by TRAVIS CLARK
What will MLS teams be able to accomplish in the second edition of the CONCACAF Champions League? Fans will be able to get their first glimpses this week, as the three teams representing MLS take the field against foreign opposition.
Based on league form, Columbus and Houston seem to have the best shot at getting out of their groups. D.C. United is a bit of an enigma at the moment, and their poor showing at Toronto on Saturday couldn't have done much for their confidence ahead of a difficult road test this evening. Here is a closer look at tonight's matchups:
Puerto Rico Islanders at Columbus Crew (8 p.m., FSC)
A tough first match for the Crew in their Champions League debut as the Puerto Rico Islanders visit Columbus. The Islanders did a fantastic job knocking Toronto out in the play-in round, holding onto a 1-0 lead through both legs. Colin Clarke has done a great job with the Islanders, narrowly missing out on a spot in the Champions League finals last season. They'll likely bunker down and force the Crew to attack from the opening kick. Guillermo Barros Schelotto returned to the pitch last Saturday for just a few minutes, and may see a brief cameo again tonight. Even if he can't go, Columbus has proved that they can succeed without their Argentine playmaker.
D.C. United at C.D. Marathon
(10 p.m., FSC)
Things didn't start off well for D.C.'s brutal stretch on Saturday, falling to Toronto FC 2-0. They traveled straight to Honduras after the game, and are set to face CD Marathon for the second year in a row. Forgetting last season's performances is vital for United, as they lost both group games, 4-2 and 2-0 respectively. Fred will be missing due to the red card he picked up at the end of the second leg at Firpo, and Chris Pontius is listed as doubtful. Marathon won their Champions League group last year, though were knocked out in the quarterfinals by the Islanders.
CSD Comunicaciones at Pumas UNAM (10 p.m., Galavision)
Group D's first match pits a struggling Mexican club against the Guatemalan club CSD Comunicaciones. Pumas have gotten off to an atrocious start to the 2009 Apertura, and have looked poor to boot. They've lost all four of their opening games, scoring just one goal while conceding nine. Perhaps it's a chance for Comunicaciones to grab a result on the road.
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Which game will you watch? What do you think of tonight's matches? Can either D.C. or Columbus get the win? Will Pumas' atrocious start to the season continue? Share your thoughts below.
