DC United in Copa Sudamericana

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

Actually in CONMEBOL competitions, Wednesdays are whats posted as game dates only to indicate a mid-week game - The mid-week games are spread out pretty evenly between Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

I hope we participate. MLS needs to start testing itself more and more often against better competition, and Copa Sudamericana is a good way to start. Perhaps this will lead to something that I know that at least some of us want to see, which is MLS (well, I dont give a crap about the other 11 teams, but us) participating in Copa Libertadores.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

Yeah, it's the equivalent of the UEFA Cup in the sense that it is the second most prestigious club competition, with the Copa Libertadores being the equivalent of the Champions League. It just started in 2002 to replace the Copa Mercosur and Copa Merconorte. For a while a Copa Panamericana was discussed, which as its name indicates would have included CONMEBOL and CONCACAF teams, but those plans were scrapped in favor of a South American tournament.

One difference between the Copa Sudamericana and the Copa Libertadores is that teams can participate in both- unlike in Europe where the top clubs are in the champions league and the teams right behind them are in the UEFA Cup. So you had Boca Juniors winning it last year and being in the final of the Copa Libertadores as well. It's two separate qualification processes.

(For the record, along with Boca Juniors the other winners have been San Lorenzo of Argentina- the team Kasper and co. are visiting this week- and Cienciano of Peru).

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

Yeah yeah yeah! Do it there, do it there! See how you *******s like the drive!

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

"but those plans were scrapped in favor of a South American tournament."

No, no, no. Nothing like that man!
Jack Warner wanted to have equal participation in the tournament. As far as making place for most of his crapy teams and officials, referees, and revenues. He can try to work for the best of his confederation but some of his requirements were at one time unacceptable for Conmebol. Thus Copa Panamericana fell appart. Don't just blame everything to Conmebol, they wanted to create something inclusive, but not at a price that they were invaded. I followed the story then because I wanted it to happen already. Although as for anything else in life it takes time to build prestige. Hopefully now is the time to start building it together for the best of soccer in the US.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

I didn't say CONMEBOL was responsible for the plans being scrapped, simply that they were and a South American tourney went ahead. I got no love for Jack Warner.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

Ciencano is based in Cusco (about 11,000 feet above sea level). They beat River in the final in December 2003. The final leg had to be played in Arequipa (around 8,000 feet above sea level), since the stadium in Cusco wasn't big enough. I landed in Lima the night of the last leg, and people were going nuts. Flew out to Cusco the next morning, arriving shortly after the team returned, and a full-on celebration was in effect. It was definitely treated as a big, big deal. Maybe River didn't take it as seriously, but for folks in Peru, it was a significant win. It didn't hurt that it wasn't one of the three big Lima clubs (Alianza, Universitario, or Cristal) that won it - made for a much more interesting story.

I guess my point is this - this is a real tournament that is taken very seriously by teams throughout South America, and participating in it is a fantastic opportunity for everyone involved (team, fans, and journalists) to watch United take on some of the biggest clubs in the hemisphere in meaningful games. As long as they don't end up playing at FedEx, I'm psyched.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

No hard feeling. I just had the sense that you wanted to induce as if Copa Panamericana fell apart in favor of South American teams. What I want to say is that there Soccer is the meaning of life for the fan, it is a major exposure to export players, tv rights, there is an economical movement (instead of a beautiful empty stadium a la San Antonio), beside the level of competition is different. Even the airlines should be happy that it happens. In South America the show of Soccer must go on.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

The Washington Times article today scared me a bit. It seems that DCU will only play on certain dates. If the South American opponent can't play on that day, then no DCU in Copa Sudamerica.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

If anyone is interested, one of the prospective DCU opponents is currently playing live, on GolTv ............. Universitario.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

thx!

what an ugly field!

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

I read that article. Very bad news for DCU fans. I hope that this gets worked out by Conmebol giving us a break.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

If DCU is unable to participate due to scheduling conflicts, is it possible that another MLS team can play. I would love to see DCU play, but if its not possible, another team should be given the opportunity.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

Agreed. I certainly hope that it doesn't come to that though.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

Wow. As has been said before, this is a golden chance for DCU and MLS as a whole. The Pumas fiasco happenned when we were not in form and brooding new talent. If we get to participate, it will be during the MLS season, meaning we will be in form and in full force, and we have already acclimated the new talents we have gathered this season into the nowak system quite nicely. I see a real chance to get retribution from our last international embarassment.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

By the way, Universatario is not instilling any fear in me, based upon the game against Alianza Lima. They honestly don't look all that good to me, even though I know they are leading the table in Peru. Maybe it's just an off day.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

one guy (is it hermasilla (sp?)- right midfield) in the first half showed some accelation that impressed me, but that was just about it.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

I was so thoroughly unimpressed that I turned to the replay of Brazil Germany at about the 80th minute of the Universitario game.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

Has anyone heard anything further about whether the dates submitted by DCU to Conmebol were accepted, so that we could play in the tournament? that Washington Times article is still looming large.

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

maybe

 

Re: DCU in Copa Sudamericana

http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20050624-115435-1491r_page2.htm

And I quote: "Meanwhile, United has been invited to the Copa Sudaamericana, a second-tier tournament similar to Europe's UEFA Cup involving the top clubs from the nations of South America. United has presented the organizers dates on which it could play. If the dates are accepted, United likely will play a team from Chile or Peru in the round of 16 in home and away games beginning in September."