Well you first have to make the playoffs right? So for American teams that make the playoffs you are right. I would say the easiest way is the Canadian Championship. Then again, using your standard (only counting playoffs), maybe the CFU championship is the easiest way to make the CCL. But, I agree if we keep it specifically to American MLS teams, then yes once you make the playoffs, winning the MLS cup is the easiest way into the CCL. Edit: Technically in the Open cup, you do not have to win a single game, if you advance on PKs every single game.
You're playing MLS teams in the MLS Cup playoffs, too, though. Not second and third division teams. (Obviously, MLS teams end up playing MLS teams in the USOC as well, but I doubt anyone has run the gantlet of nothing but MLS teams (I don't think it's possible, first off) to win the Open Cup.) For a lower division team, the USOC or the Canadian Championships (or Caribbean ones) are the only route to the CCL. But then we're left with the idea of, "Who the hell really cares about the CONCACAF Champions League?" So what? It's not UEFA. It's just not. It's Wednesday Night In Veracruz or some such crap. For a lower-division team to think about glory in the CCL is like a high school kid thinking Kate Upton's not going to just go to the prom with him, but is actually going to date him.
MLS teams do not play other MLS teams all the way through the Open Cup but they mostly do if they make it to the final. DC United faced four consecutive MLS teams last year to win the USOC. And they won all four games outright.
And that was an outlier and you know it. And only in the last two years have MLS teams had to play as many as five games. In 2013, DC beat Richmond (in PKs), then Philadelphia, New England, Chicago and Salt Lake. In 2012, Kansas City beat Orlando, Colorado, Dayton, Philadelphia and Seattle. In 2011, Seattle beat Kitsap, Los Angeles, Dallas and Chicago. In 2010, Seattle beat Portland (then in D2), Los Angeles, Chivas and Columbus. In 2009, Seattle beat Portland (then in D2), Kansas City, Houston and DC United. In 2008, DC United beat Rochester, Chicago, New England and Charleston. In 2007, New England beat Rochester, Harrisburg, Carolina and Dallas. In 2006, Chicago beat Kansas City, New England, DC United and Los Angeles, BUT never had to leave home to do so (and Jaqua was offside in the final). In 2005, Los Angeles beat Chivas, San Jose, Minnesota and Dallas. In 2004, Kansas City beat Atlanta, Dallas, San Jose and Chicago. My point was this: the MLS Cup playoffs are a much harder road than the Open Cup. You're playing better competition in the MLS Cup playoffs. You're not only playing MLS teams, they've earned the right to be in that tournament, whereas the USOC is an everybody-into-the-pool situation.
I didn't actually know. I only looked up 2013 yesterday. My recollection was mostly MLS teams in the last few rounds which increased the odds of it happening. I'll admit 4 in a row was unusual. Still, often MLS teams are playing three straight against MLS opponents. I'll still contend that the main point is at least arguable. However, it is less so with the MLS Cup loser no longer automatically qualifying. I still don't think that it is a lot easier for MLS teams to qualify from the USOC.
Ok the first Cup participation for NASL this year starts tomorrow. http://www.canadasoccer.com/2014-am...dule-announced-p155637&t=championship_article I do not have a clue at what time this game will happen. 2014 Amway Canadian Championship schedule 23 April 2014 Preliminary round - first leg; Ottawa Fury FC v FC Edmonton 30 April 2014 Preliminary round - second leg; FC Edmonton v Ottawa Fury FC 730 Ottowa time I guess.
Game tomorrow is at 7:30pm eastern time and 4:30 Pacific time, streamed live at : canadasoccer.com/championship Go Eddies!
Why do they not just have a 5 team group? its only 6 more total games for the entire field. Not really a fan of the Canadian Cup, it makes the two NASL sides have a one off series to eliminate one and keep the other while the 3 MLS sides don't have to do shit. All to save 6 total fixtures in Canada's signature club championship?
What kind of a group are you suggesting? Right now there are 8 games total. How are you getting 14 total games? A five team group would be either 20 games if you play every opponent home-and-away or 10 games if you just play one leg each. BTW, either of those would probably have a high percentage of meaningless games since you are only picking the group winner.
They haven't done that since Edmonton joined to make four teams. 2014 - 5 teams, knock-out, 8 total games 2011-2013 - 4 teams, knock-out, 6 total games 2008-2010 - 3 teams, group, 6 total games Before that I believe the Cup was awarded based on the results of league games between the teams. I can't see them jumping up to a lot more games any time soon. The 2015 tournament has been announced to be held in June and July. That surely means the current format will continue.
Edmonton, Ottawa draw in 1st leg of Amway http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/edmonton-ottawa-play-to-scoreless-draw-in-amway/ Good start to the Edmonton/Ottawa rivalry, should be another physical game nest Wednesday.
Ottawa Fury FC vs FC Edmonton 2nd leg tonight will be streamed online at : www.canadasoccer.com and www.breakfasttelevision.ca 6:30pm Pacific /9:30pm Eastern away goals rule in effect, scoreless draw will mean game goes to PK's, goals scored draw Ottawa advances, Edmonton win and they advance to play the MLS's Montreal Impact in the semi-finals. American Football lines have been painted over for today's game, woo hoo!
Edmonton 3 ottawa 1. 17 year old Hanson boakai showed everyone why he's the best young talent in canada.
A side note, but, from the sportsnet.ca article: "Call it the best-case scenario for the Ottawa Fury FC. The young franchise played to a 0-0 draw Wednesday night against FC Edmonton at Keith Harris Stadium in the first leg of the Amway Canadian Championship. Considering this was just the third game in franchise history for the Fury, head coach Marc Dos Santos was pleased with the draw. “This is four times 45 minutes and now we’re at halftime of the game,” said Dos Santos of the series. “If you asked me what would be the best score after leg one I would tell you I want to win 5-0. But the reality is, if you do tie, at least tie 0-0 at home.”" this is why i don't like the away-goals tiebreaker for cup playoffs. only in soccer do you see teams playing for a 0-0 draw AT HOME in playoffs. i hope this won't start happening in MLS playoffs now that they have adopted the away-goals tiebreaker. does anyone know if the new NASL playoffs use the away-goals tiebreaker? i hope not, i'd much rather they just use the shootout. yes, it's a crapshoot, but at least then you get to see the ball go in the net...
Fc edmonton 2 montreal impact 1 Hanson Boakai is the best 17 year old soccer player in both the u.s and canada. There, I said it.
It feels so good to beat an MLS opponent, Boakai was phenominal on the pitch tonight! Great game! Nonno’s 90th-minute goal gives FC Edmonton the win over Montreal Impact http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/05/...ives-fc-edmonton-the-win-over-montreal-impact Montreal’s Jack McInerney made up for an earlier missed chance when he headed in a goal in the 55th minute to give Montreal a 1-0 lead. Edmonton responded just seven minutes later after a brilliant individual effort from 17-year-old Hanson Boakai, clearly the best player in the game. “A 17-year-old, for long periods of the game, was a joy to watch, no matter what team he was playing for,” said Miller. “We’re very proud to have him this year. He’s something different in this country.” The young midfielder-turned-forward weaved his way through the Montreal box. He then made a quick flick to Tomi Ameobi behind the Montreal defence. Ameobi made no mistake, burying the ball into the right side of the net past Montreal keeper Evan Bush.
No. He's from Edmonton. Last two games he sliced ottawa and montreal apart. I don't expect to keep him past this year. He went for a trail in Germany in this off season, and impressed.
The U.S. Open Cup 3rd round pairings are out: http://thecup.us/2014-us-open-cup-r...-as-teams-set-to-battle-for-matches-with-mls/ Here are the match-ups for NASL teams on May 28: Brooklyn Italians SC (NPSL) / Jersey Express (PDL) winner at New York Cosmos (NASL) Belson Stadium (St. John’s Univ.); Queens, NY – 7:30 p.m. ET Carolina Dynamo (PDL) / Charlotte Eagles (USL PRO) winner at Carolina RailHawks (NASL) WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, NC – 7:30 p.m. ET Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Wilmington Hammerheads (USL PRO) Legion Stadium; Wilmington, NC – 7:30 p.m. ET OR Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL) at Chattanooga FC (NPSL) Finley Stadium; Chattanooga, TN – 7:30 p.m. ET Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Orlando City (USL PRO) ESPN Wide World of Sports; Kissimmee, FL – 7:30 p.m. ET OR Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) at Ocala Stampede (PDL) Trinity Catholic High School; Ocala, FL – 7 p.m. ET Red Force (USASA) / Laredo Heat (PDL) winner at Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) Lockhart Stadium; Fort Lauderdale, FL – 7:45 p.m. ET Dayton Dutch Lions (USL PRO) / Schwaben AC (USASA) winner at Indy Eleven (NASL) Carroll Stadium; Indianapolis, IN – 7:30 p.m. ET NTX Rayados (USASA) / Austin Aztex (PDL) winner at San Antonio Scorpions (NASL) Toyota Field; San Antonio, TX – 8:30 p.m. ET Minnesota United FC (NASL) at Des Moines Menace (USASA) Valley Stadium; West Des Moines, IA – 8:30 p.m. ET OR Real Colorado Foxes (PDL) at Minnesota United FC (NASL) National Sports Center; Blaine, MN – 8 p.m. ET