It was a Mexican Superstar, Luis Hernandez that led an MLS side to its last Continental Triumph
As has been discussed recently on the American Soccer Show and on this website we’ve been fed what amounts to league driven propaganda (presumably to attract new investors to the game which is a good thing) that the standard of MLS is consistently improving. With the two top MLS sides facing down the barrel of a gun at elimination at the semi-final stage of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, let’s look at MLS’ history participating in competitions with teams from other leagues outside the United States in FIFA/Federation sanctioned events. (ie., non SUM created and marketed events)
1997
CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP
DC United…………………Lost in semifinals to LA Galaxy
LA Galaxy………………..Lost in final to Cruz Azul
1998
CONCACAF Champions Cup
Colorado Rapids………………Lost in qualifying round to Leon
DC United………………..Defeated Toluca in final
Inter-American Cup
DC United……………….Defeated Vasco De Gama in final
1999
CONCACAF Champions Cup
Chicago Fire…………………..Lost to Alajuelenese in Semi-finals
DC United……………………..Lost to Nexaca in the Semi-finals
LA Galaxy…………………….Lost in qualifying round to Nexaca
2000
CONCACAF Champions Cup
DC United…………………….Lost in semi-finals to LA Galaxy
LA Galaxy……………..Defeated Olimpia in the final
Club World Cup
LA Galaxy…………………..Drawn to face Real Madrid in first round…………..event canceled.
2001
CONCACAF Giants Cup
Columbus Crew…………..Lost to Saprissa in Quarterfinals
DC United…………………..Lost in final to Club America
* The Giants Cup replaced the Champions Cup in 2001 and its qualification was based on average attendance per match, thus Columbus qualified ahead of potentially more competitive sides like the LA Galaxy or the Metrostars. I look back at 2001 as a year I believe an MLS team could have won the Champions Cup, and the last season before the mass exodus of top American players from MLS to Europe really began.
Copa Meraconorte
KC Wizards………………..Eliminated at Group Stage (4 pts, 1 W 1 D 4L)
Metrostars…………………Eliminated at Group Stage (9pts, 3 W 3L)
2002
CONCACAF Champions Cup
Chicago Fire……………….Eliminated in Quarterfinals by Moriela
DC United………………….Eliminated in Round of 16 by Alajuelenese
KC Wizards………………..Eliminated in Semifinals by Moriela
San Jose Earthquakes..Eliminated in Quarterfinals by Pachuca
2003
CONCACAF Champions Cup
Columbus Crew………..Lost to Morelia in the Quarterfinals
LA Galaxy………………..Lost to Nexaca in the Quarterfinals
New England Revs……Lost to Alajuelenese in the Round of 16
San Jose Earthquakes.. Lost to Municipal in the Round of 16
2004
CONCACAF Champions Cup
Chicago Fire……………….Lost to Saprissa in the Semi-finals
SJ Earthquakes………….Lost to Alajuelenese in the Quarterfinals
2005
CONCACAF Champions Cup
DC United………………….Lost to Pumas in Semifinals
KC Wizards………………..Lost to Saprissa in the Quarterfinals
Copa Sudamericana
DC United………………….Lost to Universidad Catolica in Round of 16
2006
CONCACAF Champions Cup
LA Galaxy………………..Lost to Saprissa in Quarterfinals
NE Revs…………………..Lost to Alajuelenese in Quarterfinals
2007
CONCACAF Champions Cup
DC United……………….Lost to Guadalajara in Semi-finals
Houston Dynamo……Lost to Pachuca in Semi-finals
Copa Sudamericana
DC United……………..Lost to Guadalajara in Round of 16
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While MLS’ performances in the Champions Cup the past two years has certainly exceeded the performances of the previous half dozen years, a gap still without question exists between the Mexican League and MLS. Mexican League teams can go to the Copa Libertadores and hold their own and also have been very successful in the Copa Sudamericana with Pachuca winning the 2006 title. With all of the recent conversation about MLS entering the Copa Libertadores and the new CONCACAF Champions League beginning play this year, MLS has a better chance of having its top teams reinforce a notion abroad that MLS is not up to the same standard as the leagues many American fans like to compare it with. Based on these results the Costa Rican league is far superior to MLS: However, Costa Rica’s league generally only has two or three strong teams, while every MLS non-expansion team is roughly of the same caliber when it comes to comparing them to teams in other leagues.
The bottom line is regardless of the bluster we hear from some fans and the opinions of respected soccer journalists like my co-host Dave Denholm, the results for MLS in competitive matches against squads from other leagues outside the U.S. had in many ways gotten progressively worse throughout the leagues history until 2006, and is only now beginning to recover. However, if you have a different take on the above detailed results, please feel free to comment and take me to task for this posting!
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