After we had two solid weeks of Liga MX Clubs fighting in their first-round matches of the brand-new CONCACAF Champions Cup, it was Major League Soccer's turn to play their A< American clubs in the opening round as they faced opponents from Central America, and the Caribbean along with the lone Canadian Premier League side from Alberta.
The all-MLS matchup between St. Louis City SC and the Houston Dynamo was a hard-fought opening leg at City Stadium. While it looked like the Dynamo did get their away goal in the first half, VAR removed it as there was a player offside. Still, take nothing away from how both sides fought. Tim Parker scored against his former side in the 61st minute for the lead, but the Dynamo did get their away goal from Sebastian Kowalczyk in the 72nd minute. But St. Louis did take the win in second-half stoppage time, and Hosei Kijima buried the winner. Yet the Dynamo still has life with the away goal.
Another barnburner at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa as the Philadelphia Union returned to Costa Rica to face Deportivo Saprissa again. Sadly, the visitors found a way to give the home side the lead as they converted an away goal in the 26th minute. Jakob Glesnes kicked the ball back towards Andre Blake, but he hit it a bit too hard and bounced past Blake.
But the Union took the halftime talk in the locker room from Head Coach Jim Curtin, and they responded as Julian Carranza scored a hat trick to take the lead on aggregate three goals to one. But Saprissa got a lifeline and converted in the final minute of regulation as Gerald Taylor pulled one back to stay in the tie.
The Caleb Porter era started in the Champions Cup for the New England Revolution, facing Panama's Club Atletic Independente. Tomas Chancalay smacked home a good ball for the only goal of the game as the Revolution should have had more but sadly couldn't finish the chances they created. Still, it was a positive display from the Revs to get the win and the away goal.
Orlando City became the first American Club to face a Canadian club that wasn't from Major League Soccer, as they took on Cavalry FC of the Canadian Premier League and dominated the match by a final of three goals to nil. Duncan Mcguire scored the match-winner in the 21st minute while Facundo Torres got a brace.
The Calgary, Alberta side did fight hard and looked dangerous, but sadly, they couldn't finish any of their chances against Pedro Gallese in the net. We shall see what happens when the return leg comes to Orlando, but you have to say these Canadian Premier League Teams are battling hard to get a result.
Remember Estadio Cibao, which has the giant tree behind the net on the right side of the stadium? Well. We are back there again as Moca FC of the Dominican Republic hosted Nashville SC at that venue in the Champions Cup. Early domination in the first half as HanyMukhtar converted in the 12th minute, and then thirteen minutes later, Sam Surridge converted the second of the match. Then Tyler Boyd ended it with a tally in the 75th minute to close up shop.
Supporters Shield Winners FC Cincinnati headed down to Kingston, Jamaica, to face Cavalier FC at the office for a big matchup. While at times it looked like Cavalier tried the gamesmanship route to knock FC Cincinnati off their game, it didn't work as Sergio Santos scored from a tight angle inside first-half stoppage time, then the final goal came from Malik Pinto in the 87th minute. The return leg is at TQL Stadium.
This week will be the second leg matches, all on Fox Sports 2 and Tubi online. They should be exciting to watch, and we will see who advances to the round of 16. Here are the results from the first leg for MLS teams.
ST. LOUIS CITY 2:1 HOUSTON DYNAMO
DEPORTIVO SAPRISSA 2:3 PHILADELPHIA UNION
CLUB ATLETICO INDEPEDENTE 0:1 NE REVOLUTION
CAVALRY FC 0:3 ORLANDO CITY
MOCA FC 0:3 NASHVILLE SC
CAVALIER 0:2 FC CINCINNATI
Saprissa only losing by one with two away goals isn’t a bad result for them. Philly need to be careful cause they can make that back.
Dynamo loss was the worst loss with losing its starting striker Sebastian Ferreira for an extended time with a lower body injury.