2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup MLS 1st Round 1st Leg
MLS turn to begin their Champions Cup Run
After the clubs from Liga MX have finally started their first round matches to begin their road in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, now comes Major League Soccer's clubs to get a taste of their first round matches and the opening legs in their ties. Of course, we have two matchups with MLS clubs facing each other and the rest against clubs from Central America, so let's get ready to discuss the action in this opening round for MLS.
COLORADO RAPIDS 2:1 LOS ANGELES FC
Djordje Mihailovic scored a brace to get the aggregate lead at Dick's Sporting Goods Park as most of the goals came in the second half. He converted a penalty in the 48th minute after the referee originally gave a yellow card to Kevin Cabral for simulation in the area, but after VAR the yellow card was overturned, and he pointed to the spot. Then Mihailovic took a wonderful free kick that nailed the upper far ninety in the 80th minute. However, LAFC found their away goal to keep themselves in the tie as Aaron Long pulled one back in the 87th minute with a lovely header to beat Zach Steffen. The return leg is headed to BMO Stadium in downtown Los Angeles.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY 0:1 INTER MIAMI
The bitter cold that struck Kansas City, Kansas forced this match to be played on Wednesday, February 19th, instead of Tuesday, February 18th, which didn't make much of a difference in the temperatures that saw both sides battle against each other in the opening leg at Children's Mercy Park. But once again the maestro in Lionel Messi converted the only goal of this match as he settled down a looping ball, turned toward the far side of the SKC area, converted it low, and tucked it inside the back post. The return leg will be at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, but there is a bit of controversy after the opening ninety minutes.
A post from Front Office Sports on Twitter/X that Mexican referee Marco Ortiz was seen on the pitch asking Lionel Messi for his jersey after the match was over, and did receive it. Now questions are being raised on the integrity and favoritism of Messi. We shall wait and see if there is any form of punishment that will be adjudicated with CONCACAF.
ANTIGUA GFC 1:3 SEATTLE SOUNDERS
Bangers and Golazos were on call for this match as the Seattle Sounders went down to Guatemala and got multiple away goals. Paul Arriola started the fireworks as he nailed a looping ball toward the upper far ninety in the 3rd minute, but Antigua did pull one back to level the tie as Oscar Santis converted in the 24th minute. But it was all Sounders in the second half. Pedro de la Vega nailed his banger in the 61st minute, and in second half stoppage time, Albert Rusnak finished the night with a goal of his own. The return leg is headed for Lumen Field.
MOTAGUA 1:4 FC CINCINNATI
The Queen City club headed down to Honduras to take on one of the powerhouse clubs of that country and came out like a winner. Pavel Bucha scored two goals to open the scoring in the 28th minute and added to the scoreline in the 78th minute. While Motagua's Rodrigo Auzmendi did equalize in the 41st minute, it would be new recruit Ahoueke Denkey getting the match winner in the 49th minute, and recently transferred from the Portland Timbers Evander converting in the 87th minute to wrap up the scoring. TQL Stadium will host the second leg.
DEPORTIVO SAPRISSA 2:1 VANCOUVER WHITECAPES
For the lone MLS Canadian side, they went down to the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa looking for a win to bring back some positive feelings when they host the second leg at BC Place. Ryan Gauld converted to open the scoring in the 21st minute, but Mariano Torres equalized in the 51st minute. But in second half stoppage time, Saprissa would take the win as Ariel Rodriguez got the match winner. A hard loss to take for the Whitecaps, but they should feel good as they were able to convert the away goal and now have an advantage heading home.
While Herediano and Real Salt Lake played to a scoreless draw at the National Stadium in San Jose, Costa Rica, some feel heading back to America First Field in Sandy, Utah will be an advantage for RSL, but if Herediano converts any away goals, then it can spell trouble for Pablo Mastroeni's side.
Get ready for the second legs next week and we will see who will face whom in the Round of 16 in the 2025 edition of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
An interesting part of this story is that the Rapids started 8 U.S. born players. While many MLS teams start only 1-3 N.A. players, starting so many is a big deal.
Way back in the real NASL days teams were mandated to start at least 2 N.A. players. The MLS does not have this mandate. Too many U.S. born players go to Europe and are replaced with S.A. players.