Finally someone gets what I am saying. It's not one flowing tournament for all teams, it's basically 3 rounds, with teams primarily from particular geographic areas coming in at different times. I am not hating on America here, I just think it lessens the competition to -- if we use a track metaphor -- put some of the teams down at the 5th hurdle, and tell them only to start when the other teams reach them from 50 yards back, and then pretend everyone ran the same race. You can tell yourself, they will probably win anyway, and it's true enough "on average," but what makes it a real contest and fair competition is they all basically ran the same race. I also feel like the way it is now structured it's like kind of "champions" but kind of not, depends where you're from. We dignify 4 winners from US plus a Canadian team who wins their tournament and yet winning Jamaica or T&T alone means nothing if you aren't top 4 CFU.
This new CCL format sure seems weird. I would not design it this way. I sure would not put all four MLS teams into the second stage automatically. Since I don't like it Can I not be hated too? I can see what CONCACAF is trying to do...I just think their goals are misguided. BTW ... one article I read whined about the timing for MLS teams. I disagree with that. No matter when you have it there is a downside and an upside. Whenever it is just go out and compete and stop making excuses.
Yes, they recognized that a big point is that MLS teams will be prepared better for the tournament. Really? They want to make love with MLS ..... MLS is owner of CONCACAF there, is not normal. CONCACAF must punish MLS, not other else. Increase number of competitive leagues and will have a better tournament. But all teams must begin from same phase, equal chances .... not because you are from MLS is need to change the format because you need chances to reach rhe final. Why not put MLS teams already in swmifinals or the final?
It's a trade off, we get advanced to the "spring" round but we still start playing knockouts in February in preseason. It sounds all well and good to be like "no excuses" but I am curious if MLS teams can even start spring training earlier than the others to get ready. I have heard people suggest the format might have been intended to make it run smoother with Copa Libertadores but the tournaments are 180 degrees out of sync and I don't think the same MX teams participate in both. So that sounds like bunk.
2016-17 Quarterfinals First Leg Tuesday, February 21, 2017 Saprissa (CRC) v. Pachuca (MEX) 8:00 pm Wednesday, February 22 NY Red Bulls (USA) v. Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) 7:00 pm Tigres UANL (MEX) v. Pumas UNAM (MEX) 9:00 pm Thursday, February 23 FC Dallas (USA) v. Arabe Unido (PAN) 7:00 pm Second Leg Tuesday, February 28 Pachuca (MEX) v. Saprissa (CRC) 9:00 pm Wednesday, March 1 Arabe Unido (PAN) v. FC Dallas (USA) 7:00 pm Pumas UNAM (MEX) v. Tigres UANL (MEX) 9:00 pm Thursday, March 2 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) v. NY Red Bulls (USA) 9:00 pm Look for TV coverage on the Univision channels. The semifinals start on March 14.
2016-17 Quarterfinals First result. First Leg Tuesday, February 21, 2017 Saprissa (CRC) 0-0 Pachuca (MEX) Wednesday, February 22 NY Red Bulls (USA) v. Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) 7:00 pm Tigres UANL (MEX) v. Pumas UNAM (MEX) 9:00 pm Thursday, February 23 FC Dallas (USA) v. Arabe Unido (PAN) 7:00 pm Second Leg Tuesday, February 28 Pachuca (MEX) v. Saprissa (CRC) 9:00 pm Wednesday, March 1 Arabe Unido (PAN) v. FC Dallas (USA) 7:00 pm Pumas UNAM (MEX) v. Tigres UANL (MEX) 9:00 pm Thursday, March 2 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) v. NY Red Bulls (USA) 9:00 pm Look for TV coverage on the Univision channels. The semifinals start on March 14.
2016-17 Quarterfinals Wednesday results. First Leg Tuesday, February 21, 2017 Saprissa (CRC) 0-0 Pachuca (MEX) Wednesday, February 22 NY Red Bulls (USA) 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) Tigres UANL (MEX) 1-1 Pumas UNAM (MEX) Thursday, February 23 FC Dallas (USA) v. Arabe Unido (PAN) 7:00 pm Second Leg Tuesday, February 28 Pachuca (MEX) v. Saprissa (CRC) 9:00 pm Wednesday, March 1 Arabe Unido (PAN) v. FC Dallas (USA) 7:00 pm Pumas UNAM (MEX) v. Tigres UANL (MEX) 9:00 pm Thursday, March 2 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) v. NY Red Bulls (USA) 9:00 pm Look for TV coverage on the Univision channels. The semifinals start on March 14.
2016-17 Quarterfinals First leg is complete. First Leg Tuesday, February 21, 2017 Saprissa (CRC) 0-0 Pachuca (MEX) Wednesday, February 22 NY Red Bulls (USA) 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) Tigres UANL (MEX) 1-1 Pumas UNAM (MEX) Thursday, February 23 FC Dallas (USA) 4-0 Arabe Unido (PAN) Second Leg Tuesday, February 28 Pachuca (MEX) v. Saprissa (CRC) 9:00 pm Wednesday, March 1 Arabe Unido (PAN) v. FC Dallas (USA) 7:00 pm Pumas UNAM (MEX) v. Tigres UANL (MEX) 9:00 pm Thursday, March 2 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) v. NY Red Bulls (USA) 9:00 pm Look for TV coverage on the Univision channels. The semifinals start on March 14.
2016-17 Quarterfinals First Leg Tuesday, February 21, 2017 Saprissa (CRC) 0-0 Pachuca (MEX) Wednesday, February 22 NY Red Bulls (USA) 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) Tigres UANL (MEX) 1-1 Pumas UNAM (MEX) Thursday, February 23 FC Dallas (USA) 4-0 Arabe Unido (PAN) Second Leg Tuesday, February 28 Pachuca (MEX) 4-0 Saprissa (CRC) Pachuca advances, 4-0, on aggregate. Wednesday, March 1 Arabe Unido (PAN) v. FC Dallas (USA) 7:00 pm Pumas UNAM (MEX) v. Tigres UANL (MEX) 9:00 pm Thursday, March 2 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) v. NY Red Bulls (USA) 9:00 pm Look for TV coverage on the Univision channels. The semifinals start on March 14.
2016-17 Quarterfinals First Leg Tuesday, February 21, 2017 Saprissa (CRC) 0-0 Pachuca (MEX) Wednesday, February 22 NY Red Bulls (USA) 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) Tigres UANL (MEX) 1-1 Pumas UNAM (MEX) Thursday, February 23 FC Dallas (USA) 4-0 Arabe Unido (PAN) Second Leg Tuesday, February 28 Pachuca (MEX) 4-0 Saprissa (CRC) Pachuca advances, 4-0, on aggregate. Wednesday, March 1 Arabe Unido (PAN) 2-1 FC Dallas (USA) Dallas advances, 5-2, on aggregate. Pumas UNAM (MEX) 0-3 Tigres UANL (MEX) Tigres advance, 4-1, on aggregate. Thursday, March 2 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) v. NY Red Bulls (USA) 9:00 pm Look for TV coverage on the Univision channels. The semifinals start on March 14.
2016-17 Quarterfinals First Leg Tuesday, February 21, 2017 Saprissa (CRC) 0-0 Pachuca (MEX) Wednesday, February 22 NY Red Bulls (USA) 1-1 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) Tigres UANL (MEX) 1-1 Pumas UNAM (MEX) Thursday, February 23 FC Dallas (USA) 4-0 Arabe Unido (PAN) Second Leg Tuesday, February 28 Pachuca (MEX) 4-0 Saprissa (CRC) Pachuca advances, 4-0, on aggregate. Wednesday, March 1 Arabe Unido (PAN) 2-1 FC Dallas (USA) Dallas advances, 5-2, on aggregate. Pumas UNAM (MEX) 0-3 Tigres UANL (MEX) Tigres advance, 4-1, on aggregate. Thursday, March 2 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) 2-0 NY Red Bulls (USA) Vancouver advances, 3-1, on aggregate. The semifinals start on March 14.
We have been asked this task...beating Pachuca at home, then wow that vuelta at Pachuca. Which was March of 2007, a decade ago in our footballing history.
2016-17 Semifinals First Leg Tuesday, March 14, 2017 Tigres UANL (MEX) v. Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) 9:00 pm Wednesday, March 15 FC Dallas (USA) v. Pachuca (MEX) 7:00 pm Second Leg Tuesday, April 4 Pachuca (MEX) v. FC Dallas (USA) 9:00 pm Wednesday, April 5 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) v. Tigres UANL (MEX) 9:00 pm The finals start on April 19.
Tough one. Root for an American MLS side and, unfortunately our die-hard rivals, FC Dallas, or the formerly arch intl rivals, the Tuzos of Pachuca?
I root for neither. As is the case much of the time in sports I'm rooting against more than for. In this one, mostly against FCD and only somewhat against Pachuca.
Correct. Once you witness FC Dallas grown men cuss little children in Dynamo gear, make threats to women and go on to push a female BBVA security staff member it will be very easy to never root for FC Dallas.
2016-17 Semifinals First Leg Tuesday, March 14, 2017 Tigres UANL (MEX) 2-0 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) Wednesday, March 15 FC Dallas (USA) v. Pachuca (MEX) 7:00 pm Second Leg Tuesday, April 4 Pachuca (MEX) v. FC Dallas (USA) 9:00 pm Wednesday, April 5 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) v. Tigres UANL (MEX) 9:00 pm The finals start on April 19.
2016-17 Semifinals First Leg Tuesday, March 14, 2017 Tigres UANL (MEX) 2-0 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) Wednesday, March 15 FC Dallas (USA) 2-1 Pachuca (MEX) Second Leg Tuesday, April 4 Pachuca (MEX) v. FC Dallas (USA) 9:00 pm Wednesday, April 5 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) v. Tigres UANL (MEX) 9:00 pm The finals start on April 19.
2016-17 Semifinals First Leg Tuesday, March 14, 2017 Tigres UANL (MEX) 2-0 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) Wednesday, March 15 FC Dallas (USA) 2-1 Pachuca (MEX) Second Leg Tuesday, April 4 Pachuca (MEX) v. FC Dallas (USA) 9:00 pm UDN Wednesday, April 5 Vancouver Whitecaps (CAN) v. Tigres UANL (MEX) 9:00 pm Galavision The finals start on April 19.