We saw Eight matches to discuss in the round of 16 first leg as the clubs from MLS, Liga MX, Costa Rica, and the lone Caribbean side in SV Robinhood joined to battle against each other in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. We had the results that we expected. Some were exciting, but we had a shock towards the end of the match week. So, let's talk about these matches.
CS Herediano of Costa Rica was taking on the Caribbean Cup Champions in Suriname's SV Robinhood, but, to be fair, it wasn't a real contest. Getsel Montes gets the first of the match in the 32nd minute, then towards the backend, Adrian Garza converted the final goal of the game in the 84th minute. While Robinhood did battle, it just wasn't enough, We will see when they return to Suriname, but it will be an uphill climb.
At Subaru Park along the banks of the Deleware River in Chester, Pennsylvania, it was a big test for the Philadelphia Union as they would take on the dangerous Pachuca. But honestly, this was one of the best scoreless draws we have ever seen in Champions Cup play. It was a knockout, drag-out fight for both sides trading chances. Andre Blake for the Union and Carlos Moreno for Pachuca matching saves to keep both sides off the scoreboard.
But the big moment that got wiped out due to VAR was a handball originally called on Nathan Harriel. Pachuca was attacking the Union net towards the final moments of regulation in the first half; the referee caught Hariel handling the ball when it was struck but kept the play going due to advantage. Once the advantage was gone, referee Ismael Cornejo pointed to the spot.
But VAR was on the scene, and Ivan Barton, who was in the replay booth, reminded the playback when the ball was starting to play toward the Union area, and he caught a Pachuca attacker who handled the ball first before Harriel's moment came. So the referee was informed by VAR, took away the penalty, and blew his whistle for halftime. What a great match that was.
Then we headed down to the purple palace on Church Street as Orlando City hosted UNAL Tigres, and that one was also an exciting scoreless draw between the two sides. Pedro Gallese of Orlando City and Nahuel Guzman of Tigres traded saves, and each side had chances to threaten each other's nets. But at the end of the match, both sides decided to meet for the second leg in Monterrey, Mexico, at the Universitario.
The New England Revolution hosted a dangerous side in Costa Rica club LD Alajulense, but they ran a rough shot all over them by a final of four goals to mil. Nick Lima ran along the near side and took a cross to smash it inside the near post to open the scoring in the 28th minute. Tomas Chancalay converted a brace by beating Leonel Moreira twice. He made it two-nil in the 41st minute, then got his second five minutes later, after the restart. Esmit Bajraktarevic converted a penalty to end it in the 55th minute.
There was one of two Champions Cup matches that was an all-MLS battle. The defending US Open Cup Champions, Houston Dynamo, hosted the defending MLS Cup Champions, Columbus Crew, at Shell Energy Stadium. You saw the frustrations on the faces of both managers as Wilfred Nancy and Ben Olson felt like they had chances to take the lead, but it was also frustrating to see each side converting a goal taken away by VAR, but the plays were offside.
But second-half stoppage time came, and the big winner was the wayside as the Crew's Alexandru Matan found a way to convert his chance to put the Crew ahead and take the away goal lead back to Lower.com Field.
The only all-LigaMX matchup was the Classico between Guadalajara Chivas hosting Club America at the Estadio Akron. This one was all one-sided as America took down the goats of Chivas. Julian Quinones opened the scoring in the 15th minute, converting a penalty. Sadly, Eduardo Torres got double yellowed and red to say good night in the 61st minute, putting Chivas down to ten men.
Club America took over the match as Diego Valdes made it two-nil in the 70th minute, then Henry Martin ended the night in second-half stoppage time. Right now, Club America has three away goals, and let's see what happens when they return to the mighty Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. It should be an exciting time.
The Brandon Vazquez reunion came very early in the Queen City as Monterrey visited TQL Stadium to take on FC Cincinnati, and the Mexican side didn't disappoint, and neither did Vazquez when he converted his only chance in the 24th minute. It looked like Roman Celentano had saved it, but he bobbled it off his right arm and rolled into the net. Even though Rodrigo Aguirre got sent off in the 70th minute, it still wasn't enough for FC Cincinnati to earn an equalizer.
And finally, at Geodis Park, some might say revenge for the Music City side during the Leagues Cup final as Nashville SC hosted Inter Miami. Jacob Shaffelburg scored a brace by beating Drake Callender twice. He went top shelf in the 4th minute, then bent one in the 47th minute. Lionel Messi, finally playing his first CONCACAF tournament in the Champions Cup, pulled one back in the 52nd minute. But it looked all over when Shaq Moore converted in the 83rd minute till VAR came calling and wiped it out for offside, but on the replay, when Moore accepted the initial pass, he looked even with the last defender along the near side.
But this is the Messi era of Inter Miami, along with his friends, as we got to second-half stoppage time. The cross was delivered in front of the Nashville net, and out of nowhere, the Uruguayan International Luis Suarez headed the ball past Joe Willis to give the club a big two-goal draw and convert two away goals. What action do we have in the first leg in the round of 16 in the Champions Cup. Let's hope and see more of that in the second leg next week.
CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP ROUND OF 16 1ST LEG RESULTS
CS HEREDIANO 2:0 SV ROBINHOOD
PHILADELPHIA UNION 0:0 CF PACHUCA
ORLANDO CITY 0:0 UNAL TIGRES
NE REVOLUTION 4:0 LD ALAJULENSE
HOUSTON DYNAMO 0:1 COLUMBUS CREW
GUADALAJARA 0:3 CLUB AMERICA
FC CINCINNATI 0:1 CF MONTERREY
NASHVILLE SC 2:2 INTER MIAMI
Some really good games during this leg. Last nights was a reminder in two ways. The quality of Monterrey was on display. Cincy played a good game but was not as good a team.
Then Miami showed their quality but also a taste of S.A. football. Two of their new players that moved north brought their gamesmanship with them and hammered Jacob Sheffelburg after his fine performance.