The Soccer Thread (IV)

Doesn't that go to the team with the best regular season record?

 

They are, Columbus got a pass straight into the group round, as did Houston.

Red Bulls and D.C. have to go through the qualifying round, which funnily enough begins tonight.

http://www.concacaf.com/competitions/champsleague/qteams09.aspx

 

Oh, and as a quick addendum, before someone asks, Toronto FC is going to be the Canadian representitive this season, they won the Canadian Cup a few weeks ago to secure their berth.

Toronto's qualifying round match-up with the PR Islanders of the USL-1 could be a pretty interesting one.

Here's the full draw.

San Francisco (Panama) vs. San Juan Jabloteh (T&T)
Pachuca (Mexico) vs. Jalapa (Guatemala)
W Connection (T&T) vs. New York Red Bulls (USA)
Olimpia (Honduras) vs. Árabe Unido (Panama)
Herediano (Costa Rica) vs. Cruz Azul (Mexico)
D.C. United (USA) vs. Luís Ángel Firpo (El Salvador)
Municipal Liberia (Costa Rica) vs. Real España (Honduras)
Toronto FC (Canada) vs Puerto Rico Islanders (Puerto Rico)

 

Thanks for the clarification. I knew somebody here would know.

 

Winner of Toronto FC and PR Islanders is placed in Columbus' group. This could very interesting indeed.

The group stage rounds are August 18-20, August 25-27, September 15-17, September 22-24, September 28-October 1, and October 20-22 in case you're planning to attend matches.

This is probably the best resource to follow the tournament:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CONCACAF_Champions_League_2009%E2%80%9310

 

So, does MLS fall flat on its face again this season? I mean, I can believe that NYRB won't get through, but shouldn't Toronto and DC?

Firpo was handled decently by Houston in the group stages last year, but PR is a pretty decent squad currently in a three-way tie for the lead in the USL-1.

 

Red Bulls should win against a T&T team. I like DC United's chances. Toronto? That's a toss up. I don't know if they have the bodies to take a Champions League run seriously.

 

I didn't see the game, but D.C. didn't seem to play well at home tonight, needing a penalty to get a 1-1 tie with Firpo.

Pachuca, on the other hand, knows how to get it done, winning 3-0.

 

I’m not sure which RBNY team you have seen perform, but I can’t imagine that it is the same one that I’m watching.

I’m fully expecting RBNY to come out with a 4-5-1 formation to play for a 0-0 draw in T&T. It won’t work and they’ll lose 2-0. Then, they’ll come home and I’ll be standing in Giants Stadium watching RBNY get humped to the tune of 3-1.

Osorio will then have some odd obtuse quote about how if the team had just converted on one of the other chances they had then the final score would be more indicative of the team’s performance. Of course, that one chance would have changed the final score not at all, but that doesn’t matter.

After that, Osorio will just be a dead man walking. Well, he should be a dead man walking today. Sadly, it doesn’t seem like RBNY wants to eat another coach’s salary.

 

Yeah Red Bull suck, but as bad as a Caribbean club side? C'mon man have a little bit of faith.

 

I think it really has everything to do with the coach. I think that there are cetain players on the team with skill and talent. However, Osorio uses them in the wrong way or insists on playing them out of position. The other problem is that players that used to be solid have digressed under him. It is almost like they forgot what helped them get where they are. It truly is embarrassing to watch.

On that note, I will say that I’ll be watching on Thursday with the hope that it will all work out just fine. I just know better.

 

Qualifying round, one year ago. Joe Public (T&T) 6, New England Revolution (USA) 1.

Including 4-0 at the Razor.