Well, at least one team got through. Yes, the preliminaries of the CONCACAF Champions League are over and only one of the three MLS teams made it to the group stage. It was a much better showing then last year's horrid showing for MLS teams. Of course the three teams just had to show up to improve upon last year's preliminary round performance. D.C. United barely made it passed Firpo on penalty kicks, Toronto just couldn't find the net in their second leg, and New York showed why they are currently at the bottom of the league after losing at home to W. Connection.
I didn't see any of the matches, because I was away with no TV or internet. However, it is clear that all MLS teams struggled, even D.C. United. However it is clear that United is the better of the three, and deep enough to consider them as dark horses for a Champion's League run. Toronto should be embarrassed that they could not beat the Puerto Rico Islanders, an inferior USL side. Yes, the Islanders had a dream run last year, but I seriously doubt they will repeat that venture. The group is just way The Red Bulls should be even more embarrassed that they actually got a decent result on the road and gave up a lead to lose at home. All in all, it was not a complete embarrassment of MLS sides. Ok, maybe it was. However, it was no where near last year's preliminary rounds. For the record, no MLS team has won a match in the preliminary round yet in 90 minutes. Fairly sad statistic for the assumed best league in America.
Now comes the dreaded group stage. D.C. United by far have the easiest trek of the MLS teams to knockout stage. They are much better then last year, but that in know means it is a walk in the park for D.C. United. Both Toluca will be a stiff test, but San Francisco crashed out last year. C.D. Marathon should be an even match, and the one team I think D.C. can actually get results against. It is a manageable path for D.C., and they will be eager to improve upon the disastrous performance last year.
Columbus enter the clear group of death, as far as MLS teams are concerned. Saprissa, Cruz Azul will all be very tough tests. I'm sure Columbus and their fans will be dreading the matches in Mexico City and Saprissa Stadium. We all saw how the U.S. went paws up against Costa Rica earlier this summer. It will be a tough fight for Columbus, and the bigger question may be how seriously Columbus will take this tournament. Houston and D.C. will, but will Columbus punt it in favor of focusing more on their regular season. It is hard to tell, but considering where this tournament falls it is easy to see why a team may just decide to play scrubs. If they go all out, I still don't think they are good enough to make it to the knockout stages. Cruz Azul and Saprissa are just too good and play in very hostile areas.
Houston face a tough group with Pachuca, Isidro Metapan, and Arabe Unido. We all know Pachuca is good, but the rest of the teams remain a mystery. I don't know enough about the rest of the teams to say if Houston have a chance of getting to the knockout stages. They got there last year and have the depth to go far this year. Let me say that I think Houston will go through, and they most likely finish behind Pachuca. Houston showed last year they could do it. Even if last year, they had their final and decisive group match moved due to a hurricane that ravaged the Texas coastline.
What would be considered a success for MLS? In my view, at least one team has to make it to the knockout stages and the rest have to have respectable showings. Houston, D.C., and Columbus are all having good seasons this year, unlike last year, where D.C. United was in a downward spiral. The MLS schedule is still packed for the MLS sides in the tournament. D.C. United, for example, will be playing 10 matches in 31 days, which is stunning when you consider the lack of depth even the deepest sides in MLS. It is still clear that MLS needs to better address the issues facing scheduling of their teams in this tournament. Either that or increase the salary cap to bring in better players and add more the depth. I think that as the league grows, things will improve. Until then, let's just hope for the best and expect the worse.
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