ConCaCaf CL thread

RE: Saprissa? Whazzat!

Comprehensive win by Houston over the Panamanian team last night. If they can get a result against Pachuca at home, they should advance.

 

RE: CCL: Crew at Cruz Azul

DYNAMO or GALAXY v. FIRE, that's the final I am hoping for.

 

That would be nice for the MLS but you will have to wait at least another year since neither the Galaxy nor the Fire are in this years Concacaf Champions League.

Houston on the other hand is in this years tournament and they rolled over Araba Unido last night. Unido had no answer for Stuart Holden once he entered the match in the second half.

 

Silly me....

Get yer game, StuHold!

 

Tough game for the Crew last night. The Crew weren't terrible (though Rogers' crossing explains why he's not in Europe), but Cruz Azul did a better job passing the ball and their keeper had a great game.

 

The best summary of the Cruz Azul-Crew match I can come up with is that Cruz Azul finished their chances and Columbus did not. Cruz Azul was simply better in the final third although it must be said that Schelloto was a bit unlucky not to have scored at least one from set pieces.

Andy, you are dead on about Rogers crossing. How someone can look so dangerous and so inept in the same match is beyond me.

 

It was a physical match too. The tensions were high. I like the fire in O'Rourke.

 

Crew host Toluca tonight in the quarters. Hopefully, they can make it respectable despite missing GBS, Marshall and Heydude, and being in preseason form vs a mid-season Mexican squad.

 

Well so far the Crew are quite obviously in preseason form. They look comfortable passing the ball but no real venom in their attacks. The communication and off the ball work just isn't there yet. Once the Toluca players start running at people on the wings I get scared.

 

Lenhart had two very fine finishes.

 

i wish a major media outlet cared enough to at least post a match recap. :roll:

 

I watched the first half, saw the Crew 0-2 down and deleted it from my DVR. I later read that they'd tied it up but still, I would consider a 2-0 or 3-1 victory by the crew to make it an even tie heading to Mexico for the 2nd leg. I don't give the Crew ANY change to actually BEAT Taluca away.

 

Dispatch'sShawn Mitchell is one of the best soccer writers in the MLS home-media.

His short recap is here

There's a formula for playing Mexican teams, after all. Let's note they ARENT playing the next tie in Azteca, and the Crew already solved Saprissa. Which no one else seemed able to do.
Still, I dont expect a win.
-but-
We're seeing WHY the Crew kept Lenhart and let Moreno go. If Stevie improves as much this season as he did last, we will finally have a gonzo whiteboy US striker.

Reminder: Away goals count as tie-breaker.
Whoever wins the return game, wins
-Or-
If tied 1:1 Toluca Wins
If tied 2:2 then OT
If tied 3:3 {not bloody likely} Crew wins

 

Mehican tv hilites
Youtube

That 'Crewzer' at end of clip is Bachelor Contestant Emily

 

I wonder if this league/tournament even generates enough revenue to cover the travel costs involved.

 

hell no. Crew FO didnt help. They have no idea how to market it.

 

this sorta reminded me of our first game against shaktar. mid-season in form team gets an early goal against a rusty team. but then the fresh-er legs prevail in the second half.

 

timmyg. hmmm...I actually thought Shakhtar lost some steam at the end of that game.

 

Thanks, fog. I'll refer to this site for the 2nd leg.

 

I know anywhere in Mexico is a tough place to play but I thought Columbus was the better team for much of the night and that was without Schelotto, Hejduk, Marshall and Zayner. Schelotto and Hejduk will be back and if Marshall is available then I would give Columbus at least a punchers chance in the away leg.