CONCACAF Champions League Preview

It’s a hot topic of debate amongst stateside footy fans as to why US clubs do not do well in CONCACAF or Super Liga competitions.  The first and most accurate answer is that Mexico is simply a higher quality league than MLS and the fledgling competition has some work to do to change that.

There are other factors, as well.  First, is the obvious scheduling difficulties inherent in trying to win a winter competition when you play in a summer league.  The lack of match fitness in the qualifying stages puts American clubs at a disadvantage.  Still, as MLS grows, the quality of the sides makes that less of an excuse every year.

For LA, a funny thing happened on the way to the group stage.

Then there is the case of last month’s LA Galaxy debacle.  Well past the point where match fitness was a concern and on the verge of qualifying for the group stage, they played an absolutely horrendous home leg against the pedestrian but determined Division II Puerto Rico Islanders, losing by an abysmal 4-1 tally.  As the Puerto Ricans are well coached defensively, they were quite content to advance with a 2-1 loss at home in the return leg, getting everyone and their grandmother behind the ball for the entire 90 minutes.

Much of that defeat can be blamed on two other talking points in this debate.  The first is that the Galaxy were looking past the lowly Caribbean club to more important domestic fixtures upcoming, which of course, is an utterly lame copout and no one’s fault but their own.  The second is that MLS clubs don’t place much emphasis on the competition, as it’s not as lucrative as the league matches, domestic cup and full summer plate of friendlies against touring Euro mega-clubs.

The commish wants his clubs to step it up

That’s as may be but money is not a valid excuse for failure once you’re on the pitch.  The richest players in Europe maneuver to be on clubs that are perennially involved in continental competitions, not so much for the money (or Man City would have a squad of 80, instead of the 40 it’s trying to sort out at the moment) but for the glory of winning.

While it’s understandable that the players are already taxed by a full and soon to be expanded schedule, if they have any pride or ambition beyond pure economics,they need to raise their voices and insist on time being made for this competition.  They already have a strong backer in their own league commissioner, Don Garber.

After all, with the resources available to them, it’s Major League Soccer that stands the best chance of breaking the Mexican stranglehold on the CONCACAF Champions League.

At any rate, here’s a look at how the draw has played out in this year’s tournament.

Group A

Deportivo Arabe Unido

Arabe Unido is a Panamanian club, based in Colon, a city at the northern end of the Canal. Only formed in 1990, as Atletico Argentina, the young squad is enjoying its second consecutive trip to the CL group stages.  In 1994, it was bought by a group of Arab businessmen, possibly stranded at the airport, who decided a soccer club in a busy port city on the isthmus between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean was a perfect investment.

The side plays in a comfortable 4,000 seat stadium and features a predominantly Panamanian roster, with five nationally capped players. The only imported players are the four Colombians in the squad, which is not so surprising if you know your regional history. At the turn of the twentieth century, before the intervention of empirical minded Americans (seeking to build and control the Panama Canal) influenced their bid for independence, Panama was a part of Colombia.

Last year DAU finished second in their group, to eventual champions Pachuca, and will this year be looking for revenge in the group stage, against another Mexican side, Cruz Azul, who humbled the Panamanians in the quarter-finals, 4-0 on aggregate.

Cruz Azul

The renowned Mexican side, which now plays in the Colonia Nochebuena section of the capital, has been around a little longer than their aggrieved Panamanian rivals. Founded in 1927, in the small town of Jasso, Hidalgo by the workers of the ‘Blue Cross’ Cement Company, los Cementeros have long since established themselves as one of the giants of the Primera Division de Mexico, winning eight top flight championships.

In its previous two appearances in the CL, the club has been frustrated, losing in the final each time to Mexican rivals Atlante and Pachuca. Cruz Azul can also claim the distinction of being the only Mexican, and, by extension, CONCACAF side to reach the finals of South America’s version of the Champions League, the Copa Libertadores, where they lost on penalties to the legendary Argentine squad, Boca Juniors.

The roster is almost entirely Mexican, with just three imported players, all Argentines, added to the mix. The club is captained by veteran international midfielder Gerrardo Torrado. “El Borrego” (transl. as The Sheep), so named for his fleecy locks, has featured 118 times for his country, contributing six goals. He is famous for his not very lamb like physical style. Willing to foul when necessary, Torrado’s rough and ready demeanor has permeated the play of the whole squad, making them very tough to beat and worthy of their longstanding nickname.

Real Salt Lake

As a long time fan of the European leagues and a budding MLS aficionado, I applaud the league’s respect for tradition in naming many of its clubs after well known clubs in both Europe and Mexico. Still, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to say Real Salt Lake with a straight face. Somehow, the conservative, strait laced Mormon and easygoing, festive Iberian cultures just don’t seem to blend in my mind. The Utah outfit is the defending MLS champion, however, currently sitting third overall in the upstart American league and second in the Western Conference to the Galaxy.

Captained by the dreadlocked US international, Kyle Beckerman, and featuring the speedy World Cup forward, Robbie Findley, the MLS holders have a more cosmopolitan roster than their Latino group opponents. With Argentine Fabio Espindola and Jamison Olave of Colombia the most notable, their roster is populated by players from nine countries and three continents, thus belying the conservative nature of their home base.

Toronto FC

It’s probably unpatriotic, though honest, for me to bring up the fact that the Reds had an easier route to the CL than the rest of their MLS counterparts. It’s a quirk of the whole MLS and USSF system, with its lack of promotion and relegation and leagues which are, in fact, continental rather than national. Regardless of their finish in MLS, or for Montreal and Vancouver in Division II, the three clubs play a mini tournament similar to the Tri Nations Rugby competition between South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, to determine a ‘Canadian’ entrant in the CL.

TFC, under new head coach, Preki, are back for their second go at an international competition. After struggling early in MLS, they have settled into their manager’s program and are pressuring the talent laden NY Red Bull for second place in the Eastern Conference. The roster, like all MLS sides, is a rainbow coalition but is centered around the offensive prowess of Canadian internationals Dwayne DeRosario and Julian deGuzman, the latter formerly of Deportivo de la Coruna. Martin Saric, the Argentine, controls the midfield and young Swiss netminder Stefan Frei is a burgeoning talent between the posts.

Toronto will be tested early, with their opening match pitting them against last year’s finalists, Cruz Azul.

Analysis: This is a very tough group in which to find yourself, very much the grupo de muerta.  Obviously, two time bridesmaids, Cruz Azul have to be considered favourites to win the group and go through.  Their partner should be one of the two MLS sides, who are both playing very well domestically, but the Panamanians have done well in this competition, themselves.  No one can afford to take any match lightly, if they have ambitions.

Group B

Columbus Crew

The Eastern Conference leading Crew, one year removed from their first MLS championship, are an aptly named club.  Their steady workmanlike approach has made them consistently competitive and garnered them a strong fan following in one of the league’s smaller markets.

The side are fronted by former league MVP Guillermo Ballos Schelotto, an Argentine striker whose play is as sweet as the frozen ice treat that subliminally springs to mind when you hear his name.  As you would expect, the defence is especially solid, featuring two US internationals, Chad Marshall and club captain, Frankie Hejduk.

Joe Public

Sporting perhaps the greatest name ever for a professional football side, the Trinidad and Tobago power are coming off the most successful domestic season in their history.  The Eastern Lions captured an unheard of domestic quadruple last year.

The club is owned by CONCACAF president Jack Warner, who founded it and the Trini professional league, after the country’s disappointing campaign, pursuing a berth in the 1998 World Cup. His hope was to provide a competitive atmosphere in which to develop young Trini talent.  Newly signed Stoke forward, Kenwyne Jones, is a product of Joe Public.

The team plays in the 6,000 seat, synthetically surfaced Marvin Lee Stadium, another innovation of Mr. Warner, who somehow felt that artificial turf would give his side real credibility.   The current side is almost entirely homegrown, except for Columbian keeper, Alejandro Figueroa, and Japanese (yes, I said Japanese) midfielder, Yo Hoshide.

Municipal

As a people, the Guatemalans aren’t noted for their stature.  yet CSD Municipal literally reeks of it.  The club has no less than 28 league titles under its belt and are the lone Guatemalan conquerors of CONCACAF, having won the 1974 Champions Cup.  The domestic league switched to the Apertura/Clausura format in 2002 and Municipal did not blink an eye, winning 13 of the 22 possible trophies.

The club is led by talisman Juan Carlos Plata, who after twenty years with the side is sitting one shy of his 300th club goal and is second on the national squad, with another 35.

Santos Laguna

In Mexico, the club is simply known as Santos, but do not share the legacy of their Brazilian namesakes.  Founded in 1982, the club made it into the Mexican Primera League thanks in large part to their purchase of the former club Angeles de Puebla.

While the club loves to attack, featuring one time Birmingham forward Christian Benitez, the side’s most famous player is former Mexico keeper Osvaldo Sanchez.  Stuck on 99 caps, the talented keeper likely missed out on South Africa due to his squads emphasis on pushing forward.

Analysis: The Crew have an excellent chance to move on from this group and should be severely disappointed if they don’t.  Santos is a quality side but their defensive lapses can be exploited.  Municipal will be a concern, especially in their 30,000 seat home stadium, but the two northern clubs should be able to exploit their superior size.  The Trini’s youthful energy served them well in their own league but against more seasoned professionals, they will struggle.

Group C

Marathon

Marathon is one half of the rivalry between the two biggest clubs in Honduras.  Playing their matches in the country’s second city, San Pedro Sula, before 40,000 supporters in the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, which they share with the national team, the club has been in existence since 1925.  Their decades long derby against Tegucicalpa’s Olimpico is known as the Super Clasico Nacional.  These clubs are the Man United and Chelsea or the Yankees and Red Sox, if you will, of the tiny Central American nation.

Not only do the clubs share a rivalry but each has a player named Milton Palacios.  Unfortunately the one who plays for Marathon is not related to Wilson and the rest of the Hermanos Palacios, who are looked upon as national treasures, and thus further contributes to his side’s second class status in the local pecking order.

Monterrey

El Rayados (transl. as the striped ones) appropriately enough are the derby rivals of  Tigres.  Monterrey are also the defending Mexican Apertura champions but will be sorely missing the services of Humberto Suazo.  The Mexican international has moved, on loan, to Spanish side Real Zaragoza.  The club does have three other capped players still in residence, though, most notably midfielder Luis Perez.

Owned by Mexico’s largest beverage maker FEMSA, the club will soon be moving into a just constructed 50,000 seat home patterned after the new Wembley.  Here’s hoping the pitch wasn’t one of the elements closely imitated.

Deportivo Saprissa

El Monstruo Morado, the Purple Monster, has lived up to its fearsome nickname by not only dominating the domestic league but also being the most successful non-Mexican club from CONCACAF.  Saprissa have won three CONCACAF Champions Cups, the predecessor to the CL, are one of only two federation sides to finish third in the FIFA Club World Cup competition and the only non-Mexican side to actually represent the region in that tournament.

The entire outfield roster for the side is of national origin, with only Argentine keeper, Yader Balladeres, not being local.  Defender Victor Cordero captains the side but it is the twelfth man that is the club’s most influential player.

Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, also the home of the national squad, is notorious for its intimidating fans.  While visiting players await the start of the match in their dressing room, the walls literally shake from the thunderous stamping of the vociferous crowd, as though the players were trapped underground at the epicenter of a massive earthquake..

Once out on the pitch, the pressure only increases.  It is a very rare visitor, who escapes San Jose with a result.

Seattle Sounders FC

As noted, not too long ago on this site, the Sounders have gone through some recent changes.  With the exit of former Gunner, Freddy Ljungberg, the squad has lost a great deal of experience and talent.  However, with the addition of Blaise n’Kufo, the imposing Swiss forward and Alvaro Fernandez, the youthful Uruguayan midfielder, they may have improved.

If Fernandez and the even younger Colombian Fredy Montero can gel and get the ball forward to n’Kufo, then the big man will have plenty of opportunities to feed his more lithe and elusive strike partner, Steve Zakuani.

If not, then veteran US keeper Kasey Keller will have a lot of work to do.

Analysis: This is another tough group, although not quite as loaded as Group A.  Saprissa and Monterrey have to be looked on as the favourites, based upon their pedigree.  However, both Marathon and Seattle have the personnel to do some damage.

Group D

FAS

CD FAS are the winningest club in El Salvadoran football.  Based in Santa Ana, at the 15,000 seat Estadio Oscar Quiteno, the Tigers have won 17 national titles and are the current Apertura holders.

Although captained by attacking midfielder, Christian Alvarez, and anchored in the back by Alfredo Pacheco, possessor of 72 international caps, it’s Honduran William Reyes who provides the firepower, having just hit the century mark in goals, after six seasons with the side.  Forward Alejandro Bentos fulfills the seemingly necessary requirement of all Latin American clubs to have an Argentine on their roster.

Olimpia

The first team in the already described Honduran Super Clasico Nacional.  The aforementioned hermano Palacios, Milton, is joined by his World Cup capped sibling, Johnny, on the 2010 Clausera holders and 23 time national champions.  As well as their domestic success, el Leones are also two time Champions Cup winners and have earned famous victories against Cruz Azul, in 1988 in Mexico’s holy ground, the Azteca, and against Boca juniors.  Olimpia have not adhered to the unwritten Argentine roster rule but have made amends by signing 3 Brazilians and an Uruguayan.

As a side note, I’d like to include an interesting tidbit on the origins of the side, to keep my British readers humble and give some inspiration to my fellow fans, here in America.  The club was formed in 1912 but did not begin playing football until 5 years later.  Olimpia was, at its beginning ,and in fact, continues to be a baseball club.  So, make of that what you will.

Puerto Rico Islanders

The Caribbean club is another side, like Toronto FC, that has benefitted from alternate routes into the CL.  Although they play in the USSF’s Division II, they are governed by the Puerto Rican Football Federation (FPF).  This allows them to participate in the Caribbean Football Union tournament, the winner of which is entered into the CL.

The club has been coached by Northern Irishman Colin Clarke since the 2007 campaign and his strict regimen has paid dividends with the typically easygoing Islanders.  The club has pulled some major upsets in the tournament.  Two years ago they fought all the way to the semis, where they fell on penalties to Cruz Azul.  Along the way, the beat Marathon and Costa Rican powerhouse, LD Alajuelense.  Last season, they upset top flight Toronto FC but couldn’t get out of the group stage.

This year has been the piece de resistance for the underdog Islanders.  As mentioned, way back when in the introduction, they went into the Home Depot Center, in Los Angeles, and stunned the MLS leading Galaxy 4-1.  Returning home, they held off the Landon Donovan led American side, losing 1-2 but moving into the group stage on aggregate, 5-3.

The club consists of a blend of Puerto Rican, American, African and Caribbean players but also features a Honduran and an Englishman.  While there is no standout player on the squad, Clarke has harnessed his team into a selfless unit that, as underdogs go, seems to regularly schedule its day.

Toluca

Los Diablos Rojos (the Red Devils) have been a force in the top flight of Mexican football for a half century.  Having been coached by two Argentine legends, Ricardo la Volpe and Jose Pekerman, the side has enjoyed its fair share of success.  Playing its home matches in La Bombanera, aka the 27,000 seat Estadio Nemesio Diez, one of the oldest grounds in the country, the club seems to like to collect trophies in threes.  A trio of league championships, Torneos Verano (summer tournaments) and Aperturas decorate its halls.

Now captained by Brazilian born, Mexican international, Sinha, the club qualified for this year’s CL by beginning a new collection and winning its first Bicentenario, the Mexican version of the Clausura.  Last year, the side bowed out of the CL in the semis against holders Pachuca.

Is this not motivation enough?

Analysis: This is perhaps the lightest group in the competition.  Toluca should have no problems going through, although they should pay attention to any incoming tweets from Los Angeles, when the Islanders appear in their day-planner.  The second spot is there for whoever wants it the most.  With its past history of performing in the clutch, you have to like Puerto Rico’s chances.

On Wednesday, the group stages kick off. This season, MLS clubs start on even footing with the Mexican sides.  Each league is represented by four clubs in the competition.  Last year, the tournament concluded with four Primera clubs establishing a monopoly in the semi-finals.

The holders, Pachuca, are not here this year but Cruz Azul, who have finished second two years running, must be on a mission to get that monkey off their back.  Were someone to twist my arm and insist I put a fiver on the eventual champions, they would be my pick.

If one or two American sides can push deep into the elimination rounds, though, it may set the stage for a changing of the guard. The talent is there to get the job done.  The American clubs just have to want it as much as the rest of CONCACAF does.