D.C. shooting for more improvement

August 18, 2009

D.C. United already has made history. Now it wants to make the quarterfinals.

By edging Luis Angel Firpo on penalty kicks, D.C. became the first Major League Soccer team to advance out of the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Now, United is hoping to improve on last year’s group stage form, which saw D.C. earn just one point out of six matches.

A 2-0 league loss to Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon, though, wasn’t the ideal way to head into the group stage, especially with 10 games in the next 31 days.

“You always want to start these stretches in the right way,” D.C. coach Tommy Soehn said after the match. “It’s very disappointing and we’ll have to adjust very quickly. We have no time to hang our heads. We’re going to watch a lot of tape on this one…We had six fouls today. That just shows me that we’re not fighting enough.”

D.C. has the difficult task of heading to San Pedro Sula to take on Marathon on Tuesday night.

Marathon is two points in front of archrival Real Espana, having won four of its first six matches in the Honduran Apertura. Jerry Palacios struck twice in the opening 12 minutes, but Carlos Pavon scored three to lift Espana to a 3-2 win on Saturday at Estadio Francisco Morazan.

Like Soehn, Marathon coach Manuel Keosseian is concerned about his team’s fixture congestion.

“We have a heavy schedule,” he told La Tribuna. “We must handle the physical aspect to reach every game as best they can.”

One of four Mexican teams among the final 16 in the Champions League, Toluca meets Trinidad & Tobago’s San Juan Jabloteh at Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, Trinidad Thursday night.

Toluca won its first three games to sit atop Group 1 in Mexican’s Apertura, but faltered Saturday, losing 1-0 to Monterrey. Despite the defeat, Toluca coach Jose Manuel De la Torre wasn’t especially concerned.

“I leave feeling calm,” he said. “I’m upset because of the defeat, but calm because of the effort and the way we played.”

It was the first game of the Apertura that Nelson Calderon failed to score.

“Today, things didn’t go as we planned,” said Calderon, who leads the league with four goals. “It hurts to lose the unbeaten streak because the team had set finishing the tournament unbeaten as a goal. The team gave their best effort and it wasn’t enough. They had opportunities and they put them in. We had one or two clear efforts, but we didn’t know how to take advantage of them.”

Jabloteh rallied to beat San Francisco of Panama 4-3 on aggregate to join fellow Trinidadian squad W Connection in the Group Stage. But while W Connection is attempting to bolster its roster ahead of the group stage, Jabloteh manager Earl Jean doesn’t think his roster is deep enough to compete in the group stage.

“I don’t think we have the depth for that kind of football at international level,” he told reporters after beating San Francisco. “We are doing what we can, but based on our financial problems it is very difficult. But, we will take our chances.”

In their first game back in the Digicel Pro League following an emotional win against San Francisco, Jabloteh tied W Connection before being upset by St. Ann’s Rangers 1-0 last Tuesday.

By Dylan Butler

Tags: Carlos Pavon, concacaf champions league, d c united, D.C., Dylan Butler, Earl Jean, fouls, francisco morazan, group stage, Jerry Palacios, jose manuel, luis angel firpo, Major League Soccer, Manny Ramjohn, Manuel Keosseian, marabella trinidad, marathon coach, Monterrey, Nelson Calderon, palacios, Panama, physical aspect, quarterfinals, San Francisco, san juan, san juan jabloteh, san pedro sula, soccer team, St. Ann, three games, Tobago, Toluca, Tommy Soehn, toronto fc, W. Connection

D.C. breaks MLS Preliminary Round jinx

August 5, 2009

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — D.C. United became the first team from Major League Soccer to advance out of the Preliminary Round in the CONCACAF Champions League, outlasting Firpo 5-4 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in extra time on Tuesday.

Chris Pontius, Danny Szetela, Ben Olsen and Marc Burch converted their tries before Christian Gomez assured the result, sending D.C. into Group B against Toluca of Mexico, Marathon of Honduras and either San Juan Jabloteth of Trinidad or San Francisco of Panama.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – D.C. United became the first Major League Soccer team to advance out of the Preliminary Round of the CONCACAF Champions League, beating Luis Angel Firpo on penalty kicks after both teams played to a 2-2 draw on aggregate at Estadio Cuscatlan on Tuesday night.

D.C. United won the shootout 5-4 with Argentine Christian Gomez sending his team through to the group stage by putting the ball off the left post and in for the visitors.

Chris Pontius, Danny Szetela and Ben Olsen struck for D.C., while Dennis Alas, Jorge Sanchez and Victor Merino put the ball past D.C. goalkeeper Josh Wicks. When Manuel Salazar put Firpo’s fourth attempt over the crossbar, D.C. United had its chance and Marc Burch struck his shot powerfully down the middle.

Christian Sanchez kept the Salvadorians alive, scoring to Wicks’ right, but moments later Gomez ended the game for D.C., putting his shot in off the post to goalkeeper Juan Gomez’s right to book the Americans’ ticket to the group stage. D.C. joins Group B with Toluca of Mexico, Marathon of Honduras and either San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad & Tobago or San Francisco FC of Panama.

Firpo took a 1-0 lead on a penalty kick after referee Oscar Moncada whistled Burch for a high right arm that deflected Alas’ back post cross. Leandro Franco converted after Burch was shown a yellow card.

Franco stepped to the ball and appeared to completely stop before tapping it past Wicks, who argued the penalty’s legitimacy. But the goal counted and Firpo had a 1-0 lead on 39 minutes.

Three minutes later, though, D.C. equalized – and scored the all-important away goal – as Christian Gomez fired a 25-meter free kick past Firpo goalkeeper Juan Gomez after Jose Campos was booked for hauling down Santino Quaranta.

That put the aggregate series level at 2-2 heading into the second half.

Firpo had a pair of attempts late in the second half, but both shots by Merino and Franco rippled the outside netting.

The game went into extra time, but with both teams cramping as fatigue set in, the scoring chances were few in the added half hour.

D.C. ended the match with 10 men after Brazilian midfielder Fred was sent off for retaliating at Firpo’s Carlos Monteagudo after being dispossessed in midfield two minutes from full time.

But D.C., which struggled mightily in last year’s competition, earned a chance at redemption by winning on penalties moments later.

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Tags: Argentine, ben olsen, Carlos Monteagudo, chris pontius, Christian Gomez, Christian Sanchez, concacaf champions league, crossbar, Cuscatlan, d c united, D.C., danny szetela, Dennis Alas, El Salvador, Franco, Fred, group stage, Honduras, jorge sanchez, Jose, Josh Wicks, Juan, juan gomez, luis angel firpo, Major League Soccer, manuel salazar, Marc Burch, Mexico, moncada, Oscar Moncada, Panama, penalty kick, penalty kicks, San Francisco, san juan, san juan jabloteh, San Salvador, san salvador el salvador, soccer team, Tobago, Trinidad, Victor Merino, wicks, yellow card

D.C. seeking redemption for last year’s Champions League

July 28, 2009

Marc Burch has vivid memories of last year’s CONCACAF Champions League and none of them are good.

But the D.C. United defender believes the experience of competing in the inaugural tournament is something his team can use to their advantage when they step on the field at RFK Stadium to face Salvadoran squad Luis Angel Firpo in the opening leg of a preliminary series Tuesday night.

“I don’t think we showed who D.C. United was, even in our league last year,” Burch said. “This year we’re coming with a bit of attitude and we want to show what DC United is all about.”

D.C. lost five of six matches in the group stage, earning one point in a 2-2 draw with Saprissa. The squad also had its domestic struggles, failing to make the Major League Soccer playoffs.

The lone positive, though, was a victory against the second-division Charleston Battery in the U.S. Open Cup final, a win that earned D.C. a return to the Champions League.

“Obviously last year such a disappointment, finishing last in the group,” D.C. midfielder Devon McTavish said. “We had the players and the ability, but last year was such a rough year. We’re kind of looking to get back in the tournament and do well, show that D.C. United is a great organization that does well in MLS and can do well in the CONCACAF Champions League, as well.”

D.C. United, which has again reached the Open Cup final, has a deeper squad this season, one that is more prepared for the rigors of competing on multiple fronts.

“We basically played a reserve group the whole competition, which also happened to be our starters because we were so light,” D.C. United coach Tom Soehn said of last year’s injury-riddled Champions League squad. “We analyzed what the season would bring and what we’d need to get through stretches like this. The test was the Open Cup and we’ve been able to mix up the lineup and keep everyone fresh.”

D.C. is in third place in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference, two points behind first-place Columbus, which also will compete in the Champions League. They enter Tuesday’s match against Firpo coming off a disappointing 2-2 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes. D.C. squandered a 2-0 halftime lead only to see the hosts rally to tie the game on a 62nd-minute penalty kick.

D.C. boarded a cross-country flight on Sunday and trained on Monday. That doesn’t give United much of a chance to prepare for Firpo.

“I watched matches over the last couple of years,” Soehn said. “Obviously personnel changes, but often times the style doesn’t change.”

But according to Burch, his team has a much greater concern heading into Tuesday’s match.

“We need to figure out how to close out games,” he said. “I think going into this game, that’s what we’re worrying about that. We’re not that worried about their team.”

Firpo also competed in last year’s inaugural tournament, finishing third in Group B with eight points from six matches.

Pamperos are a late entry to the competition, replacing fellow Salvadoran club Chalatenango, which failed to meet tournament requirements by not returning a signed participation agreement.

Firpo, which finished second in the Clausura and lost in the final to Metapan, is preparing for the Apertura, which Peruvian manager Agustin Castillo said puts his team at a distinct disadvantage.

“They have the advantage over us because they have been in competition in their local league,” Castillo said. “They are better prepared for this competition, but we have confidence in the good work we are doing to get the most out of this.”

By Dylan Butler

Tags: coach tom, concacaf champions league, d c united, dc united, devon mctavish, disappointment, great organization, group stage, inaugural tournament, luis angel firpo, Major League Soccer, midfielder, poin, reserve group, rigors, soccer playoffs, stretches, vivid memories

Firpo accepts invitation, replaces Chalatenango in CONCACAF Champions League

July 16, 2009

NEW YORK – CD Luis Angel Firpo has accepted CONCACAF’s invitation to replace Chalatenango in the Champions League and will open against D.C. United in Washington on July 28.

The Salvadoran club will play the second leg of the Preliminary Round series at home on August 4, with the winner on aggregate advancing to Group B of the league phase of the competition.

Either D.C. United or Firpo will face Toluca of Mexico, Marathon of Honduras and either San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad or Panama’s San Francisco FC in the Group Stage that begins the week of August 18.

Firpo was offered Chalatenango’s berth when the latter failed to meet tournament requirements by not returning a signed participation agreement.

PRELIMINARY ROUND SCHEDULE
Times local (USA Eastern in parentheses); home teams listed first

FIRST LEG
Tuesday, July 28
D.C. United (USA) vs. Firpo (SLV), 8 p.m. (8 p.m.)
Pachuca (MEX) vs. Jalapa (GUA), 9 p.m. (10 p.m.)

Wednesday, July 29
Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR), 8 p.m. (8 p.m.)
San Francisco (PAN) vs. San Juan Jabloteh (TRI), 7 p.m. (8 p.m.)
Liberia (CRC) vs. Real Espana (HON), 8 p.m. (10 p.m.)

Thursday, July 30
W Connection (TRI) vs. New York Red Bulls (USA), 8 p.m. (8 p.m.)
Herediano (CRC) vs. Cruz Azul (MEX), 8 p.m. (10 p.m.)
Olimpia (HON) vs. Arabe Unido (PAN), 8 p.m. (10 p.m.)

SECOND LEG
Tuesday, August 4
Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) vs. Toronto 8 p.m. (CAN), (8 p.m.)
Jalapa (GUA) vs. Pachuca (MEX), 8 p.m. (10 p.m.)
Firpo (SLV) vs. D.C. United (USA), 8 p.m. (10 p.m.)

Wednesday, August 5
New York Red Bulls (USA) vs. W Connection (TRI), 8 p.m. (8 p.m.)
Cruz Azul (MEX) vs. Herdiano (CRC), 7 p.m. (8 p.m.)

Thursday, August 6
Arabe Unido (PAN) vs. Olimpia (HON), 7 p.m. (8 p.m.)
San Juan Jabloteh (TRI) vs. San Francisco (PAN), 8 p.m. (8 p.m.)
Real Espana (HON) vs. Liberia (CRC), 8 p.m. (10 p.m

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Tags: arabe unido, august 4, concacaf champions, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, crc, cruz azul, d c united, D.C., francisco pan, group stage, gua, herediano, Honduras, league phase, Liberia, luis angel firpo, m cruz, Mexico, New York, new york red bulls, olimpia, Panama, participation agreement, Puerto Rico, puerto rico islanders, San Francisco, san juan, san juan jabloteh, slv, Toronto, toronto fc, Tri, Trinidad, W. Connection, Washington

Firpo invited to replace fellow Salvadoran club Chalatenango in CONCACAF Champions League

July 11, 2009

NEW YORK – CD Luis Angel Firpo has been invited to replace CD Chalatenango in the CONCACAF Champions League that begins later this month, being offered the berth in the Preliminary Round after its fellow Salvadoran club failed to meet tournament requirements.

Each club is required to sign a participation agreement as a condition of playing in the CONCACAF Champions League, and Chalatenango never returned its documents.

As a result, Firpo, which had the second-best cumulative record among the runners-up in the El Salvadoran Apertura and Clausura championships, was given the first opportunity to accept the second place reserved for El Salvador. It would open at D.C. United in the first leg of the Preliminary Round on July 28 and host a home leg a week later on August 4.

Firpo qualified directly for the Group Stage last year, finishing third in its group and missing out on the quarterfinals.

The 24-team CONCACAF Champions League will begin with 16 clubs in the two-leg Preliminary Round the week of July 28. The eight winners will advance to the 16-team Group Stage, which will commence the week of August 18 and finish with the last round the week of October 20. Eight teams will advance to the Championship Round in March with the two-leg finals set for late April.

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Tags: apertura, august 4, berth, chalatenango, Championship, clausura, commence, concacaf, concacaf champions league, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, cumulative record, d c united, D.C., El Salvador, group stage, home leg, luis angel firpo, March, New York, October, opportunity, participation, participation agreement, quarterfinals, runners, team group

With “De Ro” gone, Dynamo girds for new MLS season, Champions League quarters

February 17, 2009

Despite a late start in preseason training and a significant personnel change, Houston Dynamo players and coaches say they are ready and eager for the quarterfinal CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.

Houston and Mexico’s Atlante will be the first sides to meet, beginning their two-leg series February 24 at Robertson Stadium in Houston. The return leg is a week later in Cancun.

The Dynamo began training February 2, later than most fellow Major League Soccer clubs, and much later than most teams remaining sides in the Champions League.

Most Mexican teams started in January or earlier following a short winter break after the fall Apertura. Atlante already has played five matches in the Mexican Clausura (the spring season). The Dynamo, meanwhile, have eased into their preseason training with just four friendlies so far. The match against Atlante will represent the Dynamo’s first competitive contest since clinching a Champions League quarterfinal spot with a 1-0 win over CD Luis Angel Firpo on November 26.

“We know Atlante has a little bit of an advantage, because they’ve played some games already,” Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson said. “But we’ll be ready.”

They may be ready, but they’ll be without offensive engine Dwayne De Rosario, who was traded in January to Toronto during the MLS offseason. Stuart Holden, a well-regarded young attacker, will fill the void. Still, Houston is bound to miss De Rosario, who played a big part in steering his side through Champions League group play last summer and fall.

De Rosario’s 88th-minute, 30-meter strike gave his team a 2-1 win over Panama’s San Francisco FC during Group B play. And he supplied the corner kick that Brian Ching headed in for that quarterfinal-clinching win over Firpo in November.

Houston has a term of redemption ahead in MLS; the Dynamo was heavily favored to eliminate the New York Red Bulls in last year’s MLS playoffs, but fell in perhaps the most shocking post-season upset in league history. Houston players are focused on doing more this year in Major League Soccer, but manager Dominic Kinnear promised that Champions League performance wouldn’t suffer because of it.

“I’m taking it seriously, and I know the players are, too,” Kinnear said. As for the late start, he said thought the players needed a bit of an extended break after playing in 50 matches last year.

“We’ve had some player movement, but not a ton,” the manager said. “Everything kind of sustains itself. We’ve got the same coaching staff, the same formation. There’s no drastic changes in how we do things. Everybody knows what to expect from the first day. So I don’t think it was necessary to start earlier.”

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