The defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew helped restore some pride to MLS after downing MLS-killers Puerto Rico Islanders, 2-0, in their opening match of the CONCACAF Champions League group stages. Goals from Steve Lenhart and Robbie Rogers provided the difference for the Crew.
D.C. United didn't fare quit as well on Tuesday night, dropping a 3-1 decision to Honduran side CD Marathon. D.C. defender Greg Janicki had a night he'll want to forget, while Marathon takes early control of a group that includes Toluca and San Juan Jabloteh.
The Houston Dynamo makes its CCL group stage debut tonight against Isidro Metapan (7pm, FSC).
What did you think of last night's Champions League action? Liking the Crew's chances of making a respectable run through the tournament? Starting to wonder if D.C. would have been better off not making the group stages? Think Houston will roll through the group stage?
Share your thoughts below.
What do you guys expect from a guy who 13 months ago was playing for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds? Yes he was bad. But who signed this guy and put him in as a starter in a CCL game? Nuff’ said.
It was a must win for the crew last night and they did just that. I do not expect them to win at Cruz Azul or Saprissa. However, if they can get a point at PR and win the other two home games they might just advance from the group of death. Of course, thats easier said than done.
DC lost in the champions league. what else is new?
How long will people let soehn get away wit putting him in the first team.
Actually, if I’m not mistaken, Janicki has been at fault in just about every one of the goals that DC has surrendered over the last 4 games or so (when he was in the match). Apparently USL2 is not necessarily the place to find an MLS-quality centerback
I don’t really expect a lot from DC; but last night’s match is still a bit misleading. As the match unfolded, they had every likelihood of getting a result; and a win was looking unlikely but not impossible. But after a season that was already stinking to high heaven, Greg Janicki chose this match to hammer the last few nails into his MLS career coffin.
The Crew played the weakest team in their group at home. And they fielded their best available team. I hope the Crew will be able to win its home games and get a decent result or two on the road but we’ll see when we get there.
I saw the the DCU game, and i think the score is not indicative of the reality. DC did very well, especially after traveling so much. The marathon goalie had some spectacular saves that gave marathon the chance to get the 2nd goal. Janicki sucked and he lost them the game. I think DCU was unlucky, and if they continue to play like that, and get rid of janicki they could really make some noise this year in CCL.
Yeah, Janicki’s MLS career is over for now. It wasn’t just last night; he’s been playing poorly for a while now (including getting stripped for a goal against Firpo in the first CL round). He has the soccer equivalent of the yips.
I don’t think we will know how good the crew will do until they face a mexican side. I think they probably have a chance, but you really need to see if they are able to get a result against the mexican sides first.
It was sad last night in Columbus. Crew probably had 80% possession. I don’t understand why PRI have been an MLS killer. Maybe just bad coaching and not adjusting your style of play. I even stopped chanting because after a while it was like beating a dead horse.
I wonder if Puerto Rico will change their style of play, just goes as proof that you can’t bunker the whole game and consistently expect results.
Made the trip down to Houston, I can’t wait!
Seeing Ely Allen make some piss poor passes in the first half made me look around to see whether Beckham was throwing a hissy fit, and then I remembered THE GALAXY let Allen go because he sucked so much. Keep making those trades DCU and you may wind up wishing you had Agoos and Osorio (I hear he’s a tactical genius).
The Crew were already hammering Puerto Rico. When it became apparent that PR wasn’t going to be a real threat on the offensive end, they pulled their right back (Zayner) and put in another forward (Lenhart) and played a 3-4-3 with 2 d-mids (O’rourke and Carroll) in front of Marshall and just hammered at PR. I think maybe 3 balls crossed midfield after the half and there’s no way anyone can withstand that kind of pounding from GBS, Moreno, Rogers, and Lenhart.
Is Frankie going to play again this year?
Might be a bit early, but I can see the Crew winning this thing. They’ve got a great team and utterly dominated last night.
I don’t care about our game with the sounder we can put our bench on that game.
I want to P0W’D Isidro Metapan, hope the Dynamo have a strong showing tonight.
I’m glad the Crew took the game serious, sometimes because it’s CL against a USL side some teams might not take it serious. With the exception of Frankie the Crew had its strong 11 out there.
It’d be nice not to see an all Mexico final
janicki was trash and cost DC that game. Also, DC didn’t convert on a couple nice chances.
I thought the Crew looked pretty darn good last night. Granted it was against a USL team, but no wonder they’re on top of the league right now.
@ Tim — I agree. He gifted ALL THREE goals to Marathon: one by a mis-trapping a ball at the 6, one by mis-marking his man on a flick-on, and one by mis-timing his tackle leading to a penalty. That’s a lot of misses. How do you come back from that? I don’t think you can.
Complete domination by the Crew. One of the most one-sided games I have ever attended.
He had worse than a night to forget. It was the night that ended his professional career.