CONCACAF Champions Cup: Your Running Commentary
Good evening folks. Tonight will feature both second legs of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. D.C. United plays host to Pachuca while the Houston Dynamo travel to Costa Rica to face Deportivo Saprissa.
D.C. United will look to erase a 2-0 first-leg defeat while Houston will be looking to win the second leg after the team's finished 0-0 in the first leg at Robertson Stadium.
Fox Soccer Channel is showing both matches tonight, with the D.C. United-Pachuca match already under way. If you are watching the matches, please feel free to share your thoughts on the action in the comments section below.
Enjoy the match and here's hoping MLS can deliver some good showings tonight.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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About time Ives, 14 minutes into the game. DC is looking good. Don't expect a 0-0 draw.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Wells with a nice save. I think he fell in the way to save it but either way very lucky.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 07:58 PM
So the ref does not like DC at all. He is definitely being unfair.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 08:01 PM
How's the game?
Posted by: Jerry @ work!! | April 09, 2008 at 08:01 PM
Spencer, thanks for the updates. Apparently every other SBI mafia member is at the game!
Posted by: Jerry @ Work!! | April 09, 2008 at 08:03 PM
Gallardo with a free kick, but it was a very soft one. He was going for placement but you can't score if you don't put pace behind it.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 08:06 PM
DC with 2 yellows, Emilio and Gallardo. Don't agree with either one.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 08:07 PM
Emilio should have had a goal in the 26th but hit it wrong. DC showing promise. I think they can pull this out if they continue and don't let the ref'ing discourage them.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 08:09 PM
Think DC should avoid the stereo type that all South Americans are the only ones that can take free kicks. Gallardo hasn't impressed on that aspect.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 08:17 PM
Emilio has missed two sitters.
Posted by: Brandon | April 09, 2008 at 08:26 PM
Yes it should really be 2-0 DC. Moreno really set him up nicely. Great last ditch tacle by the Pachuca defender
Posted by: Gerald | April 09, 2008 at 08:31 PM
This tie should be even. Emilio blew two gimmies.
btw this is the 3rd DC game I've seen and Perralta (DC's new central defender) is somewhere between unimpressive and liability.
DC has played reasonably well but I don't see how they will be two goals better in the 2nd half.
C'mon Houston!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Steve | April 09, 2008 at 08:40 PM
I'm with you guys in that having seen 3 half's of play between DCU and Pachuca, I just don't see how United is going to put up 2+ goals on Pachuca in the next 45 minutes. I hope I'm wrong though.
Posted by: DCM | April 09, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Thanks Spencer, keep up for the comments. I'm traveling on business in CA and can't get the game
Posted by: Beckster | April 09, 2008 at 08:47 PM
Whew, that was nearly the death blow.
What was the call on that one... anyone...
It appears a phantom call prevented a nice goal by Pachuca.
Posted by: DCM | April 09, 2008 at 08:49 PM
I've gotten slack on this board for saying Emilio is crap. People love giving the the stat that he was the leading goalscorer last year...well, most of the goals he scored last year were skill-less, scrappy poke-in type goals. When it comes to quality finishing, the guy just doesn't have it.
Tonight he has proven how awful he is. The MLS media machine needs to stop trying to hype up a single player at all costs... Emilio has definitely become known as a great scorer on "hype" rather than on valid reputation. Anyone who has been (un)fortunate enough to see this guy play knows what a joke he is.
Posted by: Jacob | April 09, 2008 at 08:50 PM
"Better lucky than good" is the only positive that can be said for Emilio.
Posted by: Jacob | April 09, 2008 at 08:50 PM
It may have just been me, but I don't think the ball went in the net, but rather skimmed the far right hand side. Wells even took it as a goal kick afterwards.
Posted by: Brandon | April 09, 2008 at 08:51 PM
Now in the 53rd minute and Pachuca has had SEVERAL dangerous scoring opportunities with nothing coming from United at this point. NOTHING at all this half.
Posted by: DCM | April 09, 2008 at 08:51 PM
Will someone wake Max Bretos up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The goal wasn't disallowed it didn't go in the net!!!!!!!
What a moron!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Steve | April 09, 2008 at 08:54 PM
Good eye Brandon, I just rewond the game and you're right. Wells ran behind the net to gather the ball on that shot. These bozos on FSC went on and on about it and I bought into what they were saying. Should have know better than to listen to those two!
Posted by: DCM | April 09, 2008 at 08:55 PM
DC just denied a marginal penalty. But I think it was a penalty.
Defender pulled Fred's arm but he went down too easily.
Posted by: Steve | April 09, 2008 at 08:56 PM
Fred got pulled down in the box in about the 55th. DC should have already had 2 pks. The ref is not calling this game fair at all. And Emilio isn't finishing his chances.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 08:56 PM
Quaranta off in the 59th and Burch is on.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 08:57 PM
With the way this official has let things go with all the physical play I'm not surprised he didn't call that one. There was just enough for a PK to be awarded, but I'm not upset one wasn't called either.
Posted by: DCM | April 09, 2008 at 08:58 PM
I think DC is lacking some speed up top. But the game isn't over yet.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 08:59 PM
Jacob,
I wouldn't go that far, 20+ goals in any league is impressive and he's scored some decent ones for DCU. Tonight however... lets just hope he forgets tonight.
Posted by: Brandon | April 09, 2008 at 09:00 PM
Great Save Calero
Posted by: Gerald | April 09, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Emilio almost scores again, but can't seem to finish anything tonight. McTavish is out and Neill is in.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Nice header from Emilio... reaction save.
Posted by: Brandon | April 09, 2008 at 09:02 PM
Emilio almost got that one in the net.
Posted by: DCM | April 09, 2008 at 09:03 PM
I know it early in the season but I do not see where Gallardo is an improvement over Gomez for D.C.
Posted by: Thom | April 09, 2008 at 09:03 PM
Thom I agree Gallardo isn't an improvement. They need a forward with speed.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 09:05 PM
Haven't seen every minute he's been on the field this year, but has Neill done anything... anything at all.
I feel like I'm watching my little nephew run around in the middle of a professional soccer match.
Posted by: DCM | April 09, 2008 at 09:06 PM
Positive for DC looks like they have a great number of fans especially for a Wednesday night.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 09:06 PM
Again, I don't think the "stats" speak to Emilio's [lack of] quality. I think I recall less than a handful of respectable goals by Emilio last season. I think he was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time frequently last year--getting all kinds of scrappy, poke-ins off of rebounds and their ilk. When it comes to actually scoring quality goals, well, tonight has been a great example of his inability to get those.
And yes, 20 goals in any league is very respectable, but I doubt Emilio would get ANYWHERE NEAR 20 if he were to move to a superior league...
With all that being said, I would be more than happy to eat my words if Emilio lit it up tonight and saved this game for DC!
Posted by: Jacob | April 09, 2008 at 09:07 PM
Neill really hasn't done anything all year. I personally think he is too small. Yes there are some great small players but he's smaller than Tevez and Messi and has less than half the skill.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Spencer - I wonder if they will regret using all that cap space on Gallardo by seasons end.
Posted by: Thom | April 09, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Let's wait on the gallardo comparison until later in the season. The last two years, Gomez was woefully out of form at the beginning of the season and didn't do anything for a couple of months
Posted by: Beckster | April 09, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Spencer and DCM -
I don't think Gallardo is an improvement over Gomez either...I do think that there's a chance he'll adapt to the team and play much better later in the season. However, while I think his passing is certainly not worse than Gomez's, he doesn't appear to be as dynamic of a player.
As far as Niell goes, I've seen every game he's played in for DC thus far and he is crap. Utter, worthless crap. With all my Emilio bashing, I'll take Emilio over Niell any day. Emilio at least gets himself into scoring opportunities(which he wastes); Niell doesn't even get that far.
Posted by: Jacob | April 09, 2008 at 09:10 PM
I think they will if they don't see similar results as from Gomez. I know the year is early, but I guess its all the hype about being a DP. I mean he is getting paid 3X more than Gomez but is the same quality. Thats a bad investment in my book. But I will give him the year to see what he has knowing that the team is being put together with a lot of new faces.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 09:11 PM
I would like to see DC take some more shots. Alvares scores and DC is out.
Posted by: Spencer | April 09, 2008 at 09:14 PM
And that's the game.
Posted by: Brandon | April 09, 2008 at 09:14 PM
Turn out the lights!
Posted by: Steve | April 09, 2008 at 09:14 PM
game over
Posted by: Jacob | April 09, 2008 at 09:14 PM
Why is Sullivan so in love with short passes then goals?
He most likly doesn't like the goal because there wasn't 4 touches beforehand.
Posted by: Thom | April 09, 2008 at 09:14 PM
And that is it for DC's chances. Goal Pachuca in the 76th.
Posted by: DCM | April 09, 2008 at 09:15 PM
DC needs to just shoot the ball, too much passing in the box when the should just let it loose
Posted by: David | April 09, 2008 at 09:17 PM
niell loses the ball
shocking
Posted by: Jacob | April 09, 2008 at 09:18 PM
Absolutely HORRID defending by DC there. Couldn't tell who it was - Namoff I think - but he left his man all alone to run after the ball on the other side of the field. That looked like U-9 defending.
Posted by: Joamiq | April 09, 2008 at 09:18 PM