Two Big Scores for MLS

For all the progress Major League Soccer has made in the last decade - solid contributions to the US national team, the construction of revenue-generating soccer specific stadiums, and (finally) a TV deal that does rely on time buying - it's lagged in one area. When it comes to international competitions, the record of MLS teams has been miserable. With the exception of DC United's 1998 InterAmerican Cup win over Brazil's Vasco de Gama, MLS teams have seen early exits in meaningful competitions.* The excuses are many (these competitions generally take place during the MLS preseason while the other leagues are in full swing - for example), but none of them can hide the bad results.

Which makes last night pretty meaningful. Last night was the second leg of the quarterfinal round of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the region's top international club competition. MLS teams have traditionally bombed out early, particularly in the road games. But this year, both MLS teams in the competition - 2006 regular season champs DC United and 2006 MLS Cup winners Houston Dynamo - advanced in fine fashion.

DC had the easier road, having defeated CD Olimpia of Honduras 4-1 in the first leg in Honduras. DC defeated Olimpia again last night in DC, 3-2, to win the series 7-3 on aggregate. DC's new Brazilian striker, Luciano Emilio, notched three goals against his former club. Looks like a good signing - Freddy Awho? :)

The Dynamo got stung by a late goal in Costa Rica in the first leg of their series with Puntarenas. Trailing 1-0 in the series, Houston picked up the equalizer in the first half last night (in College Station @ Texas A&M's soccer complex, for some reason) and grabbed the winner in the second half to down Punatrenas 2-1 on aggregate.

Up next for the MLS clubs are the semi-finals and two powerhouse Mexican clubs - DC gets the legendary Chivas of Gualajara and Houston takes on Pachuca. While the US national team has pulled ahead of Mexico on the international scene, MLS teams don't have such a good history against Mexican clubs. Hopefully either DC or Houston (oh hell, who am I kidding - DC!) will sneak through to the final. Would an all MLS final be too much to ask? Probably not - but I'll dream about it for a while.

* Yup, that excludes the versions of the CONCACAF Champions Cup that were played all in the United States - real international club ball means playing in the other guy's backyard, too.