the Columbus Crew opened their CONCACAF Champions League group stage campaigns with victories last week, but both will need to find rare wins on the road this week to keep that pace.

TFC is taking on Arabe Unido tonight (8pm, Fox Soccer Channel) while the Crew look to become the first MLS team to win a competitive match in Mexico when it takes on Santos Laguna at 10pm (Fox Soccer Channel).

Toronto is in the thick of the MLS playoff race, and will play a mostly reserve side tonight against the same Arabe Unido squad that dove all over the field in a last-minute Champions League loss to RSL last week. The Crew can take control of its group with a win in Mexico tonight, but history isn't on the team's side as no MLS team has won a Champions League match on Mexican soil.

If you will be watching tonight's matches, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Comments

  1. This is a blatant lie.
    Renteria was sent onto the field, then turned back to make sure he was OK, then was waved back onto the field. If he’d turned around and was called back to the sideline, he wouldn’t have gone? You’re being illogical as you fling the rulebook at us.
    The Santos coach should have been redcarded for smacking Oughton. Didn’t happen.
    The Santos striker should have been redcarded for elbowing Renteria in the head and drawing blood. Didn’t happen.
    But they wipe a goal after two officials allow Renteria on the field? That happened. What does your rulebook say about all of that?

    Reply
  2. It is just absurd that the ref thinks he can go back in time and call a goal back AFTER THE FACT because the fourth official let someone on the field with an equipment problem.

    If a player puts on illegal cleats and the official lets him on the field, then they discover it ten minutes and two goals later, can they just go back and replay the time? No, you cannot. So where do you draw the line? You simply cannot disallow a goal after the fact, the fact that this ref did clearly shows what a sham this competition is.

    I’ll never watch CCL again, any competition involving CONCACAF is tainted.

    Reply
  3. Thanks for the repeated updates, but many of heard that reason and are debating it’s validity/precedent. I don’t see why you need to keep making this point.

    Reply
  4. You don’t take your best players when they just played the full 90 three days ago and they have a league match in four days.

    I think its obvious that MLS teams will play this competition to win at home and tie on the road. I do think that Toronto should have probably put more into trying to win in Panama, but then again they are in the midst of fighting for their playoff lives, so can you blame them for resting a couple of starters?

    Reply
  5. it makes total sense because a) a tie is a point away from home which would be difficult to get because of home field advantage in mexico. and your second point isnt even a point… it is the group stage which means they dont need a win but could use a tie. you make no sense.

    The Dude = fail

    Reply
  6. I’m not suggesting they forfeit, but I’m perfectly happy if they prioritize MLS over the CONCACAF Champions League. Realistically, they were always going to be unlikely to get a win in Mexico and their advancement from the group is not going to depend on away results against the group favorite.

    Reply
  7. In all fairness to the Crew, they have 6 matches in 3 weeks. There’s no way the starters can play every match and have any legs left for the MLS playoffs. They basically conceded this match, and Warzycha admitted as much earlier this week. Until MLS payrolls are half of Mexican team payrolls, we shouldn’t expect MLS to dominate.

    Reply
  8. MLS sucks in international competitions. Why blame crappy refereeing when you don’t take your best players?

    I’m not watching this competition anymore. People complain when ManU and Celtic play backups during a pre-season friendly and then the Crew and Toronto sit their stars in the CCL?

    I’m done.

    Reply
  9. I am with you. The Crew should try and win any tournament that they can. Maybe they should have forfeit this tournament and focus in Supporters Shield, MlS Cup.

    Reply
  10. …and the best way to do that is to win the MLS Cup, not some tournament that, judging by attendances, about 100 people know exists.

    Reply
  11. The Crew should not try to increse the MlS prestige. They should try and increse their prestige.

    With prestige better players will come.

    Reply
  12. The Crew don’t owe anything to MLS to try to increase the “prestige” of the league. The Crew made the smart decision to rest most of their best players so that they can be 100% fit for an important match coming up this weekend against Dallas. Their goal was 1 point in Mexico and they almost pulled it off with their reserves. Not a bad showing at all, in my opinion.

    Reply
  13. Mls team should dominate central american teams. I dont expect them to dominate Mexican teams, but at least show that you are not afraid of them.

    Reply
  14. Totally disgusting display by Columbus today. If you are not going to play just stay home. If MLS teams want respect they are going to earn it by playing anytime anywhere .

    Reply
  15. Crew parked the bus against Santos b team, when they should at least try and pass the ball around. But The Crew almost got the point.

    The mexican commentators stated that the Crew coach said that they were expecting a lose at Santos. Shows the confidence in his team.

    Reply
  16. Brutal refereeing. After this, I think I should mitigate my comments about the MLS refs. Yes, I know the US dabbled in revolutions, overthrew governments, and generally treated Central America like a suburban father treats his backyard, which is to say, overzealously, but getting back at the US with crappy refs, really?
    Seriously, though, the problem for the MLS teams will continue until they tighten up the MLS refs, which I think is necessary, and depth is allowed for MLS teams. Still, this is not just a problem for the MLS, even the Nats eke out victories or ties in central America when they should smack them 3-0.

    Reply
  17. He wasn’t insulting you. He was pointing out that its clearly annoying to be posting the same thing over and over again like that. Ives usually monitors these things but obviously he’s not watching the boards tonight or else he would have said something.

    Reply

Leave a Comment