CCL FEVER!!!
As we all bask in the glow of the late stages of UEFA Champions League and look sideways at the undying zombie-like spectre of the Super League let’s not forget to honor the greatest international club competition in the world, the Concacaf Champions League. This past week marked the beginning of the CCL’s round of 16 when MLS and Liga MX teams join the fray alongside teams from Central America and the Caribbean.
The CCL is notorious for unpredictable and predictably insane matches. Well funded teams from MLS and Liga MX are regularly thrown off their game as they travel to chunky pitches, of both football and cricket variety, to play in humid conditions in front of raucous fans or eerily empty stadiums. Those teams also must go through a footballing time warp as the style of play, refereeing and over all shithousery of CCL are more in line with amateur games from the 1980’s than with contemporary professional matches.
While the unique insanity of the CCL has in the past cursed many large US clubs from achieving regional glory teams from MLS have started to figure out the Rubiks cube of playing in this distinctive tournament. This fact is most evident in the crowning of the Seattle Sounders as CONCACAF champions last season. With that said there are still plenty of wonderfully bizarre things that occured this past week in the CCL, here is a recap of all things “Concacaf’d” from last week.
Austin FC come short in front of a football loving tree
Last Year’s MLS darlings Austin FC traveled to the Domincan Republic to take on the Haitian semi-pro side Violette. The conditions in Haiti did not even meet the porous standards of Concacaf so the game was played in a neutral stadium that is perhaps most notable for the Lord of Rings sized magical tree at one end of the pitch.
Despite the fact that the tree from their crest seemed to have come to lifee for the game Austin were unprepared and out of sorts losing 3-0 to a side that has barely played a game in the past year. A loss that included one of the most spectacular own goals to ever occur in the competition.
The Union catch a stray (dog)
The Philadelphia Union traveled to El Salvador’s Cuscatlán Stadium to take on Alianza F.C. While Philly was able to leave with a draw from a very difficult place to play the most notable performance was put in by a friendly and persistent pitch invader.
It goes both ways
While most US fans fear the unpredictable in facing smaller clubs in CONCACAF the magic of CCL can also play in favor of MLS clubs when facing the titans of Liga MX as was the case with Orlando versus Tigres. Thanks in large part to the goalkeeping heroics of Orlando’s Pedro Gallese Orlando City were able to take a point from the intimidating Estadio Universitario.
Tides turning?
While CCL has historically produced upsets and disappointments for larger clubs many, especially MLS, clubs are taking the competition more seriously as evidenced by the clinics put on by both Vancouver and LAFC. Vancouver walloped Honduran side Real España 5-0 while LAFC put in a near perfect shift against Costa Rican side L.D. Alajuelense. That match showed a dominant LAFC side consisting of first team players completely outclass a young Alajuelense. LAFC’s Denis Bouanga’s hat trick in the game was only outmatched by the impressive showing put in by L.A.’s traveling supporters.
CCL forever
In a Football world of billion dollar squads, luxury brands and sport washing CCL brings some much needed balance. Amongst the craziness CCL offers the excitement of watching underdogs go toe to toe with large clubs in some of the most interesting and exciting venues in the world. CCL I hope you never change and that we will always have your home video level broadcasts to carry us through the future Springs of our lives.