Good evening folks. Tonight will feature both second legs of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. D.C. United plays host to Pachuca while the Houston Dynamo travel to Costa Rica to face Deportivo Saprissa.
D.C. United will look to erase a 2-0 first-leg defeat while Houston will be looking to win the second leg after the team’s finished 0-0 in the first leg at Robertson Stadium.
Fox Soccer Channel is showing both matches tonight, with the D.C. United-Pachuca match already under way. If you are watching the matches, please feel free to share your thoughts on the action in the comments section below.
Enjoy the match and here’s hoping MLS can deliver some good showings tonight.
Final
T_T
I can’t say I wasn’t expecting it, but it still hurts to loose like that. I gotta say, last years Dynamo in form probably would have won, even in San Jose. I know that’s homer speak, but it would have at least been a serious game. (2-1 Saprissa AET sounds about right)
This year’s full strength Dynamo… hmmm… I think 3-1 would have been the result. If Mullan, Holden, and Davis were in form, then make that 3-2.
We need Onstad to get health and stay healthy ALWAYS. Alternately, we need a better backup.
We need a forward who isn’t afraid to shoot. A healthy Holden would have helped in those regards, but Ching needs to re-learn about shooting the ball.
DeRo played ok, but he’s consistantly getting mobbed now because teams aren’t having to stretch to guard the wings. Clark helped with that last season, but he’s back helping the defends more – and when he’s not there are already a ton of opposing players in the 18-yard box blocking his distance shots before they get to the keeper.
I like Ashe, but Davis and Holden can’t get healthy quick enough. Ashe just can’t beat that first defender, even with his speed. His crosses are better and his positioning is light years from where it was, but without the ability to round a defender he’s a poor winger at best.
I know Cameron is a rookie, but he needs to learn how to keep his mark from shaking him. He over commits to the attacker and gets rounded on way too many chances. And with Cpt. Bricks (Boswell) usually behind him, that’s like getting a one-on-one with the keeper.
What did I miss?
Oh yeah, the boys still looked good for large stretches of the game, but unless they figure out how to convert that into goals this is going to be a long season.
Heart breaking… First onstad, next robinson, screw boswell and last waibel. Man we need some players!!!!
Houston definitely needs a full roster. The defense is very weak, and the goalie is well lets just say he’s English. And will someone shoot the ball seriously. And stop stepping in and making yourself look like an idiot.
90′ Somebody on the Houston Chronicle blog posted a good one:
“Tappin’ the Caig” – a soccer match where Tony Caig is playing goalie for the opposing team
(posted by JJ)
http://blogs.chron.com/soccer/archives/2008/04/dynamo_0_sapris.html
88′ Cameron and a Saprissa player clash over a 50/50 ball, both go down clutching body parts. Cameron slow to get up, Saprissa player is still down.
Caig = Alan Gordon of Goalkeepers
I think we all know the difference between 3-0 and 2-0.
Nonetheless, Chris Wondolowski comes in.
I think it’s safe to say that this final Champions Cup was NOT a step forward for MLS.
Wow Tony Caig is awful. I can see why Gretna was in the 3rd division in Scotland…
wow houston is embarassing MLS
75′ Carraccio out, Davis in.
Carraccio had an ok game, but wasn’t great.
FSK!
Caig strikes again!
76′ Defender beaten by Saprissa and Caig come out of the 18 yard box to challenge and gets rounded. Ball into the back of an open net. 3-0 Saprissa.
And I hate to say it because I like his general play, but it was once again Cameron who lost his mark on that goal.
Wow…….Santa better give England the decent goalkeeper gene for Christmas.
69′ Somebody shoot the ball first time when there are no defenders on top of you and you’re in front of the net at the 18 yard box! Make the keeper make the save! A few of those and at least one will go in.
Well I mean, I’ve seen then jump non-stop for some games. I didn’t see any bouncing and I mostly heard OLE OLE OLE. When Pachuca was passing the ball around.
I mean, if you were near or sitting in Barra Brava I’m sure they sounded fine. They just seemed flat compared to their own lofty standards.
It wasn’t until the DC scored that they came back to life. It happened last year too, vs the Fire. After the 2nd Fire goal, they were quiet until the DC scored.
64′ What a save by Saprissa’s Navas after horribly botching his come-out on a free kick. He whiffed on the punch out but runs back to make a diving save on Ching’s shot.
Injuries and suspensions left Houston to start the game in the hole. Then Waibel going out screwed with the defense even more.
But even with the deflection off Ianni, I think Caig should have gotten to that first goal. Second one he was never going to get, what a rocket, but the first one he should have had.
Now Houston is just chasing the game is going to tire themselves out in about 10 minutes.
Kinnear is one the phone right now to every agent with a keeper looking for work…
Bobby Boswell for Zach Wells is looking pretty horrible right now, but it’s early in the season yet.
“The Barra Brava disappeared tonight.”
What the hell are you talking about? I was at the game and the Barra was strong all game long. It was a good crowd and MLS should be happy with the showing. As for the game DC had the game for the taking but poor finishing, particularly Emilio, and a penchant for wanting the perfect play rather than an earlier shot ultimately were the difference.
Goal Saprissa in the 47′
Mulrooney wiffed on a clearance and it’s put in. Nothing Caig could have done. The injuries to defenders and the turf are taking their toll. Unless something just clicks in Houston’s game (or Saprissa gets a red card or three) then this game is just riding out the time. I feel like there are more goals in it, but at least one of them feels like another Saprissa goal.
Barra Brava disappeared tonight.
I know there was a lot of pro-Pachuca fans but that’s when you have to step it up. I know people say people don’t show up for non-MLS games.
But look at Sassprisa, these are their biggest games of the year. MLS fans need to bring it and become the 12th man.
Caig is an embarrassment
way too many turnovers for houston, it’s hurting them
Saprissa Stadium: Soccer on Ice. That turf is quick.
Caig is horrible. WOW. I can come out of D3 soccer retirement and play better than this guy.
Saprissa almost scores 12 mins in. Houstons defense is showing gaps early.
The turf is throwing Houston off at the start.
Waibel is out and Mullen is going in. Not looking good for Houston early as far as that goes. I think he took a hit to his hamstring area.
Caig
Mulrooney Ianni Waibel Barett
Cameron Clark De Ro Ashe
Caraccio Ching
There ya go.
Well here we go. Onstad is out. I’ll post the line up once I get a clear look.
Ives any chance of a new chance to post stuff on Houston? Or are we going to overload this page?
I just got home and saw the highlights of DC. To say Emilio had an off night would be the understatement of the year so far. Its real easy to score goals in MLS where the defenders are twice as big and half as smart. You could tell that after the first one was missed, he never let go of that miss and it haunted him all game. That crowd shot from Costa Rica, looks intimidating. I think if any MLS team can go down there and get a result, its the Dynamo. Saprissa won this tournament 3 years ago made it to the World Club Tourney
I have one Bone to pick with IVES
THe dude needs to be more on top of his game when it comes to players the US is wanting to court. Like that guy Torres that plays for Pachuca. This kid is 20 years old and supposedly he is really good. I think Ives should let us his readers know of these guys that US would like to get on their squad despite that he is thinking about playing for Mexico because of his dad.
IVES,
You do this for your BOY, G. Rossi. How about letting that go and bringing us info on other players, Rossi is gone. Let’s move on, let us know of players the US would like to add that are US Citizens. Maybe a Conde (Chicago Fire) when he becomes a US Citizen, or a Toja….come on dude…step it up my Bro.
I hate when the ref is a factor in the outcome of the game!!
DCM – Yeah, I agree. He essentially loses the ball whenever he gets it. The one goal tonight (after Pachuca was coasting) doesn’t change my mind in the least.
Considering Gallardo was all the hype in the preseason, so far for DC I’m really keen on two returning players–Simms and Fred.
DC earns some respect. But after watching the whole thing. DC was the better team and should have won. A couple blown chances by Emilio and a couple pk’s that should have been called that weren’t.
And the final whistle is blown…
just too little too late for United
Ha, Niell with a nice shot there
Niell hears me bashing him and scores. Two minutes left to get one more.
Jacob,
I’ve made a point to watch the guy every time I can (missed some of the game from last weekend) and he has done NOTHING absolutely NOTHING… and then Neill scores to make it 2-3 aggregate in the 90th.
Nice assist by Fred.
Neill scores DC goes up 2-1. First thing good I’ve seen him do. Nice placement. I’ll also give him some time to gel with the team.
Holy Sh**t!!!!!!
NIELLLLLLLLLLLLLAWWWFUUUUULLLLL
Finally… nice goal for United on centering pass from Fred to Dyachenko who slots it in with a shot from just inside the penalty spot in the 85th to make it 1-1 (1-3 agg).
Ha, as I lament the finishing, DC punches one in!
Dyachenko scores a rocket of a shot from just about the penalty spot for the honorary goal on an assist from Fred.
Absolutely atrocious finishing from DC all night, especially Emilio. As an RBNY fan, I certainly hope this trend continues in the league, but I hate to see MLS getting punked by Pachuca again.
Just terrible terrible finishing. I’m watching KC v NE now…
DC scores a consolation prize. 1-1 great goal by Dyachenko and an assist by Fred.
After seeing Niell play, I wonder what kind of game Tom Soehn watched him in before signing him?
I have to admit I’m ignorant about the player’s background, but thus far for DC he has been atrocious.
Bright spot for DC is Martinez, he is looking pretty good.
At this point in the game is where you see the class of a team. Lets see if they can pull back a goal and give their fans something.