Ever since its
inception, the levels of MLS game from its original and new squads has grown to
greater proportions, very well elevating its name in the international stages.
Major League Soccer
is becoming a much competed association as well a magnet for many well know international
superstars looking to revive their careers by doing it in American fields.
Along with the growth
and acceptance of a fan base once skeptic and doubtful of the Beautiful game
liking, now it has given it an all-around embrace.
Still a league that
has seen a parade of superstars of the likes of David Beckham, Thierry Henry,
Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba,
David Villa and many others.
Another plus for MLS
was in its early stages; this league was exporting a good array of American
players to European leagues more than its south of the border leagues.
With players of the
class and game displayed in our fields, the levels of many of MLS squads still considered
inferior, especially when it comes to show off their levels on international
play.
Very well
demonstrating how disappointing the results come out when many of the American
squad’s play abroad and cannot capitalize on their home field by netting
important and relaxed results before paying a visit to many hostile crowds in
other venues in their Confederation of play.
In this edition of
the CONCACHAMPIONS League, the scenario was in quarterfinals after the matchup
was with four MLS squad facing their south of the border nemesis in the
always-difficult squads of Mexico’s Liga MX.
In matchups between
start studded LA Galaxy and Santos Laguna, Seattle Sounders with Club America, considered
one of Mexico’s elite and opulent of clubs of Latin-America, DC United with
Queretaro and Real Salt Lake against last tournament champion UANL Tigres.
In the first match up
between the Galaxy alongside its start studded initial eleven that played in
both matches and never scored a single goal in the two game series, drawing at
zero goals in Stub Hub Center in the first leg and in Torreon, Mexico losing to
an embarrassing 4-0.
Not even with Steven
Gerrard, Ashley Cole and Nigel De Jong both newcomers and not adapted little
these two contributed to the losing cause, very well the likes of Steven
Gerrard, Robbie Keane and Gio Dos Santos all of them considered as missing in
action.
Embarrassing and
ridiculous the way the Angelinos played and going against a squad known to
exhibit a wonderful football in Santos and considered one of the elite of
squads in the Mexican League, possibly the Tinsel Town boys could offered a
better spectacle.
In the case of the
Seattle Sounders, this Pacific Northwest squad, in the past playing as a local
considered a hard competitor, playing against Mexican squads and netted
excellent results, playing club America was not a pretty sight neither.
With a draw at two
goals apiece in the first leg at Century Link, the Mexican version of the Eagles
of Club America were outstanding drawing important away goals just to seal the
deal with a 3-1 score over the Rave Greens despite their initial eleven tough stance.
For the capitol based
squad of DC United- playing against a rival not considered superior in the past
and now under new manager Victor Vucetich, who really has improved his club and
by doing the job at Corregidora Stadium with a 2-0 final score.
The return to RFK
simply was a draw with the DC United at one goal each and the White Rosters did
the feat by eliminating another American squad in an easy manner.
Finally the Real Salt
Lake squad didn’t had a walk in the park facing the Mexican league champion in
Tigres from the University Autonomous of Nuevo Leon, by starting the
hostilities in the so called Volcano back in Monterrey, Mexico.
Here the Real Salt
Lake Boys little they did to put on a show and succumb easily to the Tigers to
a 2-0 score and returning to Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah were a draw at
one was not enough for them to advance to the next rounds.
At the end, since
taking over from the disappeared CONCACAF Champions Cup, were only two American
squads have won this tournament in the LA Galaxy and the DC United.
Its new version in
the CONCACAF Champions League, Real Salt Lake and the Montreal Impact are the
only MLS squads with good performances and with best finish.
In the end, the so-called
elite squads of Major League Soccer should play against its confederation
nemesis with a more dynamic and no inhibitions type of football, one that can
really withstand the push from these clubs.
Very well, for its teams,
players and very well directives put more focus and seriousness to this type of
international event that at the end will be of greater benefit for the American
squads.
I hope that the next
edition of the CONCACHAMPIONS League, with new squad is involved in the next edition;
maybe we can witness a better performance and see all-American MLS based squads
in playing its final.
Wouldn’t that be awesome
of seeing a MLS based squad is dominating the CCL in a near future not performing
with such mediocre football, if a couple of these squads could qualified for semifinals,
maybe next time.
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