SuperLiga 2008

Superliga starts up in about a week. I found it to be full of exciting matches, some of the best games I've seen MLS teams play.

Group A
D.C. United (MLS)
Houston Dynamo (MLS)
CD Guadalajara (México)
Atlante (México)

Group B
Chivas USA (MLS)
New England Revolution (MLS)
Pachuca CF (México)
Santos Laguna (México)

Saturday, July 12
D.C. United vs. CD Guadalajara (RFK Stadium - Washington D.C.) 20:00
Houston Dynamo vs. Atlante (Robertson Stadium - Houston, TX) 22:00

Sunday, July 13
NE Revolution vs. Santos (Gillette Stadium - Foxborough, MA) 20:00
Chivas USA vs. Pachuca CF (Home Depot Center - Carson, CA) 22:00

Tuesday, July 15
D.C. United vs. Atlante (RFK Stadium - Washington D.C.) 20:00
Houston Dynamo vs. CD Guadalajara (Robertson Stadium - Houston, TX) 22:00

Wednesday, July 16
NE Revolution vs. Pachuca CF (Gillette Stadium - Foxborough, MA) 20:00
Chivas USA vs. Santos (Home Depot Center - Carson, CA) 22:00

Saturday, July 19
D.C. United vs. Houston Dynamo (RFK Stadium - Washington D.C.) 20:00
Atlante vs. CD Guadalajara (Location TBD) 22:00

Sunday, July 20
Chivas USA vs. NE Revolution (Venue TBD - Los Angeles, CA) 20:00
Santos vs. Pachuca CF (Location TBD) 22:00

Tuesday, July 29
Semifinal 1 (Location TBD)

Wednesday, July 30
Semifinal 2 (Location TBD)

Tuesday, August 5
Final (Location TBD)

 

I enjoyed the SuperLiga last season. It will be interesting to see if New England and United can carry their recent league form into the tournament. We should note their league position when the tournamnent begins and ends to see if their league play seems to be effected by being involved in the tournament also.

 

Well last night I thought DC deserved to win. I felt like they controlled the ball a lot more and created far better chances. I'm not a big fan of the way Guadalajara played. I almost yelled at my tv. As for Houston, wow they dismantled Atlante. They didn't look nearly as sharp when DeRo got red carded so I don't think that will bode well for them in their next game. They had some beautiful buildup play for all of their goals. I would be watching tonights matches if my dad and sister weren't hogging the tvs...... Anyway I believe the MLS is at least on par with the level of play in la primera division and they are doing it without all the money that the mexican league has. Happy day!!

 

2 wins for the MLS, 2 losses. In both losses, the MLS team lost by a single goal and did the following:

1. Missed a penalty (one post, one save)
2. Hit the woodwork at least twice (in the run of play)

The Mexican teams need to pick it up; luck only goes so far and they're in serious risk of being blown out of this tournament.

 

Are the Mexican clubs in their preseason?

 

Yeah I believe it is their preseason but I'm thinking it should be pretty close to their regular season. Anyway there is a $1,000,000 us dollar payoff for the winner so they should be trying to win it regardless.

 

Re: RE: SuperLiga 2008

Yes they are in their preseason, but their off-season is maybe 4 weeks (they take 2 breaks). My wife and I are traveling to Mexico and will be attending a regular season Chivas game in Guadalajara on Aug. 9.

 

RE: Re: RE: SuperLiga 2008

Well, DC United just lost to Atlante. 2-3

Houston and Guadalajara are getting underway.

 

RE: Re: RE: SuperLiga 2008

Did they have a rodeo on Houston's pitch prior to the match?

Adios, D.C.

 

RE: Re: RE: SuperLiga 2008

I don't know about the rodeo (heh i almost typed radio) but I can bet you anything that at the start of college football season the surface will be immaculate, albeit with those hideous gridiron lines.

Yeah DC is a goner. Happy trails to you.......

 

RE: Re: RE: SuperLiga 2008

Houston lose 1-0 as well. Not looking good for MLS now.

Houston looked like they had a goal but it wasn't given. The keeper appeared to make the save behind the line. The situation was similar to Healy and his "goal" against Middlesbrough. Unlucky.

 

RE: Re: RE: SuperLiga 2008

I headed down to the Carson tomorrow for the Chivas USA-Santos game. Do or die for both teams.

 

RE: Re: RE: SuperLiga 2008

While MLS may be losing matches, the clubs haven't looked bad in any of those losses. N.E. and Pachuca are entertaining right now, much like both matches last night, and Houston was a tough-luck loser.

I like this tourney, but these matches make me all the more excited for the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League. To me, Superliga seems superfluous after this year if the region wants the Champions League to be front and center, but I'll still enjoy it all the same.

 

others may have said it, but after watching some of the "super clasico" and the chivas usa/santos match going on right now...

let me be the first to say that Kljestan is going to Europe this winter. this kid's good.

 

I concur, timmyg, he's good and an MLS short-timer (I think FFCin..err, WhitesBhoy commented on his Europe-boundness earlier this season). He's looked very smooth throughout the Santos match tonight.

As of writing this, both MLS clubs have won, or are up, 1-0.

 

Sacha is super. I don't know what about him made me like him but I felt an inexplicable pull toward him while watching the US vs China match in SJ a couple years ago. He became my favorite player..... Well after seeing him quite a bit this season I'm a firm believer that he will definitely make it in europe. I love his vision and creativity. He's a joy to watch.

As for the matches I thought both teams had very strong showings. The Revs look pretty solid. The late penalty gave them a deserved win. The Goats USA looked sloppy at first and got very lucky that Santos didn't score on multiple occasions. They got it together though and showed very promising attacks. What can I possibly say about Sacha.... To me he almost transcends belief.

 

I thought Santos dominated the first half, but once Chivas brought on Razov, him and Kljestan really started to gel and took over control in the second half.

 

The Croatiian Connection: Sach Kljestan to Ante Razov, both of the same descent.

BTW: Santos got hosed on a couple of those calls in the second half.

 

Hip, hip hurrray for hosing the non-MLS teams!

 

How about screwing up that open goal opportunity? I seriously had a laugh at that one.