Atlante FC became the first club to advance to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals, defeating the Houston Dynamo, 3-0, Tuesday night in Cancun, and winning the quarterfinal series, 4-1, on aggregate. It also extends Major League Soccer's winless streak in Mexico.
Atlante will face either the Montreal Impact of the United Soccer Leagues First Division or Mexican club Santos Laguna. The Impact lead 2-0 on aggregate after its historic win at Olympic Stadium in Montreal last week.
Things actually started going downhill for the Dynamo last week, when Gabriel Pereyra headed in a late equalizer as Atlante claimed the all-important away goal in a 1-1 draw at Robertson Stadium.
That put the onus on Houston to score, but instead the final MLS squad in the competition conceded a pair of goals in the opening 35 minutes and went into halftime down 3-1 on aggregate.
Atlante's first goal came after the Mexican Primera Division side earned a free kick in midfield. Goalkeeper Federico Vilar's driven ball was headed downward by Fernando Navarro, who had a half step on Dynamo fullback Wade Barrett. The 19-year-old midfielder from Mexico City then chipped the ball over a sliding Pat Onstad to put the hosts in front, 1-0, in the 23rd minute.
Atlante doubled its lead in the 34th minute, capitalizing on a badly mistimed header by Craig Waibel, which allowed Rafael Marquez Lugo to send his open header over Onstad's left shoulder.
Both Barrett and Waibel were off at haltime, replaced by Geoff Cameron and Corey Ashe.
But the Dynamo rarely tested Villar, who missed the first game because of a suspension, and Atlante booked its semifinals ticket with a 90th minute goal by second-half substitute Giancarlo Maldonado, who took Luis Gabriel Rey's cross off his chest and then blasted it off the underside of the crossbar and in from eight yards out.
I don’t think anyone who really follows football in this part of the world would seriously compare MLS to the Mexican League in any way shape or form.
We have a lot of naive and ignorant fans in the US whose only international viewing is English Football. The fact is the Mexican League is probably better than even the Argentine and Brazilian leagues. They have probably the most skilled Latin players not in the top five European leagues from all over South and Central America.
MLS by comparison has some of the top Central American players but second tier of Americans and capped squad sizes.
USL has been successful in this event largely because of the tactical setup of the individual coaches involved, particularly Colin Clarke. A high pressure counter attacking setup which is direct in its approach gives the FMF sides fits. The MLS teams have played their typical possession style in the tournament and the gulf in class with the FMF has been obvious even with the Mexican sides often playing reserves.
We need to get rid of any delusions that MLS teams are competitive with Mexican teams (or better Central American ones for that matter) in real competitions. The Dynamo were well aware it was preseason and know exactly what it takes to play these games based on past experience over the last 2 seasons. They certainly said all of the right things before the game. They have more experience than anybody playing in Mexico and Central America and should have made a better showing last night. Sad thing is that we get to go through this all over again in the fall. Awful night and our team has no excuses.
Look, it all comes down to scheduling and player changes.
The team that got Houston into this competition (2007 MLS Cup Winners) is not the same that played in the Group Stage, which is also not the same that played last night.
Just look at the rosters. Yeah, there’s maybe 4-5. But thats not enough.
Is the same Man United team the one that won the EPL, played in the CL group stages, and is now in the round of 16. Practically yes!
Even Puerto Rico and Montreal have similar teams from when they qualified for this competition to now, which is why they’re doing well at the moment.
Unless MLS changes their schedule and stops with the expansion draft, the superdraft, the supplemental draft and the draft draft, they wont get anywhere in international competitions.
After all, all four MLS teams have already qualified for NEXT FALL’s competition.
Atlante > Houston in early March. Without a doubt. Come July I’d believe it would be different.
and Waibal was atrocious last night, really bad. The kid James(?) though did well enough.
If you need a lesson in distribution from the GK, the Atlante keeper was very good in that area last night. It got to a point you didn’t want the keeper to touch the ball for fear of a counter.
Houston looked very much like the team in pre-season form. Once again, the aging defense proved to be the weak link. Barrett in particular is good for giving up a goal a game because guys just run right by him. @Eugene, your post is spot on.
The offense seems to be built around shucking it forward and hoping Ching or Kamara can trap the ball into the path of an oncoming player. Atlante figured that out after about 10 minutes, and it wasn’t going to work the rest of the game.
Mullan and Davis both looked very average. Clark cannot dribble or beat a defender to save his life. Holden showed flashes, but he is surrounded by mediocrity.
And yes, I’m a Dynamo fan. Shockingly poor performance. Completely outclassed. Embarassing.
Gee, it’s almost like American clubs don’t take this contest seriously.
Maybe if the renamed it the “World Series SuperSoccerBowl” and only had U.S.-based teams they would.
Really, this is the general perception among MLS fans talking about this outside the US. It’s not that USL is better; it’s about 2/3 equivalent but lacking that 1/3 balance of skill players.
It’s just that they’re playing like they care about this (and it’s the equivalent of a dinker winning in tennis — Mexican teams seem absolutely flummoxed by direct play and full-field pressure.)
TomP, the urgency of the post is directed more to everyone, not specifically you.
And yes, Waibel is terrible, but hes our 4th (soon to be 5th with signing of Hainult) option at CB and our 2nd (soon to be 3rd) option at RB. I dont really see much urgency to replace him.
TJ- I don’t have anything aganist the Dynamo- one of the best run teams in the league with an outstanding front office and coach.
BUT WAIBAL IS HORRIBLE and Kinner should go out find a couple of kids to replace him that I am sure would save money vs. the cap because he is truly awful except of set piece headers. He is pub team awful as a defender on the move.
Don’t take things so personally.
I am not an Impact supporter..but you have to give credit to a team that has gone into this tournament with heart and desire and such passionate support from their fan base. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Impact win this leg. It looks like most teams don’t take this tournament seriously! Garber, we need more teams like the Impact in the MLS !
Anyone dogging the Dynamo here as opposed to the simple reasons of why all MLS teams fail at some point in the competition are morons.
Why was Waibel playing TomP? Maybe if you knew ANYTHING about the Dynamo, you would know that our starting CB’s, you know the two finalists for Defender of Year in 07 and 08, Eddie Robinson and Bobby Boswell, were both out with injury and sickness.
Second, you cant really judge a preseason offense that has two new starters in it (Holden and Kamara).
Atlante hardly embarassed Houston. This was a winnable series and it just didnt work out that way. Preseason is a very legitimate reason and if you think NYRB or the Crew are going to be any different, if they even make it this far, you are very wrong.
Posted by: TJ | March 04, 2009 at 01:17 PM
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wah wah wah wah
Anyone dogging the Dynamo here as opposed to the simple reasons of why all MLS teams fail at some point in the competition are morons.
Why was Waibel playing TomP? Maybe if you knew ANYTHING about the Dynamo, you would know that our starting CB’s, you know the two finalists for Defender of Year in 07 and 08, Eddie Robinson and Bobby Boswell, were both out with injury and sickness.
Second, you cant really judge a preseason offense that has two new starters in it (Holden and Kamara).
Atlante hardly embarassed Houston. This was a winnable series and it just didnt work out that way. Preseason is a very legitimate reason and if you think NYRB or the Crew are going to be any different, if they even make it this far, you are very wrong.
Question to all- especially Dynamo Fans:
Craig Waibel- why is he on a MLS roster or playing professional soccer period?
This is not a one game observation or rant. He is the prototypical MLS weak link(s) that are found on every squad and hurt the overall quality of the MLS experience from a fans view. Get rid of these types and bring in some young, eager kids who at least have the possibility of getting better. Either that or get some out of work ex college basketball player, teach to head the ball, and stick him in there because defensively he isn’t going to be much worse and you will get the same value on set pieces.
Another embarrassing performance by a “marquee” MLS club regardless of the built in preseason excuse.
The MLS and the Mexican National Team have one thing in common- they are both delusional when it comes to their principle rivals about where they really stand in comparison.
(Sorry to be so harsh but between this and D.C. & N.E. last year it has been an unmidigated train wreck in this competition.)
Ives should start focusing on USL with stories and season previews because it is the top tier league in this country.
Posted by: etienne | March 04, 2009 at 11:02 AM
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I love the USL 1 & 2 more than anyone else that I personally know; I enthusiastically support a club in both divisions. But let’s not go over the deepend here.
MLS is the top tier here in the US and in Canada.
As an MLS supporter I must say its pretty embarrassing for the league to look so worthless in our regions premier international competition. What stings even worse is the fact that there really is no excuse for the performance of MLS teams in this tournament. The Revs and Chivas were completely outclassed by teams that on paper were inferior. DC United looked like a pub team in the group stages. Houston for all their depth and great manager never really looked like a contender last night. You could point to fixture congestion, overall lack of depth, or preseason rust. But the fact of the matter is no MLS squad played with any passion in the Champions League. 55000 fans showed up IN winter IN Montreal to support their squad and I doubt a single person went home thinking ” Wow I really came out for this?” The Impact put on a show in Montreal and the Islanders gave it their all in Puerto Rico. I really don’t think the same can be said about the performance of any of the MLS teams.
MLS is a joke. How are we supposed to believe that MLS is on the same level at the Mexican League… or the USL for that matter?
I’m tired of the excuses. MLS sound just like little kids who feel they’re entitled to things they haven’t earned. The fact is that MLS is not taking the tournament seriously or MLS is just not good enough. Both are unacceptable.
The USL clubs are proving that this isn’t a salary cap issue. It’s either a talent or motivation issue. MLS is a joke right now with this loss, the USL success, and the David Beckham debacle.
I want more reasons to support MLS. I will continue to, but I deserve more reasons. And, I think most soccer fans care about these tournaments even though they’re not on the level of UEFA Cup or the European CL.
Atlante , Atlante ….. Dynamo sucks !!
We missed Boswell out there tonight…. Waibel just isn’t good when slotted at centerback. I have to feel that if we had out starting defense it would have been a less emberassing 0-0 or 1-0 scoreline, since two of Atlante’s goals can be put on a mistake by a central defender.
But the big problem is that the team couldn’t finish a chance. Atlante’s defense outhustled the Dynamo attack, and they couldn’t get the ball on target at all. Especially that Ching header where he tried to aim it low and at the corner only to have it bounce out of play. If he puts that back into the center of goal, it’s in. If Holden’s shot had been a few inches over too…
But they weren’t. The Dynamo need a new forward and more time for Chabala in place of Barrett. I think Holden will grow into the role he’s been handed.
Take a deep breath everyone. If you expected any different thatn this you were foolish. Unfortnately, many of the excuses are in fact truths (preseason, salary cap, etc…).
Anyone who expect the American teams to start whipping Mexican ones on the road is ridiculous. Despite our National Teams progress over the last decade they still can’t win there and the English ‘Big Four’ still ahve atrocious records in European competitions in countries like Italy and Spain.
For the millionth time whther its MLS or the US’ competitiveness at an international level is goign to take A LOT of patience. Just beacuse this country has (kind of) awoken to the sport in the past decade (yeah’ we’re still only 15 years from World Cup 94 people). Doesn’t mean we automatically get to catch up with the rest of the world.
MLS has taken steps to improve the leagues performance in this competition (not double booking in Super Liga) (that everyoen in this forum clamored for just 6 months ago) so progress will be measured this fall when we see if more than one team makes the group stage.
Ives should start focusing on USL with stories and season previews because it is the top tier league in this country.
Ives… everyone keeps taking about salary cap… do USL teams like the Impact have a salary cap? It sounds to me that this is just an excuse. Houston could have really used DeRo last night !
Posted by JC
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There is no salary cap in the USL, but their budgets are much smaller than MLS teams. The total they spend on salaries is probably not even close to $2mil.
Posted by: Ed | March 04, 2009 at 08:49 AM
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While Montreal and Puerto Rico, Charleston and Rochester pay more than some other clubs, the very high end of total player salary for a normal USL1 season (not including this particular tournament) is about $500K-$600K.
Some clubs were paying a lot less last year.
Rochester has probably scaled back to due economic problems. They used to be the salary kings and battle it our with Montreal and Charleston.
Keep in mind that most USL1 clubs help guys with an apartment and a car (shared with a couple teamates).
My answer is based on talking to players, agents and franchise management at a few different clubs “off the record” over the last 5 years or so.
Ed is right. There is no cap and it is way less than $2 million a year.
MLS has once again embarrassed itself in CONCACAF. I’m tired of the excuses already. This league wants respect but hasn’t earned it.
USL even if both teams go out this week will be able to hang their heads high. Their teams played better than MLS teams.
2 things kamara(hahaha) and a slow and old defense. houston is going to have a long season if they don’t pick up a better forward and faster outside backs. plus ching looked horrible and that’s after spending time w/ the nats in january.
I’m sick of MLS clubs looking ridiculous in this competition. How embarassing is this. At the very least, I hope Houston stinks this year to show there is a reason for this performance. Either way, I’m tired of the built-in excuses for MLS and their annual poor performances in CCL/C. Especially in light of how strong the two USL sides looked in the first leg.
I’m disgusted.
How many boots do mls teams need to pick out of their behinds to take international competition seriously?
We earn zero respect from losing in these tourneys.
Teams playing in these tourneys should have no offseason. They need to prepare. It ain’t just the players at fault here. The coaching staff needs to study these teams more and they need to dedicate themselves to outcoaching their opponents.
The fact he had to make 2 changes at the half is case in point. Weak preparation loses games.
“MLS is FANtastic! What a mickey mouse organization.”
classy, guy. you wouldn’t be from Montreal would you?
MLS is FANtastic! What a mickey mouse organization.
comparing 1998 ratings to 2009 ratings is foolish…ratings are down across the whole tv landscape over that period…it has more to do with emergence of internet and to lesser extent gaming than it has to do with declining interest level in mls
Right now it’s nearly impossible for an MLS team to have a chance at winning this tournament. Besides the issue of not having the ability to create a team with enough depth to be competitive, the knockout phase of the competition is always going to take place during the MLS pre-season. We need another encarnation of the D.C. United teams of the late 1990s for MLS to have a shot.
It didnt look like a 3-0 game but Houston has no one that that can finish or create easy goals for other people… Brian Ching is ineffective, and will continue to be, his runs on crosses were laughable; enless he tracks back for a give and go with the midfield he basically just fills space without being a threat in that space. The back 4 didnt look much better either, I hope Houston had some players missing because half the players on that team last night are going to get abused the whole season.
I think honestly Montreal is going to be hit by a freight train at Santos. I see that game being something like 4-1.
But Puerto Rico has a very very good shot of getting through. They have an uncanny knack for late goals in this tournament, even on the road. If they fall behind early, don’t count them out.
Are both games tonight?
3-0 scoreline against Houston, that’s going to become very familiar again this season after it happened a number of times last year. The reasons:
“… who had a half step on Dynamo fullback Wade Barrett.”
“…badly mistimed header by Craig Waibel…”
The solution:
“Both Barrett and Waibel were off at haltime, replaced by Geoff Cameron and Corey Ashe.”
I think the defensive mistakes will be corrected by mid season, but the real issue is that Holden won’t cut it for Houston this year, and they really need to try and sign someone.
I still believe Houston would have won this series if they were in mid season form.
Ives… everyone keeps taking about salary cap… do USL teams like the Impact have a salary cap? It sounds to me that this is just an excuse. Houston could have really used DeRo last night !
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There is no salary cap in the USL, but their budgets are much smaller than MLS teams. The total they spend on salaries is probably not even close to $2mil.
This game was horrible houston had the majority of possession but the struggled in the final third. I don’t understand how they could hve gotten through last season without any more additions. Wiabel, Barrett, davis, mullen, mulrooney are all past their prime and aren’t getting better, they were so bad last night Holde, clark and even ching had to drop back to help them out way too much. Goes to show you that they should have started camp as early if not earlier than everyone else, look how seattle is rolling even the red bulls. Houston dropped the ball on this one. I don’t think we should use Houston as the benchmark for the league anymore its clear after last season they are a step behind, and it shows they have to make more changes or they are going to be fifth in the west this season.
Atlante hadn’t won a game in a long time and since their home ground is not at altitude I cannot wait to hear the excuses from delusional MLS proponents on this one.
Look we all support the league but it’s about time many MLS fans realized that the ranking of IFFHS while somewhat insulting and probably low was probably more accurate than many claim. MLS is NOT a top 25 worldwide league by any standard.
I wish we’d get back to the point where MLS developed American players and developed them well instead of over expanding and trying to impress people with fancy foreign signings.
It’s no small wonder MLS averaged twice as many viewers on ESPN in 1998 than 2008. While attendance is going up, curiosity among Latin/Euro Football fans and hold over fans from the NASL has gone down dramatically. That is the bottom line.
Ives… everyone keeps taking about salary cap… do USL teams like the Impact have a salary cap? It sounds to me that this is just an excuse. Houston could have really used DeRo last night !
When will MLS come to their senses and up the salary cap? We need to field more competitive teams in these events. Has years of losing in Mexico not taught us anything?
LJ – Ha! Maybe the same person resposible for the 100ft Pat Onstadt on the Qwest Field tarp in Seattle is responsioble for this?
They know this is Pat Noonan they pictured right? http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/gsc/article.jsp?ymd=20090303&content_id=221421&vkey=gsc&fext=.jsp
idiots.
hey folks, here is to CCL 09-10 cycle happening in NY metro area. cheers
“Atlante will face either the Montreal Impact of the United Soccer Leagues First Division or Honduran side CD Marathon. The Impact lead 2-0 on aggregate after its historic win at Olympic Stadium in Montreal last week.”
Hey Dylan you must have been tired at 4am. Atlante will face the Impact or Santos (not CD Maraton who are in the other bracket and facing Puerto Rico Islanders tonight)