Liga MX teams take advantage of conditions to record first leg success
But MLS teams have three chances next week to reverse these results
Once again, we see the clubs from Liga MX showing up when it matters the most during the CONCACAF Champions Cup, as the mighty clubs of Tigres. Club America, Monterrey, and Pachuca are thrashing or gaining the advantage on the away goals rule. So far, MLS Clubs and Costa Rican side Herediano are no match for these powerhouse sides in Mexico.
For the New England Revolution, they hosted the first leg of the Quarterfinals against Club America, and this was no contest at Gillette Stadium. With fabulous visiting support for the club that plays in Mexico City, they took the Revs to the woodshed and showed them what a real powerhouse looks like. With two goals in the first half from Henry Martin and Alejandro Zendejas, along with two goals in the second half from Cristian Calderon and Brian Rodriguez, Club America showed no mercy and had a giant advantage with away goals in the return leg to the Estadio Azteca.
While the Columbus Crew were able to battle with UNAL Tigres to a one-goal draw, the problem was they didn't score more, and they allowed Tigres to gain the away goal advantage. Once again French striker Andre-Pierre Gignac got the opening goal with a beautiful rip-beating keeper Patrick Schulte, but Diego Rossi converted the equalizer late in the first half. But the poor job by Aidan Morris getting double-yellowed in three minutes and sent off in the 77th minute put his side down to ten men. While Tigres never gained another goal with the man advantage, Morris will be suspended at the Universitario.
No Lionel Messi once again for Inter Miami as they hosted Monterrey at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They did take the lead in the opening half with a beautiful goal from Tomas Aviles in the 19th minute, but it was the poor decision-making from David Ruiz-Ochoa who got double yellowed himself and then a red card within four minutes. Monterrey took advantage and took down the Messi-less Inter Miami with goals from Maximiliano Meza in the 69th minute and then a beautiful rip by Jorge Rodriguez in the 89th minute. He took advantage of poor ball possession to take down the South Florida side.
Pchuca who is red hot did what any good side would do in these types of tournaments, punished their opponents severely, and scored five unanswered goals in Costa Rica. Salomon Rondon with the hat trick, and goals from Alexei Dominguez and Alan Bautista. It's easy to see that we will have all Liga MX sides in the semi-finals once the second legs have concluded. Maybe if Messi comes back for the road leg and can score two away goals to save Inter Miami, it would be a fantastic achievement with the Crew level on aggregate it would still be a tall task to come back down at Tigres.
The truth is the gigantic hill these MLS sides will have to climb won't be easy, and they will stay grounded at the base of the mountain. If there is to be a miracle for these MLS clubs it better come quickly, because right now I don't see them overturning the result that is waiting for the Liga MX sides as we speak.
CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTERFINALS FIRST LEG
NE REVOLUTION 0:4 CLUB AMERICA
COLUMBUS CREW 1:1 UNAL TIGRES
INTER MIAMI 1:2 MONTERREY
HEREDIANO 0:5 PACHUCA
"No Lionel Messi once again". Someone needs to develop and update a Messi tracker. Since he was signed, how many games (including the international friendlies tour) has he played in, and how many has he missed? It's something that should be used to call out the ridiculous nature of the whole thing.
This has been a bad year for MLS teams. There have been some truly terrible games. Those red cards show some very immature players hurting their teams.
If Hernandez is back Columbus still has a chance of advancing. Miami missing so many players due to injuries, most coming during practice ( they need to look at why) could still make it is Leo is back.