Five Observations from the CONCACAF Champions League

Four wins and one draw. Normally at this sort of stat line would make one think that the entire CONCACAF Champions League was resolved and that the final eight was determined. While three teams did qualify for the quarter-finals for the continent’s biggest club tournament (DC United, Montreal Impact, and Pachuca,) more questions were raised than answered.

Perhaps one of the more interesting trends during the week was the attention that each match drew. Where even the most hardcore supporters wouldbe hard-pressed to know the results of a CCL match two or three years ago now each match is studied and watched carefully. It is a sign that this competition, still in its infancy, is gaining some traction within the region.

So without further delay, here are five observations from this week’s action:

1.) Costa Rican football is still kicking grass.

For those that thought that Costa Rica was just a one trick pony at the World Cup, you are sorely mistaken. After making a deep run in Brazil and winning the Copa Centroamericana earlier this month, the nation’s top club teams have been dominating CCL play.

Already one team from the Primera division, Herediano, have qualified for the next round of the tournament. The Rojamarillos shocked Liga MX side Leon on Wednesday night 2-1. Leon had been considered one of the favorites of the tournament, winning 2014 Clausura in Liga MX and boasting a side with the likes of forward Mauro Boselli and midfielder Luis Montes.

Costa Rica’s success goes beyond Herediano. Alajuelense (1-2-0, 5 points) currently has a one point advantage over Cruz Azul (1-1-1, 4 points) in Group 6. The Hedgehogs will host the defending CCL Champions in October which should heavily favor the Costa Rican. Even Saprissa (1-1-1, 4 points) can still advance in Group 2, although they will need to overturn a four goal difference when they host Sporting Kansas City (2-1-0, 7 points).

The time might be right for a Costa Rican side to win this trophy. Although the Primera Division has done well in previous tournaments (Saprissa is a three-time winner of the Champions Cup,) they much like MLS, have struggled against Liga MX. A quality tournament from all three of their representatives may mean additional spots in the CCL and more opportunities for their players abroad.

2.) The Caribbean clubs are in dire straits.

While North and Central America have done quite well in this year’s tournament, the Caribbean’s results have left a lot to be desired. With DC United’s victory over Tauro FC on Wednesday, Waterhouse FC  of Jamaica was eliminated from the tournament.

The numbers are rather alarming. Combined, the three representatives of the Caribbean Football Union (Waterhouse FC, Alpha United, and Puerto Rico Bayamon) had just two wins,  zero draws, ten losses and a goal differential of -37. The CFU’s record was only saved by Waterhouse’s two wins over Tauro FC.

These are very interesting times for the CFU. With CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb creating a task force at looking at creating a unified CFU club league, it is apparent that CONCACAF wants to improve the quality of play in the region. The situation is quite dire; the CFU Club Championship was abandoned amid scandal and of course the scandal of former CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb still looms over the region.

3.) Liga MX should be slightly worried.

Now before this turns into a “Liga MX vs MLS” was, let’s make one thing clear: Liga MX is still the top league in CONCACAF. Until teams from MLS and the rest of the region beat Liga MX sides consistently, this will remain the case. No other league outside of Mexico have won the CCL in its current state and only one non-Mexican club has appeared in the finals (Real Salt Lake in 2011). This not an opinion, it is a stated fact.

That being said, the Liga MX sides are very vulnerable this year. As previously mentioned, Leon has already been eliminated from the competition and Cruz Azul will need to put in a strong effort against Alajuelense to qualify for the next round. Club America (2-1-0, 7 points) should qualify next month when they face Comunicaciones (2-1-0, 7 points) at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, but even that result is not necessarily guaranteed.

With only Pachuca confirmed for the next round, it is clear that Liga MX is having a difficult time this season. When compared to 2013-2014, which saw three of the four Liga MX sides make it to the semi-finals, it is looking like it is a down year for Mexico.

It might be a bit soon to declare a new dominant league in CONCACAF, but for the first time in CCL history the title might reside outside of Mexico.

4.) The New York Red Bulls have a real problem on their hands.

0-0 might not be a bad score, but it certainly is when it is an elimination match. Despite all of their talk of how important it is to be playing in the CONCACAF Champions League and their desire to win trophies, the New York Red Bulls laid an egg during group play and now find themselves out of the competition.

To say that the club did poorly during CCL play would be an understatement. Two lackluster performances against FAS and loss against the Montreal Impact have sealed their fate and forced them out of the tournament with a match to play.

There is a simple lesson that many MLS supporters wish that their teams would have learned by this point: do not field reserve sides in CCL matches. While it is possible to rest some starters, managers need to be careful with what players they choose not to play. Without the likes of defender Jamison Olave midfielder Tim Cahill, forwards Thierry Henry and Bradley Wright-Phillips, the Red Bulls struggled to have any sort of chemistry or scoring opportunities.

When you look at the more successful squads CCL play, teams use a mixed lineup of veterans and reserves. Aside from midfielders Peguy Luyindula, Dax McCarty, and Loyd Sam, the majority of the starting eleven were reserve players.

The Red Bulls elimination this week further cements what has already been a frustrating season for their supports. Sitting in just fourth place in the Eastern Conference in MLS, the club has under-performed this season. With Henry likely to move on after the season and the introduction of New York City FC to the league in 2015, things are not looking up for the Red Bulls.

Although there is plenty of time to make a run at the MLS Cup, time has run out for them in the CCL.

5.) Yet the rest of MLS showed that this might be their year.

While New York was eliminated this week, overall MLS has had a showing thus far in the CCL. With both DC United and Montreal advancing, and Sporting Kansas City and Portland likely to join them, it looks like the league will have their highest number of teams ever in the knockout stage.

Despite the group stage almost being over, there is still much to play for. Securing high seeds in the next round is critical for any side to advance in the knockout round. That in turn will require sides to secure as many points as possible in the Group Stage to avoid the likes of Pachuca in the first round.

That being said, it is a huge achievement for MLS to potentially field our sides in the knockout stage. But the next step will be advancing through the tournament which should prove just as challenging as years past.