CCL: MLS Hopes Take Hit as Seattle, L.A. Drop Home Legs

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.

Late Davis Strike Propels Dynamo to CCL Win

The Dynamo celebrate Davis's 89th minute winner (houstondynamo.com)

The Houston Dynamo deserve a lot of credit for what they were able to accomplish last night at BBVA Compass Stadium.  Overall, they played a pretty smart brand of football (though not always pretty or perfect) and managed to ride a late goal by Brad Davis to a win and a 1-0 aggregate lead over Santos Laguna in the CONCACAF Champions League.

They certainly weren't dominating by any stretch of the imagination, and Santos came out firing with Darwin Quintero hitting the first shot in the very first minute, only to see his effort go off target.  Marc Crosas also missed the frame in the third minute, and after that Houston started to settle down. 

The first quality chance of the match fell to the Dynamo on 18 minutes.  Houston had been applying some pressure to Santos goal, and it paid off with a corner kick chance.  Bobby Boswell directed a bullet header on frame from said corner, and looked to have Santos 'keeper Oswaldo Sanchez beaten, but the Santos defender stationed at the post did his job, clearing it just off the line to keep the MLS side from taking the lead.

However the Dynamo nearly surrendered a goal of their own just two minutes later.  In a preview of what was to be a theme of the night, Houston 'keeper Tally Hall played a kick out of goal, trying to build from the back.  Unfortunately he kicked it right to Herculez Gomez.  The American international played it over to Quintero, but once again Houston was fortunate to see his shot drift harmlessly away from the target.  The Dynamo had a few bad flubs playing out of the back, but luckily Santos were not able to capitalize.

Fast forward to the second half where Santos had their best spell of the match on 57 minutes.  An outstanding move up the pitch resulted in a great look for Oribe Peralta, which he managed to put on frame.  Tally Hall was equal to the effort though, making a great save to preserve the the clean sheet.

In the 89th minute Jermaine Taylor couldn't find the target from a header off a corner kick and Santos took the ball back up the pitch and looked as though they were all set to settle in for a scoreless draw.  However, they turned the ball over just inside the Dynamo half and Houston streaked up the field on a counter attack.  Corey Ashe hit Brad Davis just inside the left of the penalty area, and the Dynamo marksman calmly slid the ball inside the far post to give the Dynamo the 1-0 win.  It was a great finish by a great player.

Now, will it be enough to hold up for Houston down in Torreon?  I kind of doubt it.  Still the 1 goal win without allowing the away goal was the minimum that Houston needed to achieve and they did just that.  As long as they can go punch to punch with Santos down in Mexico, they'll have a shot as the Mexicans weren't able to secure a road goal advantage.  It will still be tough, though this Santos team is obviously not as lethal as previous editions.  In the end, no matter what happens, this was still a nice win for them which should help to continue to build the confidence of MLS sides in this tournament.

Congratulations to Santos Laguna: 2012 Mexican Clausura Champions

Santos Laguna hoists the trophy as 2012 Mexican Clausura Champions

The Puddle would like to extend congratulations to Santos Laguna, who beat 2 time defending CONCACAF Champions Monterrey 3-2 over two legs to claim the 2012 Mexican Clausura title.  The title is their 4th overall in the Mexican Primera Division..

The win is huge for the Mexican side founded in 1983.  Coming into this final, they had been to 3 of the last 4 finals in Mexico, losing them all.  They also lost to Monterrey in the finals of the CONCACAF Champions League last month.  This should be, and deserves to be, very sweet for the Torreon side.

The first leg was played in Monterrey earlier this week and ended in a 1-1 draw.  Santos won last night's 2nd leg in Torreon 2-1 with goals from Oribe Peralta and Daniel Luduena.  Monterrey manager Victor Manuel Vucetich suffered his first ever loss in a final.. His stats include 5 Mexico Primera titles and the 2 CONCACAF titles.

Last night was all about Santos though, and I hope the team and their supporters enjoy it!

Puddle's Goal of the Midweek: Oribe Peralta En La Gran Final

I have to share this gorgeous goal with all of you. My choice comes from the Mexican Clausura final, first leg. In the 69th minute Oribe Peralta got on the end of a long ball then drove home this gorgeous strike.

Mexico Match Thoughts: La Gran Final, Leg 1

I don't think anyone that follows Mexican soccer was really surprised to see these two clubs meet in the Clausura final.  Both of these sides have been on fire, Monterrey especially since Humberto Suazo decided he was going to stick around.  This is also a rematch of the CONCACAF Champions League final from this year, in which Monterrey beat Santos to claim it's second consecutive CONCACAF crown.

Monterrey opened the match in good form, controlling possession and working their way into the Santos area.  César Delgado forced a nice save out of Santos in the 7th minute as Monterrey knocked on the door.  Suazo hit the ensuing corner but Walter Ayovi's shot went over the bar.

After the first ten minutes or so, Santos started to get their legs into the match and threaten the Monterrey area.  Both Daniel Ludueña and Oribe Peralta took shots early, but neither of them could find the target.  In the 30th minute Marc Crosas forced the first save out of Jonathan Orozco, but the Monterrey keeper parried it for a corner.  Santos sent the cross in on the corner and Felipe Baloy rose and headed the ball into the net.  However Baloy was whistled for a foul on the play and the goal was called back.  It wasn't the last mistake he would make, but the half ended 0-0.

Monterrey came out the stronger of the two sides in the second half, and began to get looks at goal.  Suazo sent shots high in both the 48th and 51st minutes.  Los Rayados grew more and more frustrated, and every minute that went by, Santos became more confident.

Santos began to knock on the door again in the 56th minute when Ludueña cracked the crossbar from distance.  Orozco didn't have much time to catch his breath though.  In the 69th minute Peralta got on the end of a 50 meter pass from Crosas.  With one deft touch he brought the ball down, settled it, and evaded the Monterrey defender.  He then turned and smacked the ball past a stunned Orozco to make it 0-1 to Santos and give them the all important away goal.

Monterrey continued to press the issue, but as the match went into stoppage time, a Santos error gifted Monterrey the draw.  In the third minute of stoppage time Baloy went to ground in the area on Suazo.  The nasty tackle came in from behind and tripped up the Monterrey attacker, despite the fact that he was moving away from goal.  The referee rightly awarded a penalty kick, which Suazo promptly scored to tie the match 1-1 at full time.

The second leg will be Sunday in Torreon, and I suppose Santos will be happy with the away goal.  However, the Suazo PK could loom large as I have a hard time thinking that Santos is gonna hang a clean sheet on the CONCACAF champs in the next leg either.

CCL Semis: Toronto FC vs Santos Laguna

TFC's Ashtone Morgan in Wednesday's match (Mexsport/MLSSoccer.com)

I think a lot of us thought that Wednesday night's CONCACAF Champions League match between Toronto FC and Santos was going to get ugly.  However, I for one expected it to be ugly on the scoreboard, not in the red card/fighting kind of ugly.  Toronto was playing without their captain and key defensive player Torsten Frings, and the smart money was on the Mexican power house side to put a real whipping on TFC, but to the Reds' credit, it didn't work out that way.

It really could have though.  Despite a little early possession by the Canadian champs, Santos looked to be the much more dangerous side.  TFC's trap wasn't working well and was resulting in good runs and chances for the Mexican side.  In the 12th minute, TFC turned the ball over in their own end and Darwin Quintero nearly made them pay, but his shot was well saved by Milos Kocic.  In the 19th minute, it was American international Herculez Gomez's turn to test Kocic. but the TFC 'keeper saved his shot as well.  Finally in the 30th minute, Gomez broke free off of a pass from Quintero and slotted the ball past Kocic to give Santos the 0-1 lead.

I really thought Toronto would just fold here.  I even commented to that effect on my twitter stream live during the match.  To their credit, they didn't.  In fact, they responded really well.  In the 34th minute Danny Koevermans had a shot barely cleared off the line.  Then in the 37th minute, TFC equalized off of a set piece, as Miguel Aceval knocked the ball through the Santos wall and into the goal to make it 1-1 at halftime.

There would be no goals in the second half, but there was plenty to talk about.  Both sides created multiple chances, but both 'keepers played well and were up to the task.  The story of the match started to become it's physical nature.  I had trouble believing what I was seeing, but TFC actually looked like they got into Santos's heads.  Marc Crosas earned Santos's first yellow in the 76th for a hard tackle on TFC's Ryan Johnson.  Then just over a minute later Osmar Mares earned a straight red for a studs up follow through into the chest of Richard Eckersley.    However, in the end, TFC couldn't take advantage of the Santos shortage and the match finished at 1-1.

Then the extra drama really started.  Right at the whistle, Quintero head butted TFC's Ashtone Morgan, who had been physically tangling with the Santos player all match long.  The linesman saw it, called the referee's attention to it, and Quintero was issued a red card.  Then an all out brawl started, with players and staff from both teams.  Santos claims there were TFC players sucker punching Santos players during the melee.  I didn't see it, so I don't know.  Gomez claims to have seen Morgan punch Quintero in the face before the head butt, so who knows?

All I know is, TFC managed a good result that will give them a shot in the next leg.  However, they still gave up an away goal, and my advice is that they should probably think twice before starting a fight down in Mexico.

Still, it was somewhat ironic to see a Mexican side complaining about an American referee for a change!

Mexico Match Thoughts: Morelia vs. Santos

I think I use the phrase, "a tale of two halves" way too much on this blog. In fact, I know I do. However there is really no other way to describe this match. The first half had chances and was entertaining. The second half was a foul fest and total mound of garbage.

Both teams came out of the gate quite quickly, and you would have thought Santos actually came to play. You'd be wrong though. Cristian Suarez hammered a ball over the bar in the 2nd minute, but in the end, it would be one of the few chances Santos would have all match long.

Morelia totally took over from there, They monopolized possession and chances, of which they created quite a few. It was actually pretty fun to watch, except for the fact that you got the impression that Santos was just a total shower, and they wished they were someplace else. Lazy marking, lazy passing, lazy defense, and Morelia took advantage.

The first goal came on 23 minutes as Edgar Lugo took a ball that almost went over the end line for a goal kick and passed it back into the area. It ended up at the feet of Miguel Sabah, who blasted it by the 'keeper to make it 1-0. Sabah was pretty much unmarked. Just two minutes later, Sabah, who was a beast all match long, struck again. This time he took a down field pass from Christian Valdez and beat a stunned Sanchez to score again and make it 2-0.

Finally Santos woke up for the first and only time in the match after going down 2-0. They got their only goal of the game in the 29th as Suarez put a centering pass into the area. It appeared to go off of the foot of Carlos Quintero and into the goal to make it 2-1. Later the announcers questioned that it might have come off of the Morelia defender, though as of the end of the match it was still credited to Quintero. At any rate the score at the half was 2-1.

Santos' lazy style became infectious in the second half. Both teams played an unspirited brand of football marked by hard, pointless fouls, crappy passing, and diving all over the pitch. Honestly, the quality of tackles from both sides made MLS look like Italy.

In the end, Morelia tacked on a late goal as Edgar Lugo scored on a break for Morelia in the first minute of stoppage time to make the full time result 3-1 to Morelia.

Congrats to UANL Tigres, 2011 Mexican Apertura Champions!

Congratulations are in order for UANL Tigres, who last night beat Santos to clinch the 2011 Apertura title in the Mexican Primera Division.



Tigres beat Santos 3-1 last night at home after defeating them 0-1 on the road in the first leg of the final. It was a pretty exciting game in the first half, not so much in the second. In the 12th minute, Santos 'keeper Oswaldo Sanchez was shown the red card for a challenge in the area on Tigres' Danilinho. However, the backup 'keeper came in and promptly saved the PK.

Then in the 31st minute Santos hit back. Mexico international Oribe Peralta scored a tap in off of a nice ball to even the aggregate score at 1-1 going into the half.

Tigres came out and put the title away in the second half though. They scored three goals, two by Danilinho and one by Hector Mancilla, to make the final aggregate score 4-1.

The win marks UANL's first title in 29 years. Santos has been runner up in 3 of the last 4 Mexican Primera finals.

Congrats to Tigres, and the 2012 Clausura starts January 6!

CONCACAF Champions League: Colorado Rapids vs. Santos Laguna

There's just not much to say about this one. It was a bad night all around for MLS in CONCACAF play. However, Santos literally just spanked the Rapids on their own field. Honestly, it was hard to watch.

I don't wanna kick the Rapids when they're down. Even though I hate them. They have a great group of supporters and they deserved a lot more than they got tonight. Honestly, it seemed like a Santos home match. I know what that's like. About this time last year RSL played Cruz Azul here in Salt Lake, and I suspect Azul fans outnumbered RSL fans by at least 2-1. The Mexican supporters bring a whole different dynamic to the match. It's hard when your home pitch isn't yours anymore.

Still, Colorado just got blasted. Santos was in control from the opening whistle. Throughout the match the Rapids looked to be trying to play a high line offside trap, but it was getting them nowhere. Santos just torched their defense time after time. If there's one thing that's going to keep the Rapids from repeating their MLS cup success, it's defense. They give up way too many goals, even though both Pickens and Ceus are quality 'keepers in my book.

Anyway, Santos got two gorgeous first half goals. One came from Luduena in the 14th, the other from Oribe Peralta in the 27th. The second came as the Rapids were too busy looking for an offside flag. While the initial angle suggested that Peralta might have been off, CONCACAF showed a different angle later that showed he was on. At any rate, you gotta play to the whistle. In Champions League, you can't count on PKs or offside calls to save you.

Santos tacked two more on for good measure in the second half. Carlos Quintero finally broke free in the 64th, again torching the Rapids defense and scoring to make it 0-3. Then in the 71st, Cristian Suarez found a goal inside the far post to make it 0-4.

Brian Mullan, who was about the only Colorado player to show up tonight, got a cosmetic goal in the 77th minute to make it 1-4, which was the full time result.

Metapan beat Real Espana tonight, which drops Colorado to 3rd in the group. They're going to need to win 2 of their last 3 matches to have a chance to get through the group stage. It's going to be hard because their last two are on the road. They're going to need to win one of those matches. The hit to their goal differential tonight won't help either.

Mexican Match Suspended After Gunfire Heard Outside of Stadium

Unfortunately the violence and problems facing Mexico came home to roost on it's futbol league Saturday night. The match between Santos and Morelia, at Santos' home stadium in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico was suspended after about 40 minutes when the obvious sound of gunfire was heard in the stadium.

Below is the live video via Azteca of the incident. The players and officials run off the pitch and into the tunnel. A few minutes later, as the shots continue to be heard, fans start to storm the pitch, also seeking cover and running away from the sound of the shots.

Torreon and Coahuila officials said that gunmen attacked a public security vehicle outside the stadium. One police officer was injured in the gun fight, but there no injuries reported in the stadium itself. Officials did not say who the gunmen were.

The match was still 0-0 at the time of the suspension.