[Eliezar]

Originally Posted by Dynamo_Forever

DC United made the semifinals in 2005, then Houston and DC United made it to the semifinals in 2007 & 2008 when it was the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

The 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League was the first edition of this format. Houston made it to the Quarterfinals, losing to the eventual winners Atlante. Columbus has currently qualified for the Quarterfinals in the 2009-10 League.

Since 2005, the champion of the competition also gained entry into the FIFA Club World Cup.

The 2001 champion gained entry to the CWC, but that CWC was cancelled and so the LA Galaxy didn't get to participate. 8(

[SteamPunkr]

wow, i didn't know the mls has done so well. judging by the announcer's of some of these matches, admitedly that's where i've gotten most of my recent knowledge of this tourny, you'd think the mls has always been the whipping boy.

[Eliezar]

Originally Posted by SteamPunkr

wow, i didn't know the mls has done so well. judging by the announcer's of some of these matches, admitedly that's where i've gotten most of my recent knowledge of this tourny, you'd think the mls has always been the whipping boy.

People overreact.

I know I'm biased, but in 2007 Houston was the best team in the CCL and were unlucky to get eliminated by Pachuca in extra time after drawing with them 4-4 in the home and away series.

Why do I say they were unlucky?

In Houston Moreno was in on the keeper with 2 minutes left in the game and no defender within 10 yards and just flubbed his shot. The Dynamo only win 2-0.

In Mexico the Dynamo are losing 2-3 (but up 4-3 on aggregate) when a Pachuca player gets bumped by a Dynamo player about 3 yards outside the 18 on the far right. The player falls landing just inside the 18 and Pachuca gets a PK. Well it wasn't a penalty in any stretch and it as the only contact was well outside the box and it wasn't even a foul really.

However, Pachuca is a good team and won the series.

DC should have two CCC titles, but they were unlucky to be beating Mexican powerhouse Necaxa 1-0 (not at home!) and then have both Lassiter and Moreno get injured. After both DC forwards had to leave the game injured Necaxa was suddenly able to turn the tide on the game as they could mostly all out attack with DC just having no counter attacking threat and DC lost 1-2.

DC United in the late 90s was as good as any other team in the Americas.

[WestSeattle]

In 2007, I thought Pachuca was the better team...albeit one of the reasons they were better is they could adapt to their elevation at home better. I will confess Houston were an impressive squad in 2007, better than they are this year I believe.

I think there is also some argument, that MLS quality has actually deteriorated, not improved, since the late 90's, for different reasons. Certainly, the Beckham Experiment book advanced that notion in its pages. There might be some validity to it.

Poor CCL, it just doens't produce top-notch matches like it should. Money (or lack of it) is probably the reason why.