The Puerto Rico Islanders and DC United will advance to the group stages of the CONCACAF Champions League after prevailing in their preliminary series last night.
Puerto Rico, semifinalists in last year's competition, took down MLS side and Canadian champion Toronto FC 1-0 on aggregate; last week's goal at BMO Field was enough to see them through when neither side could score in Bayamon. Puerto Rico absorbed pressure from Toronto, who though in possession much of the night, was unable to break down the Islanders defense. The Islanders had a few chances of their own that would have put away the Reds, but couldn't convert. With TFC pressing, Islanders keeper Bill Gaudette came up big on multiple occasions and pushed his club into the next round of the Champions League.
USL takes another scalp off of MLS.
The Islanders will now go into a group with Columbus Crew, Saprissa of Costa Rica, and, barring a massive miracle, Cruz Azul of Mexico. It will be tough for Puerto Rico to repeat their 2008-2009 success in that group, which is supremely difficult from top to bottom.
DC United managed to squeak out a penalty kicks victory of CD Luis Angel Firpo in El Salvador, becoming the first MLS side from the preliminary round to qualify for the group stage. New York Red Bulls have an opportunity to join them if they can beat W. Connection tonight in New Jersey. United's battle with Firpo was exactly that, a battle, with rough play and heavy challenges all over the field. After Firpo went up a goal, it appeared that another MLS team would fail down south, and that MLS would be o-2 on the night; but Christian Gomez put in a wonderful free kick to bring the game level, and the fight was on once again. After neither side could finish during the thirty minute extra time period, it was down to PKs. A miss on Firpo's fourth was the difference, as United put in every one they took.
United needed to get through this series for the good of MLS; another failing, and the inability of MLS clubs to compete in this tournament would have become the hot topic once again. While DC's victory doesn't sweep the league's trouble under the rug, it does give MLS another club with a reasonable chance to proceed deep in the tournament. United will now head to group play with Toluca of Mexico, Marathon of Honduras, and the winner of the preliminary series between San Francisco of Panama and San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad & Tobago.
Credit the Islanders for getting through their MLS competition; while I doubt they are capable of another run equal to last year's, they clearly have a nose for international success. Puerto Rico is the best-equipped team to beat "better" competition, with a deep and relatively talented squad. With no other USL side in the competition, it's up to the Islanders to carry that banner into the CCL proper this time around. TFC's task was always going to be a tough one, and they did themselves no favors allowing a goal at home. When put to scoring in Puerto Rico, who did not "park the bus" quite as much as some thought they would, they simply weren't up to the task.
As for DC, they did what they needed to do, though it wasn't pretty. Tom Soehn put out a reserve-heavy side in the series home leg, a tactic that backfired when the best DC could do was a score draw. With the away goal rule in play, United had to score to give themselves a chance; after Firpo went up a goal, the pressure became even more intense. With most of this regular starters on the field and a full compliment of subs available, Soehn found himself staring down the barrel of an early tournament exit. Thanks to a Gomez free kick, a little luck (keeping Firpo out when they really shouldn't have been able to), and solid penalty taking, United got out of El Salvador the victor. Of the three MLS clubs in the prelims, United is generally regarded as the best all around team; it was important for them to make the grow stages for the reputation of MLS.
One more night of preliminary round matches go down tonight, after which the full field for the group stage will be set. Will MLS have a fourth club in the mix?
