History of MLS in the CONCACAF Champions Cup

loved the review. i didn't know Puntarenas beat Alajualense 5-0 aggregate on the way to the Central American championship. sounds formidable. MLS needs some positive results to reestablish ourselves as one of the regional powers, but because we're out of form, it's still a crapshoot IMHO. the further we can go, the more inform they'll be, and the better results should follow.

as for the history, it's pretty amazing what Morelia did in back-to-back years to Kansas City and Columbus in '02 and '03. a six-spot on both in Mexico. ouch. i guess it's against an inform Mexican side where being out of shape really comes to haunt.

 

Maybe, but there was a bit more to it in one case.

The KC@Morelia game, featured I believe Honduran refs that magicly didn't show up for the game. Fortunately there were 4 Mexican top flight referees that just happened to be found in the front row to replace the lost Honduran wanderers. What were the odds? KC was called for 2 pks and 2 reds. Nick Garcia's was a pk and a red in the 3rd minute or some crap. Even the home announcers had some questions en Espanol.

KC has played two games in Mexico and has been called for 3 reds, 3 or 4 pks I forget, and numerous cards. This from a team that routinely wins or is among the leaders for the Snickers Fair Play award (0 based on cards) . Probably just coincidence.


-WC

 

Are you serious about the refs thing?

 

Well, it is, and isn't, to a degree.

MLS teams are more apt to pick up cards, simply being the away team and American. Both of those are contributing factors. Another, possibly more damning, contributing factor is that MLS refs seem to be actually terrified to show a card for dissent to MLS players, letting them encircle them and jaw and bitch and moan at them or appropriately punish violent play with an ejection.

Sadly, this non-enforcement spills over to CONCACAF club games as well as to National Team games, which leads to card accumulation suspensions and ejections and ultimately hinders a team's ability to compete.

 

I second this. Comparing an MLS game to some other games I watch, MLS defenders tend to frequently do "professional fouls" and they never get cards for them.

 

Actually, he's misremembering. It was the Copa MercoNorte game at Santos Laguna in 2001. The Trinidad refs didn't show up and local refs were substituted, and the rest happened as recalled. 2 red cards and 2 penalties.

If I recall, the Morelia game was when the Wizards got food sickness in their hotel the night before the game.

 

Wow... you're so clean and articulate.

And correct, too. Although if MLS truly cracked down on dissent, DC United would be the first team in soccer history to play every game at least one man down.

 

WoW DCU only missed 3 years since the birth of the team - 2003, 2004, 2006.

Andy they are in again for 2007.

Go DC!

 

One of my personal all-time favorite photos was in 2003 after a Ronald Cerritos goal was called back, I have both Etcheverry and Stoichkov absolutely spitting invectives into the face of the hapless Ricardo Valenzuela.

 

And that is why i'd be worried about Houston being:

1) the only team with the main ref from the same country on BOTH legs.
2) the only team with the main ref being from Mexico on BOTH legs.

anyone else worried?
http://www.concacaf.com/view_article.asp?id=3722

 

No. These are both FIFA referees with very long and proven track records.

Only folks who fall for shallow conspiracy theories would be paranoid. And those that follow deeper conspiracy theories would probably think it favors Houston given the much longer and nastier on-field rivalry and hatred between Costa Rica and Mexico.

 

Ok that makes sense. I just thought given the corruption CONCACAF has been accused of having a ref from the same country on both legs would make it easier for corruption.

Which rivalry is stronger at this point?

The hatred for the ticos or for the gringos?

 

Well I think Houston fans might disagree.

 

I can't recall any Houston games that either of them has called.

And just to clarify, I have to say I misread the one name. Archundia is one of the best refs in the region, but I am less familiar with Arredondo's work.

 

I think she is refering to todays game.

 

Has it already been played? I haven't been near a TV today. Were there controversial calls against Houston?

 

[result]Yes.[/result]

 

[result]To clarify, there was both a controversial PK that got saved and a conhtroversial sending off that indirectly but fairly certainly influenced the eventual outcome. I only got home in time for the latter, but I can attest it was pretty much crap. Also, a Houston assistant coach got sent off.[/result]

 

[result]On the one hand Houston was badly outplayed so the 1-0 loss was more than fair. On the other hand the penalty call was mighty weak (but Wells saved it), and the second yellow on Eddie Robinson was a complete mystery to me. I guess he got yellowed for time wasting while laying on the ground after a clash of heads. Houston finally conceded off a deflection in the 93rd minute. Very fair result, but still some very sketchy calls.[/result]

 

[result]I think Robinson got his second yellow for the hand gesture he made towards the referee ... by MLS standards that gesture is routine, but lots of Latin American refs dislike it.

Also, the staff member sent off was trainer Bruce Morgan. He insisted upon attending to Ale Moreno before Moreno was placed on a stretcher, and apparently good medical practice is against the rules.

Finally, there is little doubt that the goal resulted from Robinson's absence. Clark had to drop into the box to mark an open opponent, which is why Bernard was left open, and why the shot deflected off of Clark.[/result]