by TRAVIS CLARK
What will MLS teams be able to accomplish in the second edition of the CONCACAF Champions League? Fans will be able to get their first glimpses this week, as the three teams representing MLS take the field against foreign opposition.
Based on league form, Columbus and Houston seem to have the best shot at getting out of their groups. D.C. United is a bit of an enigma at the moment, and their poor showing at Toronto on Saturday couldn't have done much for their confidence ahead of a difficult road test this evening. Here is a closer look at tonight's matchups:
Puerto Rico Islanders at Columbus Crew (8 p.m., FSC)
A tough first match for the Crew in their Champions League debut as the Puerto Rico Islanders visit Columbus. The Islanders did a fantastic job knocking Toronto out in the play-in round, holding onto a 1-0 lead through both legs. Colin Clarke has done a great job with the Islanders, narrowly missing out on a spot in the Champions League finals last season. They'll likely bunker down and force the Crew to attack from the opening kick. Guillermo Barros Schelotto returned to the pitch last Saturday for just a few minutes, and may see a brief cameo again tonight. Even if he can't go, Columbus has proved that they can succeed without their Argentine playmaker.
D.C. United at C.D. Marathon
(10 p.m., FSC)
Things didn't start off well for D.C.'s brutal stretch on Saturday, falling to Toronto FC 2-0. They traveled straight to Honduras after the game, and are set to face CD Marathon for the second year in a row. Forgetting last season's performances is vital for United, as they lost both group games, 4-2 and 2-0 respectively. Fred will be missing due to the red card he picked up at the end of the second leg at Firpo, and Chris Pontius is listed as doubtful. Marathon won their Champions League group last year, though were knocked out in the quarterfinals by the Islanders.
CSD Comunicaciones at Pumas UNAM (10 p.m., Galavision)
Group D's first match pits a struggling Mexican club against the Guatemalan club CSD Comunicaciones. Pumas have gotten off to an atrocious start to the 2009 Apertura, and have looked poor to boot. They've lost all four of their opening games, scoring just one goal while conceding nine. Perhaps it's a chance for Comunicaciones to grab a result on the road.
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Which game will you watch? What do you think of tonight's matches? Can either D.C. or Columbus get the win? Will Pumas' atrocious start to the season continue? Share your thoughts below.
In terms of the treble, I value the SS more than the USOC, and still believe it is the truest measure of who had the best team for the year.
MLS Cup is closest to the League Cup, in reality, with only 8 entrants. A one-off short term crapshoot.
Counting in in 2009 or 2010 is a bit of a strange one, as it will (I believe) wrap up before the season starts, though in the next year.
In Europe, it doesn’t matter, as both the domestic season and the CL span the calender year. So Barca are indeed the 2008/09 champs.
In other sports, it is mixed. The NBA counts it in the year it is won, the NFL doesn’t.
TFC probably had more passion to get into the Cl, than to actually play in it. Also I bet the team rather get into the MLS pay-offs for the 1st time combined with not taking the Islanders seriously as much as they should.
I hope the new CB expands the rosters and the cap (3 million at least). They both need to happen, but also need to be kept in reality.
Just got home from the Crew game. Crew probably had 80% possession. All the Crew had to do was kick the ball wide and Puerto Rico looked lost. Hesmer looked like he was napping halfway through. Schelotto got taken out from behind on a breakaway and no pk. The Islanders played a pretty classless game and spent much of the time yelling at the ref. I think they had 3 yellows in the first 25 mins or so. I thought the game might get called b/c of too many yellows/reds but they calmed down. Ekpo had another obvious dive that thankfully wasn’t seen. I’m not trying to be rude (honest), but I don’t see why the Islanders outperformed toronto. Is toronto that bad or is Columbus that good?
Wow, the Marathon/DCU commentator legitimately thought this was a home and away series all the way up until the end of the second half. I thought he just had some wierd perspective on things when he kept saying “180 minutes of soccer,” but in stoppage time he admited to thinking this was a home and away series. He then said there was 6 teams in the group in stead of saying 6 games.
Let’s go Marathon, remember though that DC *wins trophies*.
All I know is the Columbus/PR game is on and I just wanted to emphatically state how much I *LOVE* hearing “ESschelotto” from whoever the annoying commentator is. I
with the MLS Cup its heard to give much merit to the Supporter’s Shield, it’s nice to win but to me the Supporter’s Shield is still not really a trophy as long as there is an MLS Cup, no other sport with playoffs really celebrate the regular season winner with anything but home field advantage (see Mexico)
kinda like winning the treble with the Carling Cup
so SS, MLS Cup, and CCL would be a treble in that it would be 3 trophies, but it would not be the “classic” treble of league, national, and continental championships (i.e. MLS Cup, US Open Cup, CCL)
agreed, that is my point no one has ever won it, DC (1996), Chicago (1998) and LA Galaxy (2005) to my knowledge are the only domestic double teams, (MLS Cup and US Open Cup)
Fro Boy, they are two separate titles. No one has ever won the domestic treble (MLS Cup, SS, and US Open Cup)
i agree, with mike, that was my point that the supporters shield and MLS Cup shouldn’t count as two separate titles
It is sad that playing a USL team at home is considered a tough first match. Doesn’t say much for the tournament.
The American treble would be (won in this order):
– CCL (Late April)
– US Open Cup (September)
– MLS Cup (November)
MLS Cup and the Supporters Shield are both won through the league, so I wouldn’t count them as separate parts of a treble.
I can’t wait until the workday ends so I can get to Crew stadium! Its a 2 hr. drive so I will leave as soon as it ends. Lets go Crew!
come on crew!!!
On a different note, a quote from Charlie Davies regarding playing in Azteca “I think the main problem was we sat back too much due to the elevation. When you get down to it, if you pressure them at Azteca – which many teams don’t do – you can get the three points.”
That was exactly the issue. So why can’t Bob Bradley see this and make the neccessary team adjustments?
I bet 20 years from now this tournament will be a super-big deal. MLS teams had better start taking it very serious.
WHOA. If you have DIRECT TV, you’ll get ALL the Champions League games on HD from channels 461-469.
AWESOME.
And enjoy!
What would the treble be then if the MLS Cup, Supporters Sheild, and Concacaf Champions trophies do not qualify. and Will I dont think that it matters that the competition wraps up in 2010 it still would count for this season. Does ManU or Barca not get creditted for Champions league titles because it wraps up in the following year? I think it counts to the 09 season since even though the Concacaf Champions Cup finishes in 2010 it will be before the next MLS season. What do yout hink?
….maybe going for the treble this time around then as they are in the current champs league, are tied for lead in the supporter’s shield chase, and are one of the favorites to win the MLS Cup.
hopefully the crew can keep that 20 game home undefeated streak alive
definitely not a treble
Los Cremas!
I would be in soccer heaven if my Crew can get the Treble this year.
dont think it would be considered a treble considering they’d win the 2010 concacaf champions cup…
First!! Come out Crew. Lets go for the Treble this year!!! Concacaf champions, MLS cup champions, and supporters sheild!!!