Two MLS teams had a chance to secure a Champions League group stage berth, but only one of them did what it needed to do.
Christian Gomez scored D.C. United's crucial equalizer on a beautiful free kick, then capped a stellar match with a clutch penalty kick to give D.C. United a series victory over Luis Angel Firpo in their CONCACAF Champions League play-in series.
Toronto FC had a chance to be the first MLS team to advance, but failed once again to score against the Puerto Rico Islanders, which posted a 0-0 shutout to take their series, 1-0, on aggregate. Danny Dichio had the best chance for Toronto in the second half, but his right-footed shot from close range hit the right post, dooming TFC to elimination.
D.C. posted the 1-1 tie it needed to force the two-game series into overtime, and after neither team scored in the 30-minute overtime, the series went to penalty kicks. D.C. United was a perfect five-for-five on kicks, while Luis Angel Firpo watched its captain, Manuel Salazar, sky his attempt over the crossbar. Gomez stepped up for the decisive kick and struck it off the left post and into the net.
The win makes D.C. United the first MLS team to advance from the play-in round into the Champions League group stages.
D.C. United's series victory means the club will now take part in the Champions League Group B, with Toluca, CD Marathon and the winner of the San Francisco (Panama) San Juan Jabloteh (Trinidad & Tobago) series, which San Francisco leads after a 2-0 first-leg victory.
The New York Red Bulls will look to join D.C. United, the Columbus Crew and the Houston Dynamo in the Champions League group stages with a win or a tie of 1-1 or 0-0 on Wednesday night against Trinidadian club W Connection. The Red Bulls posted a 2-2 tie in the first leg of their series.
Pachuca won the other Champions League match played on Tuesday, posting a 7-1 blowout victory against Deportivo Jalapa. U.S. national team midfielder Jose Francisco Torres started and played 90 minutes for Pachuca.
What did you think of D.C. United's victory? Impressed with United's response? Surprised with Toronto FC's failure to score a single goal against Puerto Rico? Happy to see Torres get the start for Pachuca?
Share your thoughts below.
John Harris- I editorialized about that very subject today at MLS Talk. I said while MLS may have lost American Soccer won, with likes of Bill Gaudette, Scott Jones, and other Americans playing key roles for the Islanders.
USL-1 is an interesting league. It is very tactical and not very technical. MLS has a much much higher skill level but the majority of USL-1 coaches have European experience of some kind coaching, and some even have UEFA “A” licenses and know how to set up a team and kill games when ahead.
Despite the lower technical level, I do not see all the silly giveaways in USL-1 matches that we consistently see in MLS. It’s a slower more methodical, more tactical leagues. That has served the Islanders well last year and this year in CONCACAF.
O and i forgot Islanders youth systems has American kids in the squads. Islanders sub 17 has several americans. A player from this team already has a call up for USSF youth national team programs.
Its simple PR will help develop US soccer more than TFC will ever do. Support clubs that support American soccer not Canadian, just because there in MLS. Islanders puts Americans on the field, it raises the level of the sport on the island where there’s a 90% chance that if a good players comes out of it would prefer to play for the USA rather than the corrupt PR national team. They help late bloomers develop so they can move up later to mls clubs.
Sorry but Puerto Rico has inferior players to all MLS teams. However they exemplify what it takes to win in the Champions League no matter CONCACAF or UEFA. Defence and being opportunistic. Congrats and TFC was a joke in that series. No goals against a USL team in 2 games is unacceptable especially with the players they have like DERO, VITTI, GERBA, GUEVARA.
Does anyone here realize Puerto Rico is from a US based league and has far more American players than TFC? I guess that does matter to those simply obsessed with MLS and not the game at all levels in this country?
Give Ives credit for covering and understanding USL, but MLS fans make me mad- they want us to back MLS unconditionally without ever paying attention to the other levels of soccer in this country. It’s no coincidence the USL PDL has sent 2 players to Everton this summer while MLS has sent none to all of England.
Please people open your eyes- more to american soccer out there than just MLS!
Sounders could have had DC United’s slot in the CCL if they had just won the Open Cup last season.
JFC & Gerald,
That Corner Pub doesn’t look very big. Red Bull probably needs a way to make sure 5,000 people aren’t trying to get in there at the same time. Why not make a little money while they’re doing it? They could lower the price, though, if nobody buys the pass…
man, that is embarassing for MLS… should’ve just let the Sounders represent!
Does anyone know whether the idea of expanding the MLS team rosters is on the table? Looking at these matches yesterday, the teams (particularly DC United) looked tired. When you combine the schedule and the “luxurious” accomodations MLS teams enjoy on the road (Grant Wahl’s account of that is shocking), that could explain somewhat TFC’s very uninspired play.
did TFC mess up. really? seems to me that they just bought themselves a decent chance at the playoffs, the Crew have sic more games than TFC through October, DCU have seven.
How is Dichio still playing? I haven’t seen the guy finish a chance since their first ever goal. That guy is a joke.
Exciting finish to the D.C. game last night. Something about playing those games in Central America often makes them look slow and sloppy, but D.C. came though and played pretty well. Congrats to them, now hopefully the Red Bulls can join them and help raise the profile of MLS a bit.
After watching the DC-Firpo game I thought the commentary should have been given by Cousteau.
Haha TFC Fracked up once again!!
I saw plenty of TFC shots end up in row Z last night. Come to think of it, every TFC match I’ve seen this season they’ve been awful.
Puerto Rico was pretty much dominated in the second halves of both matches by TFC. PRI had very very few chances compared to TFC, but they made that one goal stick. PRI’s talent level was much lower than TFC (I mean, one guy took a shot on goal and went out for a TFC throw in!). But they play a team game, they have big defenders, and they are physical. TFC had enough chances to win both games, but their problems were mostly self-created. They had chances, but they could have had many more chances (and thus better odds at some goals) if they could build up plays better. TFC seems to have troubling linking players together. Plays end so quickly, after 1 or 2 passes. Crossing is awful and they seem to go for the difficult pass when an easier option exists. The talent is there but putting it together is a problem right now.
how did jose francisco torres do last night?
DC United & Puerto Rico made it through.
DC was scrappy and converted their pk’s.
Puerto Rico managed to get past another superior opponent with better talent a lot more resources.
Either of the two results could have gone the other way; What could have been a very unhappy night ended up being a very nervous but in the end successful one for my boys.
JFC – I’m with you on that one, that is a joke
It was nice to see DC United put their “A” team out there and hang in with Firpo despite the opponents superior speed and home advantage. Good for them.
After seeing highlights of the TFC/Islanders match, TFC should have scored multiple times. They hit the wood work at least twice from what I can remember.
Glad DC finally showed something in this competition. I don’t know what it is about it that MLS can’t compete. They have the talent, but it seems the passion is lacking.
It is Marathon
I think it’s Marathon, not Olimpia, that represents Honduras in Group B.
the extra time rule might just might benefit the bulls.
KEEP HOPE ALIVE!!! GO REDBULLS GO 🙂
These groups should be fun to watch
i wonder whos showing up for the new york game tomorrow and if any w connection fans will be there? Also Ives what the hell are the redbulls thinking charging an extra $100 for Bulls Corner Pub Pass for next years season and can i get a discounted price for next year with this horrible season?
There is an away goals rule, just not in extra time.
So I’m confused, is there an away goals rule or not, because I thought that last year that was the reason P.R. went to pk’s because there was no away goals rule. Did they change the rule?