CONCACAF Champions League: Your Running Commentary

The CONCACAF Champions League resumes tonight as the New England Revolution and Chivas USA look to reverse results after both lost in the road legs of their home-and-home series.

The Revs are in a better position than Chivas USA, playing host to Trinidad & Tobago side Joe Public tonight at Gillette Stadium (8pm ET, FSC) trailing 2-1 in the aggregate.

Chivas USA is in worse shape, returning from its first leg with Tauro FC trailing 2-0. Tonight's match at Home Depot Center (10pm, FSC)

Those of you north of the border might be interest in seeing the Montreal Impact take on Nicaraguan squad Real Esteli (1am, FSC). Montreal won the first leg of their series, 1-0, but must now hold off the Central American club in Honduras tonight.

If you will be watching tonight's action, this is your place to discuss the games. Feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

Comments

[Jersey Red Bull Fan]

It will be interesting to see if either team can advance to the group stage. I don't have FSC so I'll be here waiting for updates.

Also, you got to figure Montreal's performance only helps the case for another MLS expansion team in Canada. Long time reader, first post...Thanks for all your work Ives!

[Rene]

If Real Esteli is from Nicaragua, why are they playing the return leg in Honduras?

[KK]

Rene - No Nicaraguan stadium met FIFA standards, so Real Esteli had to go across the border to find a suitable stadium.

[MK]

Wow - even some of the empty seats dressed up as empty seats in NE. Joe Public up 1-0 (3-1 on agg.) Bad turn over!

[WiscFan]

Joe Public 1-0 (Agg. 3-1)

[sprool11]

Horrible turn over

[doug]

Ha!!! Joe Public? Really? Can we finally put the MLS/EPL question to bed

[Kevin Johnson]

Does the CC Cup have an away goals rule????

[Nutmegger]

This kid Richardson is a very nice player. Who in MLS has put the discovery claim on him?

[Tim]

It isn't the CONCACAF Champions Cup anymore. That name is terrible. It is CONCACAF Champions League.

Also away goals don't really matter in teh Revs situation because both teams have 1 away goal. The Revs need 3 goals and they go through. Good Luck Revs. Looks like DC and Houston are gonna have to Represent the US of A

[MK]

I know the Kraft family the money, but it's got to hurt to open Gillete Stadium for 2,000 fans.

[MK]

I think I left out a verb there...

[andres]

I love the fact that NE is losing

[El Steve]

w...o...w.

[MK]

2-0 (4-1) - lax defending and goal to the near post. Bad NE play all around.

[MK]

"There are really no positives to take out of this half" - I'm glad we didn't get the cliche out of that response... I guess I got used to hearing Balboa too much this summer!

[Kevin Johnson]

Away Goals?? Do they weigh in??? Also thiss very embarassing for MLS, but great to watch as a Crew fan...LOL.

[Mario in SJ]

Good Lord, is NE really that bad? As a fan of MLS I hope NE is tanking this game. If they are not MLS is in serious trouble.

Mr Garber, Joe Public is head and shoulder above this plodding NE team. What is going on? I will not be wasting my time on watching the second half.

[Erik Abarca]

Ives, what can you tell us about Sahr Senesie who they say is currently on trial with the New York Red Bulls, thanks!

[walter]

This is simply embarassing for MLS.

[joel]

Wow...I've always had my doubts about the quality of MLS teams beyond one or two key players, but this is really eye opening. The best team in MLS is getting played off the pitch by a Caribbean team that (lets be honest) are not world beaters. Not that I think many are watching this game - but any televised game is a showcase for the league. This is pretty awful and does not speak well of soccer in this country. Sad

[Pedro]

HAA...MLS IS A JOKE!!!

[doug]

who are these scrubs the Revs put out there? Can you say salary cap?

[Mikeype]

3-0! New England is completely being outplayed (at home). Granted, the Revs were not in their top form today with so many injuries, but this is getting ugly and embarrassing for the league very quickly.

Perhaps this result echoes throughout MLS management, that a salary cap and lack of depth (due to the salary cap) is a problem in this league.

It is not the number of games being played, they have more games in Europe than 35-38 games a year, the problem is the lack of depth in the teams. The roster need to be increased and as a result the salary cap needs to be increased as well.

[Rafael]

Joe Public is the same team D.C. United gave a nice 8 goal whipping. To think Rev fans were talking about taking all the silverware this year.

Revs are a joke! This match should have been played at a local high school.

[JB]

Let's be honest, if the league got rid of the salary cap tomorrow the Krafts still wouldn't spend a dime beyond what they are now.

[DemonJuice]

How utterly embarrassing for the MLS. I'll withhold judgement until the group stages start, but if this tournament is used as a measuring stick for how good MLS is, yikes.

Chivas USA is likely out, and if the other 2 in the group stages falter, well, I don't think MLS deserves 4 spots, not by a long shot.

Horrible.

[DemonJuice]

How utterly embarrassing for MLS. I'll withhold judgement until the group stages start, but if this tournament is used as a measuring stick for how good MLS is, yikes.

Chivas USA is likely out, and if the other 2 in the group stages falter, well, I don't think MLS deserves 4 spots, not by a long shot.

Horrible.

[Kyle]

This is truly an embarrassment to MLS...a very, very, very large embarrassment I hope that they try to correct before the beginning of next season.

[Lee]

This isn't so much an embarassment to the Revs specifically. It's an embarassment to the league governance that is restricting it's teams so badly. I think that the collective bargaining agreement coming up will give a bit more latitute to teams in international competitions. The reason all the Revs are injured is because of the number of games they've played.

[Godjesus]

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if it came out that the Revs threw these games so they could focus on the MLS cup and avoid fixture congestion.

[Simplicio]

There are bad games and there are really bad games. This game is a really bad one for NE. Some players can't hold a ball that is passed to them. Some players can't pass a ball to their own team mates.
And what is worse yet, I think New England Revolution is really trying; can you believe that? Injuries or not, NE Revolution is really looking pathetic right now. It is looking really Ugly!!!

[metrostar 4 life]

What a joke this is the most embarrassing soccer play I've ever seen their defense is outrageous. Way to embarrass MLS new england

[mikeK]

Ahahahha Revs are horrible! Joe Public? Sounds like they're getting destroyed by some guy from Trinidad.

Revs are crashing, the Metro's star is on the rise.

It's our year.

[Manny F]

Who gives a crap about NE? Can someone say "the Red Sox of MLS"

[jake]

Not sure which team was worse... New England in the Open Cup or New England vs. Joe Public.

[Manny F]

What the hell is Heaps complaining about? That's a straight red.

[jose]

Heaps is a little bit*#

[DemonJuice]

Wow, New England are a bunch of whiny Bi+(#es. Way to make yourselves look even worse.

[sonny]

Jamaica? are you f'in kidding??? MLS is worse than anyone could have imagined!

[Peter]

Pathetic.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

lets hope this is the impetus to up the cap, roster and change to follow the fifa calender (least likely of the 3)

[Matt]

sonny, Joe Public is from T&T, not Jamaica.

[Brant]

Can we all agree now that Jay Heaps is a thug who shouldn't be playing at all?

And while MLS bashers will blame the salary cap, what do you really think the difference in salary is between NE Revs and Joe Public?

[Brant]

And isn't this behavior by NE Revs the same that they complained about from the Mexican teams in the SuperLiga?

[kawa]

its not the revs that are that bad, yes they are poor in this game , but would one take into consideration that we overrate our league while underrating those from the caribbean and central america .

[DemonJuice]

Badilla should stop emulating that punk Heaps.

Wow, just wow. So, so pathetic.

Heh, where are all the Revs fans on here? LOL.

[Anthony]

VAMOS UNITED!

[Jordan]

Nice showing Revs haha

[A.S.]

I agree with Godjesus above. I think NE didn't really care about winning the match - they'd rather have some days off instead of having to play a bunch of group stage games in Central America just as they are making their playoff run.

[KingSnake]

1) New England were awful.

2) That referee reffed like he was angling for an MLS job. (Let gross hacks -- Heaps -- go with a caution when it deserved a straight red.)

3) Heaps is a hack.

[A.S.]

"And while MLS bashers will blame the salary cap, what do you really think the difference in salary is between NE Revs and Joe Public?"

Good question! I'd love to know what the salary situation is in TNT.

[SeaOtter]

I wonder if the "MLS could compete in the EPL" folks will be out and about after this.

[Mikeype]

But which is the more important competition? MLS Cup or CONCACAF Champions League? I would think that the CCL is way more important, since it is an international competition with the chance of playing the in the FIFA Club WC for the Champion. I don't understand why anyone would throw the match?

[AllNats]

Chivas with a header cleared off the line by an opposing defender, they look the much better team so far.

[WiscFan]

Chivas USA and Tauro FC are under way.

[CH]

Give Trinidad one of the MLS spots we deserve at least one automatic spot.

[AllNats]

PK for Chivas

[MK]

PK to Chivas USA - would have been harsh to send the keeper off on that one though. Sasha misses.

[AllNats]

WOW, Kljestan just was terrible on that PK...

[CD]

So let me get this straight. The point of the CONCACAF Champions League is for the MLS to win every game? Not too long ago everyone was complaining because two MLS teams made it to the finals of the Super Liga. Don't be afraid of dynamic competitions, it does tend to make sports a little more enjoyable.

[Disillusioned MLS Fan]

Wow, American strikers/midfielders can't even find the net on PKs now.

[KingSnake]

A Bolivian missed last weekend ...

[Scott]

"Wow, American strikers/midfielders can't even find the net on PKs now."

Nor Olympic Heroes...

[MK]

If we hope to be considered a strong league in our region, let alone the world, we need to beat teams like Joe Public on a regular basis. The Revs brought nothing and got the results to show for it. I don't need to see an MLS final, but I want to see MLS teams play with the same passion that they bring to an MLS/FMF game.

[KingSnake]

I'd rather see the MLS teams play with skill, than passion ...

[The Joker]

Whyyyy soooo seriousss???

Americans are not good at soccer. We are still a young league trying to develop young players -- give us five years and at least one MLS will hold up the Champions league trophy

[AllNats]

Tauro playing pure bunker.

[AllNats]

Good lord! Chivas off the crossbar, they keep just missing

[AllNats]

Finally Chivas scores at 43 min.

[Sasha]

im just happy that NE lost. They are pathetic.

GO FIRE!!!

[Kevin Johnson]

Lets go Chivas one more goal to make it even on aggreagate!!!!!

[AllNats]

Chivas up 1-0 at HT. They are completely dominating at the moment, it could be 3-0 easily.

[WiscFan]

Impact 0-0 at half time

[Theo]

MLS sucks donkey balls wow no excuses major leagues that cant beat an island nations team with a quarter of the $$$$$ MLS has

[AllNats]

Second half now, weird yellow on Sacha

[WiscFan]

2nd yellow on Bornstein. 10 men for Chivas

[Kevin Johnson]

Come on Chivas!!!!

[Kevin Johnson]

LOL Harris that was flucking hilarious!!!!!!!!

[Kevin Johnson]

Wow!

[Kevin Johnson]

WTF MLS Now we need 3 more goals for a thrid MLS team to make ti through

[AllNats]

crap, goal Tauro, Chivas now need three more to advance

[WiscFan]

Flores on for Sacha

[fred]

Ha, This is great! MLS BLOWS!!!

[KingSnake]

Funny. The only grino team to advance will be from the second division Montreal. Maybe Garber should have dug deep and handed over that $200,000 ...

[fred]

Americans should stick to the old pointyball...cuz they plain suck at the real deal.

[nigel]

Wow! I haven't watched much MLS, but this is god-awful. The football tonight has really been lacking against two subpar sides. No presence on the ball and real lack of quality. Sad to see how little you Yanks are progressing.

[kofi_x5]

Chivas has looked tired and slow all game. That being said, they still looked much better than Tauro and I'm surprised they didn't attack that weak goal keeper more in the 1st half. They had to score more than 2 goals since the beginning of the game. It was like they were all waiting for something.
These guys need to play with more intensity if they want to compete on the World Stage.

[KingSnake]

More skill, not more intensity.

[kofi_x5]

Tauro should be getting Crushed right now.
BTW-Yank haters-- Ante Razov "european" missed the easiest 1 on 1 just a few minutes ago.

[kofi_x5]

European Razov biffs it again

[kofi_x5]

84th minute

[AllNats]

Another easy chance (the others were in the first half) blown by Chivas...

[AllNats]

...and again

[KingSnake]

Does Preki have his boots with him. He should show them how it is done ...

[kofi_x5]

Yea! He should have come on for Sasha

[Kartik]

I don't know why anyone is surprised. As I've said before give me the DC United team from 97-99 and I'll dominate today's watered down and expansion induced MLS which cannot even keep many mid tier Americans at home.

[kofi_x5]

While we're at it lets bring back Beckenbauer and Pele from the Cosmos

[AllNats]

...and yet again...

[kofi_x5]

Mendoza....not a Yank, playing more like a wanker