Sep 18, 2014; Kansas City, KS, USA; Sporting KC forward Dom Dwyer (14) kicks a shot on goal during the first half of the match against Deportivo Saprissa at Sporting Park. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
With the CONCACAF Champions League getting back into action, four of the five MLS teams in the continent’s top club tournament will be in action over the next three days. Given that most clubs are either two or three matches into group play, this week will go a long way into determining who makes it through to the next round.
Here is a full list of matches for this week, along with where you can find each match on Television:
Sporting Kansas City-Real Estreli: Tonight at 8pm EST on Fox Sports 1
Portland Timbers- Alpha United: Tonight at 10pm on Fox Sports 1
D.C. United- Tauro F.C.: Tomorrow at 8pm on Fox Sports 2
Pachua- Municipal: Tomorrow at 8pm on Univision Deportes
FAS – New York Red Bulls: Tomorrow at 10pm on Fox Soccer Plus
Herediano- Leon: Tomorrow at 10pm on Univision Deportes
To see how each team is doing in group play, check out CONCACAF’s really fancy standings page.
So here are three things that you need to know before action kicks off tonight:
Aug 20, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; D.C. United forward Eddie Johnson (7) celebrates with United forward David Ferbabdez (3) after scoring a goal against Waterhouse FC in the first half during a CONCACAF Champions League game at RFK Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
#1 Quarterfinal spots for some…
Now that the first few matches are complete in the CCL (With some teams like Waterhouse FC having finished all of their matches) some teams already have a clear map for the road to the quarter-finals. Of the four MLS teams in action this week, only D.C. United (2-0-0, 6 points) can qualify for the next round of the tournament by winning their match on Wednesday. The current MLS Eastern Conference leaders are ahead of Waterhouse F.C. (2-0-2, 6 points) right now based off of head-to-head results.
But Waterhouse have also played all four of their matches in the Champions League while United have yet to play Tauro, either home or away. With a draw or victory at RFK Stadium over the Panamanian powerhouse, United would secure their spot in the next round with a game at hand.
Montreal, despite not having a match this week, could also qualify for the quarter-finals if FAS were able to get a draw or defeat the New York Red Bulls. Montreal currently have a six point advantage over their Eastern Conference rivals in Group 3, after having beaten the Red Bulls last week at Red Bull arena 1-0.
Qualifying for the quarter-finals in CCL is never easy and MLS teams have in the past stumbled in the final rounds of the group stage (see: Houston Dynamo in the 2013-2014 edition). But it is likely over the next couple of weeks a handful of teams will make it through.
#2 Long bus rides for others
Aug 26, 2014; Harrison, NJ, USA; Referee John Pitti gives New York Red Bulls midfielder Tim Cahill (17) a yellow card during the second half of game against FAS at Red Bull Arena. New York Red Bulls defeat FAS 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
#2 Long bus rides home for others.
Let’s be real: no one likes the bus or plane ride home after a loss. It is dead quiet, no one is in a good mood, and there is a certain level of guilt that you have squandered an opportunity. Teams very rarely get opportunities for major tournament trophies and chances are this week a handful of teams will be eliminated from the CCL.
While six clubs have already been eliminated, this may be the week where an MLS squad gets the pink slip. The most obvious candidate is the New York Red Bulls, who as previously mentioned, will need to get three points against FAS to remain in the tournament. Although coach Mike Petke will be bringing a full side to Santa Ana, they will be playing in an extremely hostile environment.
One thing also to note is that Thierry Henry typically does not play on turf pitches and Estadio Oscar Quinteno, their home stadium, is a turf pitch. This will not be a cakewalk for the Red Bulls, even if they have the likes of Tim Cahill and Bradley Wright-Phillips (22 goals in 2014).
Sporting Kansas City should also be worried about their match tonight against Real Estreli. The defending MLS Champions need a solid victory over the Nicaraguan side to ensure that their next CCL match, on the road against Saprissa, is not a “must-win” match. Sporting had great difficulty with Real in their first match, only managing a draw.
Also, keep an eye out on Groups 6 and 7, where Liga MX sides Cruz Azul and Leon find themselves staring at elimination from the tournament. Considering poorly MLS sides have done in the past against Liga MX sides, having two of them eliminated so early in the tournament would only improve MLS’ chances at finally winning the CCL.
Sep 13, 2014; Commerce City, CO, USA; A Portland Timbers fan after game against the Colorado Rapids at Dicks Sporting Goods Park. The game ended in a tie 2-2. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports
#3 Who will play?
This question is always at the tip of every supporter’s tongue when talking about the CCL. It is a subject that brings up bitter feelings and larger questions as to what is more valuable: the CCL or the MLS regular season. Some teams will field virtually all of their starters, like Sporting Kansas City last week against Saprissa. Others will field experimental squads, like the New York Red Bulls who started a squad of largely backups and lost last week against Montreal.
Playoff position seems to be a critical point as to whether a club can afford to field a strong squad in the CCL. Teams like D.C. United and Sporting Kansas City are relatively secure in their playoff positions and thus can opt to bring in additional players to fortify qualification in CCL. On the other hand, a squad like the New York Red Bull are fighting for their playoff lives in MLS and thus might choose to rest their starters in preparation for the weekend and a vital match against the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Perhaps the club with the biggest decision to make are the Portland Timbers. With a slender two point advantage over the Vancouver Whitecaps for the fifth and final playoff spot in the West and a difficult road match coming up against Toronto F.C., one might expect Portland coach Caleb Porter to rest his starters for Alpha United on Wednesday. But with an opportunity to put a strong barrier between themselves (2-0-0, 6 points, +5 Goal Differential) and Olimpia (2-0-1, 6 points, +5 GD) in Group 5 in the CCL, Porter might opt to play a strong side at home.
It is an interesting conundrum that all five MLS sides will find themselves in as both the MLS regular season and CCL Group stages. Their coaches decisions will play a huge factor on how their teams perform on both stages.