And so it goes; the plucky underdog from the second tier league who often got by on luck and circumstance saw it dream run through a tournament it had no business winning come to a desultory end.

Watching Puerto Rico go down last night, after 120 minutes of soccer and penalty kicks, was supremely disappointing. I was rooting pretty hard for the men in orange, though it became difficult to hold onto hope with the way they played and the domination that Cruz Azul showed.

More after the jump.

Puerto Rico did what any smaller club would do in the away leg with a lead; they bunkered in, put ten men behind the ball, and hoped that the ball would stay out of their net.

And, as usual, the "prevent defense" prevented the team employing it from winning.

To be fair, the Islanders were able to hang out until PKs, though a little more resolve and effort might have had them through to the Champions League final. An extra time goal by Sandy Gbandi gave the USL side a chance, and it seemed the Puerto Rico might loosen up strategically enough to keep Cruz Azul honest.

That didn't happen, of course. After Cesar Villaluz found himself free on the back post and tied the match on aggregate, the only question left for those watching was whether Cruz Azul would score again to win the series outright, or if penalty kicks would be necessary to decide it.

Penalty kicks it was, and it didn't go well for Puerto Rico. Two poorly taken shots, combined with a hobbled Bill Gaudette's inability to stop shots that he might have saved when healthy, brought an anticlimactic end to the Islanders Champions League run. Gaudette almost single-handedly kept Puerto Rico alive, and to have the competition end for the club with him whiffing on a penalty was the worst kind of injustice.



I'm still sorting out exactly what the USL success in this tournament means on a larger scale; while I expect nothing to change in the way that MLS approaches international competition (other than the artificially-important and therefore completely meaningless Superliga), I think Montreal and Puerto Rico have both shown that success is not dependent on money. I'm not on the "USL is better than MLS" bandwagon, but I do worry that Major League Soccer's inability to show well in this tournament will have far-reaching effects for the league.

Another post may be coming on this subject, likely to focus on several things at once: USL's rise as a potential direct competitor to MLS, the failure of MLS to allow its teams to properly compete on the international stage (which is now much more apparent with the USL club success), how Montreal and Puerto Rico gave North American soccer fans outside of Mexico a reason to watch the tournament, and how USL stands to gain from that attention.

Whew. That's a lot to commit to; if I fail to follow up, something might need to give me a nudge.

Crushed with work today (boo, and I hate it here), though I'm going to work hard to get the first USL Project post up later today.

Things went from bad to worse for DC United today, as the Prince George's County Council voted 8-0 not to pursue the team's proposed stadium plan.

For one of Major League Soccer's flagship franchises to be staring down the barrel at homelessness (let's be clear; RFK is no "home") is a horrible nightmare. The league doesn't need this now, not with all of the good feelings that have come out of the Northwest in recent weeks. Even then, you know that the stadium issues in both Houston and DC were bringing me down, and this is just another shot to the old enthusiasm meter.

All the depressing thoughts, after the jump.

I haven't checked up on Houston in recent days, but I get the sense that they'll eventually find a way to get things done. Call it a Code Yellow (of DEFCON 3 if you prefer).

DC on the other hand, and maybe it's because I'm closer to the situation here, doesn't have that same air of hopeful optimism; PG County's rejection of the plan, with the 8-0 vote being a clear indication that there's no one backing the thing, drive confidence to an all time low. Call it Code Red, or DEFCON 1.

And I'm not kidding about this. RFK Stadium is a joke; and as great an environment as the place has on match day, it remains a massive albatross around the team's neck.

I hate to say it, but I truly don't see another option. The team could try another locality (though I'm fairly certain that none of the counties in the immediate area would be keen on the idea), or attempt to bargain their way into a deal with a nearby university, but neither has much of a chance for success, and the latter is clearly not a long term solution.

DC United, as an institution of the city (and it is, no matter what anyone says), has taken a gut shot. The death may be slow and painful, but know that it is inevitable. Staying on life support in a rickety building with no amenities and a financially crippling lease will only make the day that the team leaves that much harder.

I don't know where the team will end up, though Goff makes mention of St. Louis. I guess that could eventually be a good thing for the league, though thousands of soccer fans from the DC Metro will be left in the lurch. Moving a team away from the East Coast and the derby atmosphere that the I-95 corridor can provide (especially with Philly coming in next year, and New York opening up their new facility) can never, and will never, be something that MLS can spin as a positive.

Expect things to move quickly, though you may not hear much from team ownership. More attempts will be made with revised plans in PG County, and those in charge at the club will quietly inquire with other local governments around the area, though neither will be successful in the end. Soon, cities with MLS dreams will be calling, and it won't be long before something will be in the works.

The bottom line? DC United cannot be expected to stay at RFK.

I'm struggling to type this sentence, but I have to agree with Goff. Goodbye DC United.

Today, I start on a new journey. As I've resolved to give significant attention to USL this year, I think it's necessary that I choose a team to follow. Over the next week or so (deadline still TBD), I'll be sharing with you both the process and my thoughts as I go through each USL-1 side, hoping that one stands out enough to become my USL side.

I'm going to need all of the help I can get, and I'm hoping that this will be both a great way for me to get drawn into the league, and a way to educate people who might not know much about USL.

I'll lay out my plan of attack after the jump.

In 2009, there will be eleven USL-1 clubs.

Austin Aztex
Carolina Railhawks
Charleston Battery
Cleveland City Stars
Miami FC
Minnesota Thunder
Montreal Impact
Portland Timbers
Puerto Rico Islanders
Rochester Rhinos
Vancouver Whitecaps

I realize that this process is taking place just a bit too late for me to start the season with a declared club; I think, though, that a week of games will give me even more information to aid me in my decision. Maybe I'll see a style of play or a player on a particular team that will grab me, and it will make my choice that much easier.

In fact, I would almost prefer that something like that happen, if only because I find the manufactured "selection" of a club fairly distasteful. That's not the kind of guy I am; my other sports passions come with deeply held connections, and I don't want have the stink of "fair weather fan" anywhere on my person.

Still, I don't want to wait for something organic to occur (mostly because that could take awhile), and it will be fun and informative to take an in-depth look at USL. If nothing else, it will probably only reinforce my belief that the longer it takes for MLS and USL to get together in some form, the longer soccer in the U.S. will be held down by completely unnecessary competition (and/or petty disagreements).

Without further ado, on to my methodology:

The process will likely be fluid, since I don't think being held to a rigid system is the right way to do it. But I have come up with a few categories on which to judge each club, just as a way to ensure I lean toward making the most appropriate choice.

Categories

1. Geography- I won't mind choosing a club that is not close by, so I'm not sure how weight this one will have. Still, it would be nice to choose a club that I have some kind of local connection to, even if it's not the closest club to my home at the current time.

2. History- It's hard for any club in the U.S. to have a significant history, though there are a few in USL who more than almost any others here (including MLS). I'm not sure a brand new club would bother me, so once again we have a category that might not mean much in the long run.

3. Name/Colors- Not the most valid reason for choosing a club, though I would be lying if I said it didn't matter. I care less about colors than I do about names, though if I'm given strong reasons for ignoring a particularly poor name might make this one worthless as well.

4. Supporter Passion- This might be the first category that actually means something; I'm a big fan of supporters who create unique atmospheres for their clubs, and strong evidence of that from any of the USL stadiums could be the tipping point for my decision.

Those are four quick categories off of the top of my head, though I reserve the right to add more at any point in the process. Each club will be scored from 1-10 in the four categories, and while the club with the highest score might not win my allegiance, it will certainly have a leg up.

As a bonus, and because I am unfamiliar with the fan cultures of these clubs and cannot actually visit any of the locales, I am soliciting for fans of each and every USL club to present their reasons as to why I should support their team. I don't want to be a man on an island in this process; I want to know what makes each team special, why the fans love their clubs, and how becoming a supporter might enrich my life. More than likely, these fan messages directed towards me will be the most important factor in my decision.

Over the next week, I will consider one or two clubs a day, with scores give for the rated categories, my gut feelings on each club, and any testimonials I receive from their fans.

By the end, I hope to be a proud and passionate supporter of a USL club, one I can follow for 2009 and into the future.

*****CALL TO ACTION*****

I must stress the importance of your help with this process; not only with feedback on my thoughts (perhaps even questioning my methods), but also with the supporter-testimonial aspect. I know there are quite a few USL supporters that come by here, and while I am positive I will get messages from fans of certain USL teams, I'm worried I may miss out on others. If you know someone that supports a club in USL, let them know about my project and ask them to shoot me an email.

All correspondence can be sent to:

jbdavis1@gmail.com
or
matchfitusa@gmail.com

Let the project begin!

The Puerto Rico Islanders, the last club from a U.S.-based league still alive in the CONCACAF Champions League, take their 2 goal aggregate lead to Mexico City tonight. Mexican power Cruz Azul will throw everything they have at the upstart USL-1 side.

Of course I'll be rooting for the Islanders, and I suspect most MLS fans will as well. Puerto Rico is not only playing for their own glory, but for the glory of their league and American soccer; while not actually American, they certainly feel like an American side, and represent the last hope fans of the game outside of Mexico have for a Champions League victory.

More after the jump.

It's certainly going to be a tall order for the Islanders to hold off the Cement Mixers. Cruz Azul will show no mercy, and I would expect Puerto Rico to place as many players behind the ball as they can for every Mexican attack. The Islanders only hope is to play as defensively as possible, hoping they hold on to their 2 goal lead. An away goal, perhaps catching the Mexicans on the break, would go a long way towards seeing the Islanders through.

Unfortunately, even scoring one or two goals may not be enough. If Montreal's epic flameout in the last round taught us anything, it's that Mexican sides can score, and score quickly. Add to that the issue of Mexico City's altitude, Cruz Azul's superior depth, and Puerto Rico still being in their pre-season, and things don't look too good for the USL-1 side.

My head tells me that Cruz Azul wins this game running away, 3-0 or more.

My heart says the Islanders can hold on, bunker in, creat a few chances, steal an away goal, and go through.

I'm pretty sure my head knows more than my heart this time around.

On a side note, I just realized that CCL has a two-legged final. Hmmm...

Perhaps it's just me, but I always feel like finals should be one-off affairs. If the CCL wants to emulate the UEFA Champions League, then a single match for the title would the way to go.

Here is the New York Times Goal blog writeup on the Islanders ahead of tonight's match:

Team from Puerto Rico is In Land of Soccer Giants

Crashing, extremely soon, but I wanted to a bit of news I came across tonight:


The City of San Jose has restructured the soccer stadium land deal, a good sign that things are moving forward on an Earthquakes facility. I'll say it again because I still can't figure it out, and I have no qualms about beating a dead horse: Why only 15,000?

Anyway, good to see something happen in San Jose, and I was happy to see that the team expects the place to be ready to go by 2012 or 2013. That's fairly exciting information. Slowly but surely, the league is moving in the right direction on the stadium issues.

Now, if only the news was as good coming out of Houston and DC.

And I'd pretty much take any news out of New England at this point.

No jump this time, unless you want to comment on this news. My Bay Area readers should feel free to give us more info if they have more background on the story.

I know what you're thinking:

You're thinking that I never talk European soccer in this space, and you're a little confused as to why I would bring up Fox Soccer Channel's recent purchase of the U.S. rights for the UEFA Champions League.

Let me explain.

After the jump of course.

I recently (in fact, only a few moments ago) watched the president of Fox Soccer Channel outline a fairly audacious plan for those newly acquired right; those plans include distribution of Champions League matches across various Fox outlets, online distribution of those matches (a la ESPN 360), and an HD version of Fox Soccer Channel to roll out by the end of 2009.

Big time stuff, and all of it is exciting for Americans who love the biggest of European club tournaments. I'm certainly among those, and I'm happy to hear about the changes that FSC will be making. Outlets for soccer in the U.S. are few and far between, and FSC in HD sounds like a dream come true.

But a question at the back of my mind continues to nag...

Where does MLS fit in with all of this?

Will our domestic league suffer because more and more of the European game is available to fans who are quick to dismiss MLS anyway? What about those people who might not yet appreciate the game, but could be enticed to follow soccer by FSC's distribution of Champions League matches? Would those same people embrace Major League Soccer, or reject it out of hand as so many, including some individuals involved with FSC do?

I realize these are difficult questions, ones without clear answers.

I'm probably just overreacting; although it sounds like FSC is making the Champions League the centerpiece of the network's offerings, that does not necessarily mean that they will neglect their coverage of MLS.

It just means there is one more think to compete with, one more thing that will make our domestic competition pale in comparison.

Share your thoughts and let me know what (if anything) you think this means for FSC's relationship with the American version of the game.

The newest Match Fit USA podcast is here. I'm joined by guest Hank Alexandre of The Midnight Ride to discuss New England Revolution, the U.S. Men's National Team, the U.S. player pool, and Major League Soccer's early surprises and disappointments.

Thanks again to Hank for his participation.

File download links after the jump.

As I mentioned last week, the embedded player with the most recent podcast will always be on the main page of the blog. Past podcasts can be found in the podcast archive, link at the top of the page.

Also, please subscribe to Match Fit USA to get the podcast as soon as it's released, be it through a reader, iTunes, or email. All of those links are also at the top of the page.

The direct download links:

128 Kbps (large file)
64 Kbps (smaller file)

Streaming:

Preferred Media Player 128 Kbps (.m3u)
Preferred Media Player 64Kpbs (.m3u)

MFUSA Podcast #8 will be up tonight, and it's another great one. My guest Hank Alexandre, veteran of Winning Ugly Radio, CSRN's Around the League in 90 Minutes and blogger extrordinaire at The Midnight Ride, joins me to dicuss the several American soccer topics.

Hank and I talk about the Revolution's start from Hank's supporter perspective, the USMNT's win over Trinidad & Tobago, the Nats player pool and young talent situation, as well as the surprises and disappointments three weeks into the MLS season.

Chris Nee of twofootedtackle gives an English perspective on the young Major League Soccer season.

Great day of soccer yesterday, and an equally great day today. Here are my Sunday MLS previews, something I threw together while watching Manchester United complete an epic comeback over Aston Villa.

I don't like them, but they're champions for a reason.

Let's hope MLS can provide us with at least one game half as good as that one was.

Previews after the jump.


Chicago Fire v. New York Red Bulls

The Fire start their 2009 home campaign after a disappointing tie with DC United last week. Four points in two games is a decent enough start, though the Fire's dismantling of FC Dallas seems less impressive after a rather pedestrian performance at RFC Stadium. The Red Bulls come off tie of their own, a 1-1 draw with New England at Giants Stadium. The loss of Dave Van Den Bergh looks to be having a desultory effect on the Red Bulls attack, as they've failed to score in two matches. MVP favorite Juan Pablo Angel hasn't had much help, something that must change if New York is going to be a playoff contender.

Chicago is bound to press hard to start, and I don't know that New York is up to the challenge. New York does have a few key players coming back from injury, which should help them stay in the match for most of the ninety minutes.

More importantly, will New York actually score?

I'll throw them a bone.

Prediction:
Chicago 2 New York 1


Kansas City Wizards v. San Jose Earthquakes

Kansas City two losses on the ledger in 2009, and hosting San Jose might be their chance to breakthrough with a win. Davy Arnaud is still questionable with a neck strain, and his participation would be a major boost for the Wizards. San Jose failed to score in a week one loss to New England, then put three past the Dynamo to get their first win last week. The Earthquakes will obviously need a performance like the latter to beat KC on the road. With the Wizards injury concerns, Hirsig and Lopez will need to carry the attack; I expect a high scoring game in this one, as neither side seem to be settled in the back.

Prediction:
Kansas City 2 San Jose 2


Chivas USA v. Columbus Crew

Chivas has won twice to start the season, and Columbus will be playing for the second time in four days. Smells like disaster brewing for the Crew, who will also be reinserting players back from international duty. Chivas is brimming with confidence, though beating Colorado and Dallas might not be the most impressive resume to this point. Chivas is also dealing with injuries, and may not be able to keep up their form without the influence of Razov and Jazic. Columbus was demoralized at RSL on Thursday, and will certainly be looking to make amends for a poor performance. Expect a lot of energy from Hejduk and company. The Crew may not have looked like it to this point, but their still champions, and my gut says they play well tonight.

Prediction:
Chiva USA 1 Columbus 2

Seattle is, as of this exact moment, the best team in MLS. Good for them, and let's hope the Montero situation doesn't derail either his career or his team.

The other Freddie, Mr. Ljungberg, scored his first MLS goal for the Sounders, as they soundly (no pun intended) beat Toronto 2-0 at BMO Field.

My feeling was that Seattle would have great home form and struggle on the road; if they play like they did today, canceling out the best home crowd in the league, they should be in the hunt for a top playoff spot all season.

There is some age and some inexperience that could cause issues later on, so every point they can get now will be important.

Ljungberg looked good, as did Kasey Keller. The younger players, Steve Zakuani included, looked dangerous. Seattle might be the real deal, or this might just be an early season run that will eventually fade into a more typical expansion team debut season.

Either way, they are for the moment, the best in MLS. The rest of the league should watch out.

Now let's see them win on grass.

Not much going on this morning as we get closer to the first MLS kickoff of today (LIVE BLOG! Ginge Talks the Footy!), so we interrupt regularly scheduled MFUSA programming for a brief profile of a foreign player plying their trade in Major League Soccer.

Gregory Richardson had a nice writeup about him in the Stabroek News, a paper based in his homeland of Guyana.

You have to love the headline ("Coach says 'Jackie Chan' Grooving in Well in the MLS"), and the way it's written is almost more interesting than the info on Richardson.

More after the jump.

I almost forgot about this guy, and I still don't know why his nickname is "Jackie Chan", but I found the article humorous, so I thought I'd pass it on. Richardson is certainly behind Casey and Cummings on the Rapids depth chart, though he has already seen the field once this year.

If you don't remember Richardson, he's the guy that torched New England with a hat trick in the Champions League group stages while with Joe Public FC. It seems he impressed enough in that tournament to get himself an MLS job.

He's also the first Guyanese player to ever play in MLS, so there's an obvious interest in the league and the Rapids in his homeland.

Here's Richardson's player page from the Rapids official site.

Here's a bit on Guyana if you have no idea where it is.

Here's video of Richardson scoring that hat trick for Joe Pubic against the Revs last year: