Well two MLS teams were in action on Tuesday evening and sure enough there is controversy in both matches about, wait for it, wait, wait...... the officials. I watched both matches and I can say with all honesty that I believe the officials made MLS officials look very good as both matches saw some questionable decisions being made. I am not going to go into a lot of details as others have already done that, but here are some interesting links on the topic:
- Bizarre Night in CONCACAF by ussoccerplayers.com
- MLS Suffers More Mexican Heartbreak Thanks to Typical CONCACAF Officiating by soccer.fanhouse.com
- MLS in the Champions League a Double Disaster by matchfitusa.com
- Refereeing, CONCACAF, and Why It's Time To Live With It by eightysixforever.com
Make of them what you will. After the jump some links looking forward to Wednesday's action
OK here you go more links for your entertainment pleasure:
- RSL Carrying the MLS Banner in Mexico by matchfitusa.com
- RSL face daunting CCL challenge at Estadio Azul by mlssoccer.com
- Cruz Azul v Real Salt Lake Tips and Live Stream by bettingpro.com
- Mexico City awaits RSL by sltrib.com
- Real faces monumental challenge tonight against Mexican club by deseretnews.com
Here are a couple Seattle vs. Monterrey links for you:
- Seattle look to rebound in CCL against Mexican giants by mlssoccer.com
- Monterrey, Chivas could be significant 1-2 punch by sounderatheart.com
- Scouting Report: CF Monterrey by sounderatheart.com
- Sounders FC hopes to bounce back in CONCACAF Champions League by seattletimes.nwsource.com
For Real Salt Lake the facts are simple, no MLS team has ever won a CCL match in Mexico. For Real Salt Lake players, coaches, and fans, facts are only facts until you change them, and this team did it last year and has continued to do it all this year, re-write the facts. I am no expert on Cruz Azul, I have only ever watched one of their matches, last week's loss at Toronto FC. Any team can be beaten, and I expect that if Cruz Azul takes RSL for granted that it might just come back to bite them in the butt.
I look for RSL to get an early goal (we have been great at getting goals in the first 15 minutes), then the match will take a very physical nature and I expect late in the first half or early in the second half that the match will even out with Cruz Azul getting a goal to tie the match at 1-1. For RSL it may well come down to the final 15 minutes of the match, a time when many a MLS club have fallen to Mexican teams, but could Robbie Findley with his incredible speed be the difference maker? I think he could well be the answer that MLS sides have lacked in their CCL matches in Mexico, the question is if he gets the chance will he be able to finish it? I think he will and I am going to go out on a real limb, RSL becomes the first MLS team to win in Mexico 2-1 over Cruz Azul, the question is can the officials stay out of the headlines and let the match be played within the rules? We have seen some very questionable officiating, but if RSL can dictate the pace of the match, well they might just be able to take the officials out of the headlines.
OFF MY SOAPBOX