CONCACAF Champions Cup

DC 2-1 over Pachuca but lose on agg. 3-2
Houston 0-3 beatdown by Saprissa in Costa Rica

The MLS schedule is what it is and Mother Nature dictates it has to be that way. However, this competition is important and you would think the tie-wearing folks in MLS headquarters would work the schedule w/CONCACAF for the 2 teams playing, maybe 8-10 games into the MLS campaign.

 

(Apologies for not posting sooner - there was a NATS game as well, so getting out of DC was even more atrocious than normal)

The ref was awful in the first half; it wasn't until the 2nd half that he figured out that Pachuca was diving. He missed a Penalty call as well, which would have been a game changer. Thankfully the linesmen were neutrals (we counted and the linesmen called more fouls on Pachuca in the 1st half than the Ref - how often does that happen?)

I thought Moreno should have come out sooner - he's lost a step and is better as a "super sub." DC played better in the 2nd half, but, overall, Pachuca was the sharper team. Mid-season form will do that for you.

re: MLS. I don't expect MLS to be able to change the Cup schedule, but they can at least give the teams byes or early home games prior to their matchups.

 

I read today that the CL format will go into effect next fall with group stages. However, the semi-finals and finals won't be played until after the winter break, thus they will take place at the start of the MLS season. MLS clubs will be left with the same piss-poor scheduling situation as now. At least before the schedule is adopted for '09, hopefully MLS will know which clubs are going to be moving to the knock-out rounds and adjust their early season schedules accordingly.

 

In short the two teams that are playing in the finals deserve the honor. Saprissa was impressive and Pachuca finished better than DC did last night. Not a bad showing for the MLS overall.