CONCACAF Champions' Cup Semi-Finals

Europe was not alone in feasting upon continental competition this midweek. Following Barcelona and Manchester United’s confirmation of their much-anticipated Champions’ League semi-final meeting, the teams from CONCACAF battled it out to establish who will meet in the region’s Champions’ Cup Final at the end of April, with a chance to represent the region in the FIFA Club World Championships also at stake.

Despite providing two winners in the early years of MLS (D.C. United in 1998 and Los Angeles Galaxy in 2000), no American team has reached the final since Galaxy’s success. The timing of the eight-team tournament does not favour MLS clubs whose league season only commences at the end of March. Nonetheless this year’s representatives, D.C. United and Houston Dynamo, safely negotiated the quarter finals (against Jamaica’s Harbour View and Guatemala’s CSD Municipal respectively) to progress to testing semi-final match-ups.

With a place in the final a mere 90 or 120 minutes away, it’s time for Fox Soccer Channel to guide us through the evening’s action.

D.C. United vs Pachuca

First up, it's over to RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. where United were endeavouring to overhaul a 2-0 deficit from their first leg visit to Pachuca, last year's Champions' Cup winners. The Mexicans are currently one of the Western Hemisphere's most decorated sides, with five national championships in the last decade as well as two Champions’ Cups, a Copa Sudamericana and last year’s inaugural SuperLiga trophy. Not content with that impressive haul of medals, many of their squad are thought to be in training for this August’s Olympic diving competition, so long as the Mexican Government refrains from boycotting the event.

D.C. suffered in the latter stages of the first leg as altitude became a factor, and their suffering continued throughout the first half here with Luciano Emilio, their Brazilian striker, coming closest to hauling them back into the tie. As the home side began to commit more players forward in the second half, they were eventually outdone by Pachuca’s counter-attacking when Damian Alvarez pounced on a loose ball to give the Mexicans a seemingly unassailable 3-0 lead overall with only 14 minutes remaining.

Much to their credit, United continued to bring the fight to their opponents and got on the scoresheet through Rod Dyachenko with five minutes left. Franco Niell coolly slotted a second as the fourth official indicated two additional minutes of stoppage time to be added, but despite a last ditch assault on Pachuca’s goal, “Los Tuzos” held out for a 3-2 aggregate victory to set up a possible third instalment in their growing rivalry with Houston Dynamo (whom they narrowly beat in last year’s semi-final before ousting the Texans from SuperLiga via penalties).

Deportivo Saprissa vs Houston Dynamo

Through the wonders of satellite television we were transported live to San Jose, Costa Rica, as the reigning MLS champions were now saddled with the burden of breaking America’s drought in this tournament. In truth, Houston should already have had one foot safely in the Final after dominating the first game at Robertson Stadium, but Saprissa stayed alive thanks to the wastefulness of Brian Ching, Dynamo's US international striker.

The "Purple Monster" stadium was full to its 23,000 capacity with blood definitely pumping through its veins as the locals created an intimidating atmosphere for the visitors. None of the four previous MLS guests had registered a victory on this ground, and the artificial surface would undoubtedly hinder Dynamo's ambitions.

Tony Caig, Houston’s back-up goalkeeper, endured a tortuous debut in Sunday's 3-3 draw with Dallas after replacing the injured Pat Onstad on 28 minutes. Fox Soccer Channel's Christian Miles rather misleadingly informed us that "the England goalkeeper" continues in Onstad’s continuing absense. He's English, yes, but this description screamed at being wildly aspirational! Then again, given Caig's bungled attempt on Kenny Cooper's second goal for Dallas, he might be in with a shout of impressing Fabio Capello. Constant howlers don't seem to have caused David "Calamity" James any enduring damage.

Dynamo entered the match minus the central defensive partnership of Bobby Boswell (suspended) and Eddie Robinson (injured). A number of other key players were also missing from the line-up, such as the skilful midfield duo of Brad Davis and Stuart Holden. As if the situation could not be more testing for Dominic Kinnear, the Dynamo head coach, his makeshift centre-back, Craig Waibel, limped off with an apparent hamstring strain within three minutes.

Ronald Gomez, the Saprissa forward, had the first chance of the night - a glaring opportunity from five yards that he contrived to head over the crossbar. The miss was eerily reminiscent of Ching's (lack of) finishing in the first leg. On the half hour, Gomez again arrived in the six yard box, but Dynamo captain Wade Barrett mounted enough of a challenge to ensure that Gomez could not make a clean connection with his attempt.

At the other end, Houston were lacking accuracy in the final third with Dwayne De Rosario, their main playmaker, struggling to find his passing range on the lively surface. Poor Franco Caraccio, the young Argentinian striker, simply struggled to stay on his feet and received an earful of derision from the home support after flopping over near the touchline.

Despite being on the back foot throughout the first half hour, Houston managed to prevent any direct shots on goal. Caig, however, was finally called into action on 35 minutes as Armando Alonso's deflected effort rolled tamely towards the diving goalkeeper. He failed to re-adjust, allowing the ball to tamely squirm under his prostrate body into the net. Thankfully it was 3.35am in London - let's hope Mr. Capello was safely tucked up in bed!

A saddening first period, at least for those wanting to see the Americans progress, was brightened before the break when Miles, commentating with authority from his immaculate viewing position in a Los Angeles studio, managed to confuse Wade Barrett (the 5' 8", 155 pound left back) with Geoff Cameron (the 6' 3", 185 pound right midfielder). To be fair, it must be hard to decipher the players through that Southern Californian smog.

Our hero was not finished there though as he coined a new nickname for Houston - Orange Crush! It's not quite the end of the world as I know it, but it could be heading that way.

Saprissa started the second half by hastily regaining the ascendency. After three minutes, the makeshift Dynamo rearguard failed to deal with a long throw and found themselves two goals adrift. A combination of hashed clearances and awkward bobbles allowed the ball to travel along the eighteen yard line to Celso Borges, Saprissa's 19 year old Costa Rican international, who finished in style with a powerful right foot shot on the turn.

Shortly afterwards Michael Barrantes had two good chances to end the tie, but missed the far post with a left footed effort on his first attempt before blazing an even clearer opportunity high over the bar from twelve yards.

Houston fought back momentarily in the final quarter. At one stage it looked as though Keilor Navas, the Saprissa goalkeeper, was trying to emulate his opposite number when flapping at a cross. Ching seized upon the loose ball and fired a decent effort towards goal, but Navas quickly recovered his ground to make a brilliant diving save.

Brad Davis, returning from injury, was thrown on for the final fifteen minutes in the hope of supplying Ching with ammunition from the flanks, but the game was over on 77 minutes before he received his first touch. Houston's defence did not cope with a routine long ball and Jairo Arrieta found himself in possession and racing in on goal. Despite the presence of three chasing defenders in close proximity, Caig decided to stray outside of his penalty area. A delighted Arrieta rounded the goalkeeper with ease before slotting into the empty net.

Let's hope the possibility of a corruption trial keeps Mr. Capello suitably occupied and prevents him from perusing YouTube.

A Bad Night For MLS

Congratulations to Pachuca and Saprissa, who will contest the Final over two legs to be played on April 23rd and 30th. Miles signs off on FSC’s broadcast by proclaiming that Saprissa have put on “a clinic” – appropriate given that my head is pounding so much I feel like I’m in dire need of medical assistance.

Who better than Michael Stipe of REM to provide the evening's final words:

"Everybody hurts, sometimes.........."