CONCACAF Champions League: MLS Teams Continue Strong Runs

It took 50 matches played by MLS clubs and the USMNT before victory came to an American team playing in Mexico.  But it only took six days for the second U.S. victory. Following FC Dallas’ historic 1-0 win over Pumas UNAM last week, the Seattle Sounders took a cue from the Texans’ performance and upset Champions League title holders Monterrey 1-0 on Mexican soil in group stage play Tuesday evening.  In other matches in CONCACAF Champions League group play this week,  the Colorado Rapids surrendered a late goal to split points in a 1-1 draw with Real Espana in San Pedro Sula Tuesday evening.  On Wednesday, Salvadoran side Isidro Metapan look to be the surprise team of the tournament, dropping Santos Laguna 2-0, the same score by which Guatemalan team Comunicaciones defeated Herediano of Costa Rica.

Wednesday’s match between FC Dallas against Toronto FC at BMO field was postponed by lightning, with the two MLS sides matching up for a replay Thursday morning. FC Dallas took all three points in a 1-0 win.  Defender Jack Stewart, on loan to Dallas from NASL side NSC Minnesota, scored the game’s only goal with an early header. Also on Thursday, the LA Galaxy downed Alajuelense 2-0 while Monarcas Morelia beat up on CD Motagua 4-0 and 10-man Tauro FC held off Pumas UNAM for a scoreless draw.

Monterrey 0-1 Seattle Sounders

The Rayados of Monterrey are off to a mediocre start to their FMF campaign, having won three and lost three of their first six matches, but are undefeated in two matches at home. Also, the Rayados defeated the Sounders in both Champions League contests last year by an aggregate score of 5-2 on their way to winning the CL title. Monterrey hadn’t lost in its last 13 CL matches, while  Seattle coach Sigi Schmid played a weaker squad than normal as the Sounders were in their fourth match of six during an eighteen day period. Temperatures hovered over 100 degrees at gametime, and Monterrey had Humberto Suazo, the prolific Chilean international, back from injury; hardly a promising situation for Seattle.

But Seattle were able to go atop of Group A by getting the game’s only goal.  St. Louisan Pat Noonan took a pass from longtime Sounder Roger Levesque and delivered to Alvaro Fernandez.  The 25-year-old native of Uruguay split two Monterrey defenders and beat Monterrey goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco for the score.  Monterrey dominated in shots on goal, 9-1, and earned 8 corner kicks to Seattle’s solitary corner, but were unable to get the ball past Seattle keeper Terry Boss. Both clubs play away for their next CL matches in mid-September — Seattle in Costa Rica against Herediano while Monterrey travel to Guatemala to try to rebound against Comunicaciones.

Real Espana 1-1 Colorado Rapids

The Rapids won their first group stage match at home, 3-2, against Isidro Metapan, and were five minutes away from gaining a crucial three Champions League points on the road. But the Honduran club had a different ending in mind, and tied the score on an 86th minute goal by Uruguayan Julio Pablo Rodriguez. The Honduran side pressed for the game-winner, but the game ended drawn 1-1.

The Rapids’ regular goalkeeper, Matt Pickens, was left at home for the trip to San Pedro Sula, and was replaced by backup Steward Ceus.  The 24-year-old Haitian international has had little professional experience since coming out of the University of Albany in 2008, only featuring once in an Open Cup match for Colorado although he has played in 13 matches over the last two seasons on loan with USL-2 side Charlotte. Ceus had some rough moments, as did the Rapids’ backline, but also came up with some big saves, including a fine effort in extra time to save the point for the Rapids.

Former New England Revolution midfielder/defender Jeff Larentowicz gave the Rapids the lead at the end of the first half, beating Real Espana goalkeeper Kevin Hernandez from the edge of the 18 yard box. But Real Espana had two shots hit the Rapids’ crossbar, and another cleared out of the goalmouth on an evening  Real Espana put  10 shots on frame as opposed to the 2 shots from Colorado, and thus it’s fair to say the Rapids’ coach Gary Smith and company did well in getting the point on the road, even if they had all three in their grasp moments earlier.  The Rapids will host Santos Laguna in mid-September while Real Espana host Isidro Metapan.

Toronto FC 0-1 FC Dallas

FC Dallas lead Group A after two matches with six points gained on the road in the group stage. Wednesday’s matchup with Toronto FC  had to be postponed because of severe weather, and the match was replayed Thursday morning before a sparse crowd. Despite having German international Torsten Frings back in the lineup and outshooting Dallas 14-6, Toronto FC couldn’t overcome Jack Stewart’s goal at the end of the first half, assisted by Ugo Ihemelu. French midfielder Leandre Griffit made his Toronto FC debut, and had a late scoring opportunity go wide of the net.

FC Dallas have yet to allow a goal in their CONCACAF Champions League debut.  They have won all four matches so far by identical 1-0 scores.  With two road wins already in the bank in the Group Stage, Dallas should be favored to advance.

Goalscoring hero Stewart got the start Thursday morning because of illness to regular Andrew Jacobsen brought on by a peanut allergy after having a candy bar. Asked about Stewart after the match, FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman said, “Don’t know much about him, but I’ve got to say he’s pretty good in the air.” Dallas has the right to purchase loanee Stewart’s contract from NSC Minnesota after the season.

Despite the loss, Toronto FC hold the second spot behind Dallas in Group C, as Tauro and Pumas played to a scoreless draw Thursday evening.

LA Galaxy 2-0 Alajuelense

An LA Galaxy lineup featuring international stars Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Robbie Keane playing at home was too tall of an order for Costa Rica’s Alajuelense side to overcome Thursday evening.  Bruce Arena’s side now top Group A with two shutout wins.

Alajuelense did get off eleven shots in the match, but only forced LA goalkeeper Josh Saunders into three saves. The Galaxy’s first goal came courtesy of defender Omar Gonzalez, as he headed in the game-winner from a David Beckham corner kick in the 37th minute.  Chad Barrett, a second half substitute, tapped in the second goal as Beckham found Sean Franklin streaking down the right flank and Franklin crossed the ball across the goal. Robbie Keane, the Irish international famed for his time at Spurs, had one shot in his second match for the Galaxy. He scored in his debut against the San Jose Earthquakes. In their next Champions League match, the Galaxy travel to Mexico to play Morelia, who broke out of their doldrums Thursday with a commanding 4-0 win over CD Motagua, while Alajuelense will play struggling Motagua in Honduras in mid-September.

Other CONCACAF CL Results

The Toronto-Dallas match wasn’t the only fixture this week affected by weather. The match in Guatemala Tuesday between Comunicaciones and Herediano had to be postponed a day because of torrential rains. On Wednesday, the Guatemalans were able to down the Costa Rican side 2-0, on goals by teenager Marvin Ceballos and Bryan Ordonez.  Also on Wednesday, Christian Bautista and Paolo Suarez scored at home for a 2-0 win for Isidro Metapan over Santos Laguna.  Suarez is the older brother of Liverpool’s Luis Suarez.  Santos Laguna hasn’t shown its usual attacking form of late, and were probably still suffering the distraction of last Saturday’s gun violence outside their Estadio Corona home in their FMF match with Morelia.

After the first two games in the CL group stage, all four MLS teams lead their group and the other, Toronto FC, holds second place in its group. The next round of group stage matches occurs on September 13-15.