Humberto Suazo once again helped down an MLS side (Getty Images)
Major League Soccer seems to be falling into a pattern in CONCACAF Champions League since RSL lost to Monterrey in the finals a couple of years ago. We're seeing greater success in the group stage, despite the reworked format, and we even succeeded in knocking a Mexican team out (Seattle over Tigres) in the later stages this year. However, our clubs seem to run into problems in the semis against Mexican clubs that are tried and tested in the CCL, namely Santos Laguna and the aforementioned Monterrey. Both of the remaining MLS clubs (Seattle and defending MLS Cup champs L.A.) hosted their home legs this week, and both dropped tough decisions, giving up away goals to these strong Mexican sides in advance of the road legs south of the border next week.
First up, Seattle hosted Santos Tuesday night at Century Link Field. The odds were somewhat stacked against the Sounders going in, as both of their top line strikers (USA International Eddie Johnson and Nigerian International Obafemi Martins) were set to miss the match with injuries either picked up or aggravated during Saturday's league loss at Real Salt Lake. On top of that, coach Sigi Schmidt was so seemingly unimpressed with his side that both Mauro Rosales and Steve Zakuani started the match on the subs bench.
The Sounders would largely be counting on Sammy Ochoa and Honduran Mario Martinez to provide the offense in a side that seemed to be set up to just try and stop Santos Laguna. This strategy seemed questionable because even if the Sounders obtained a favorable result, they still faced a tough match in Torreon for the second leg, where last year Santos thrashed them 6-1. In the end it was all moot though, because the offense never came. Martinez struggled with hitting the target all night long, often settling for shots near the top of or outside the penalty area. Ochoa was a joke. His "highlight" came in the second half when his shot, on his best look of the night, went out for a throw in, a total embarrassment.
Still, Seattle's defense looked like it might not break, though it was certainly bending. Despite increased pressure from the Mexican side, Seattle held the nil-nil draw through the end of the first half, with much thanks going to 'keeper Marcus Hahnemann, who had been in beast mode for the Sounders. It all came crashing down in the second half though. In the 53rd minute Santos struck out on a counter attack after a succession of three consecutive Seattle corners failed to produce much of anything. They totally caught Seattle too far forward, and Carlos Darwin Quintero and Herculez Gomez streaked toward the Seattle goal. Quintero unleashed a venomous shot, but Hanhnemann made a great stop to his side. Unfortunately, the rebound went right to Gomez, who bashed the shot into the top of the net to make it 0-1 to Santos and give Seattle yet another reason to retire the "Sounders reject" chant for him.
In the end, it would be all Santos needed. Seattle brought in Rosales and Zakuani late on, but it was far too little too late. They didn't really affect the match, and Santos held on for a 0-1 victory on US soil.
With that, the league looked to it's defending champions, the Los Angeles Galaxy. There was reason for MLS to be hopeful about this. Unlike Seattle, the Galaxy have been in fine form in the league and Landon Donovan had returned to the team and was ready to go, though he didn't start. The downside was that they were playing CCL juggernaut Monterrey. A good result seemed to be required for the Galaxy with the second leg being away to the two time defending CCL Champs.
It didn't turn out to be scintillating affair. The match featured 21 fouls and four yellow cards, while only producing seven shots on goal. The Galaxy had the better of it for large parts of the game, though I do disagree with the official MLS recap's assertion that they "were unfortunate not to score several more goals." The Galaxy got three shots in target, 1 of them went in. They still looked the better side early on though, and in the 28th minute AJ DeLaGarza gave the Galaxy the 1-0 lead. He flicked a nice header from Mike Magee (the MLS player of the month for March) into the back of the net, putting Monterrey on their heals.
However, Los Rayados gradually started to control proceedings in the second half. In the 61st minute Juninho went off injured after rolling his ankle and it was the moment Monterrey needed. Old RSL foes Humberto Suazo and Aldo De Nigris surfaced once again to draw blood on an MLS side. Suazo tallied in the 82nd minute after LA 'keeper Cudicini gave up a rebound from a De Nigris shot, De Nigris himself slipped in the dagger in the first minute of stoppage time, when Guillermo Madrigal set him up with a nice ball inside Omar Gonzalez. De Nigris easily finished past Cudicini to make it 1-2 and seal the win for Los Rayados. Monterrey's manager commented after the match that you have to play the full 90 minutes. This could serve as both a praise for his team's comeback and an indictment of the Galaxy's fading down the stretch.
Both MLS sides now face an uphill battle in Mexico next week. Both must overcome an away goal advantage. It might be less of a task for Seattle. They hope to have Johnson and Martins back in the lineup, plus they only conceded once, so if they could manage a 0-1 win and tie the aggregate they could force extra time. However, do I see Seattle's defense putting up a clean sheet on Santos in Torreon? No, of course not. Seattle will have to push, and it will leave them dangerously exposed to same kind of counter that took them down on Tuesday.
The Galaxy look to be in even bigger trouble. True, they scored, but they also conceded the two road goals which means even if they could level the aggregate at 2-2, Monterrey still has the advantage. The Galaxy pretty much have to score twice. They have the players to do it, but I just can't bring myself to bet against Monterrey and Suazo at this stage. We'll have to see what happens.
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