CONCACAF History at the Door for RSL

There were some anxious moments Tuesday night in Costa Rica as Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer finished up its CONCACAF Champions League Semifinal series against Saprissa, winning 3-2 on aggregate despite a 2-1 loss on the road in the second leg.

A stunning 19 yard Luis Cordero strike just under the bar moments into the second half from the hosts rose the stakes, but Jamison Olave hit a blistering side-volley to give RSL a commanding edge with the away goal tiebreaker that left Alonso Solis’ late penalty for the host inconsequential in the series.  Full game reports: MLS [+] - SBI [+]

The result furthered the Utah club’s historic campaign representing MLS after previously being the league’s first to win a group as well as advance to the semifinals in the Champions League format of CONCACAF’s club championship.

Further success, against either remaining semifinalists Monterrey or Cruz Azul, will now eclipse anything previously achieved by their league counterparts despite previous CONCACAF titles claimed by DC United and the Los Angeles Galaxy.

In the early years of MLS, the confederation was also going through a transition as it attempted to find a format that worked with the newly expanded geography that spanned from Central America to the United States as well as conflicting league calendars. From 1997 to 2000 the entire Champions Cup event was held primarily in a single location ranging from six to 12 days in length. MLS sides made three appearances in finals over that time with the host location being in the United States all four years.

The Galaxy were runners-up in the league’s debut in the event in 1997, falling 5-3 to Cruz Azul in Washington, DC, which hosted the MLS portion of the quarterfinals as well as the semifinals and championship. The Mexican sides hosted their quarterfinal contests versus Central American opposition, advancing to play north of the border. It all occurred during a two-week span in August.

For 1998-00, the event was condensed to the point that all three rounds took part over the course of six days in one location. Host DC United defeated Mexican clubs Leon and Toluca in the semifinals and championship, respectively, for the title in August of 1998. The following year DC and Chicago finished in a 2-2 draw in the Third Place game in Las Vegas (Sept-Oct).

As hosts, the Galaxy won the final edition under a single-location format, representing 2000, in January of 2001. Surprisingly, the title came without facing Mexican opposition as they slipped by Real Espana (Honduras) on penalties (5-3) after a 0-0 draw in the quarterfinals as well as DC from the spot (4-2) after a 1-1 semifinal draw. Los Angeles posted its first win, 3-2, against Olimpia (Honduras) in the championship.

Since then, MLS has very little fortune against Mexican clubs, registering only one aggregate series victory in the Champions Cup over the course of 10 series from 2002-08. The lone highlight was Kansas City’s 3-2 victory over Santos Laguna in the 2002 quarterfinals. During that same span though, the league lost all 10 games south of the border while posting a record of 6-3-1 (W-D-L) at home.

The league’s Champions League fortunes away from home have not been much better, going winless 10 more times with a record of 0-3-7 while being 3-1-6 at home. MLS was winless overall against Mexican clubs prior to the current tournament in which RSL, the Columbus Crew and Toronto FC have registered victories.

On the road in CONCACAF play, the Houston Dynamo were the first club to avoid defeat in Mexico, posting a 4-4 draw against Pumas September 30, 2008. DC earned a 1-1 draw away against Toluca the following year and Toronto ground out a scoreless draw against Cruz Azul earlier this tournament, becoming the first MLS side to post a shutout in Mexico.

Amidst the Champions League play over the course of three editions of the tournament, there has only been one aggregate score series prior to the upcoming championship for RSL. All of the other 18 meetings have been during group play. The Crew squared off with Toluca in the 2009-10 quarterfinals, registering a 2-2 draw at home before falling on the road 3-2. 

RSL now awaits the winner of the Monterrey-Cruz Azul semifinal series in which Monterrey is ahead 2-1 after hosting the first leg. Monterrey's lone experience against MLS in CONCACAF history is limited to its pair of victories (2-0 in Seattle, 3-2 at home) over the Sounders during group play last fall. Cruz Azul, meanwhile is 6-1-2 versus MLS all-time. The club was perfect prior to the current edition of the tournament in which they faced Toronto and RSL in group play. Monterrey had the scoreless draw at home against Toronto, who also beat the Mexican side, 2-1 in Canada. They also split their earlier contests with RSL, winning a 5-4 thriller at home and falling 3-1 in Utah.