February 10 – Mexico’s Liga MX have dominated Concacaf’s club competitions for more than winning 18 of the last 20 Champions Cup titles – and they have let everyone know it. But the first round of the Champions Cup completed last week suggests that change is taking place.
The swaggering dismissal of all rivals by Liga MX’s media requires a new humility, and perhaps a more than a little football respect.
Of the five Liga MX clubs competing in the first leg matches in Round 1 (Club America join the competition in the round of 16) there were only two winners – Monterrey beat Canada’s Forge 2-0, while Cruz Azul beat Haiti’s Real Hope 2-0.
Chivas Guadalajara scraped a 1-1 draw away to the Dominican Republic’s Cibao FC, sparking a furious reaction from Mexico’s press corps who had pre-game questioned why they even had to play in the nation. Never mind that Cibao might actually be good.
In the other two fixtures both Liga MX clubs lost. Tigres were beaten 1-0 by Nicaragua’s Esteli while Canada’s Cavalry FC charged through the Pumas UNAM lines to win 2-1.
The Cavalry result was a first for a Canadian Premier League side in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The North Star Cup winners are also the first CPL team to defeat a Liga MX club.
History is being made in the Champions Cup and Mexican clubs are potentially on the wrong side of it. The more they bleat about having to travel and how easy it is for them, the sweeter it becomes for their motivated challengers who after the first round of matches clearly have the upper hand.
That could, of course, all change in the second leg fixtures this week – all of them being played in Mexico (the second leg home advantage is based on Concacaf club rankings).
But if the Liga MX clubs were looking for an in-your-face challenge in their region, they suddenly now have one.
Concacaf has worked hard at developing its Champions Cup competition (previously Concacaf Champions League). While the Liga MX and MLS clubs have retained the privilege of mass designated entry to the 27-team knock-out format, other clubs have had to battle through new regional cup competitions in the Caribbean and Central American regions.
For Concacaf the strategy has been to improve competitiveness throughout the whole confederation, which in turn builds value and opportunity within its Champions Cup. At the heart of that is getting more competitive and meaningful games played, The two regional cup competitions are examples of the strategy at work.
The smart money would still be on Liga MX and MLS clubs dominating the final rounds, but the old Mexican order over just two match days has been given a jolt it wasn’t expecting. With the MLS clubs having totally overrun their counter-parts from Liga MX in the Leagues Cup last summer, change is clearly coming.
It might be time for Mexico’s clubs and media to have an attitude re-adjustment.
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
- Canadian Championship (one club): Vancouver Whitecaps FC (CAN)
- Canadian Premier League (two clubs): Cavalry FC (CAN) and Forge FC (CAN)
- Concacaf Caribbean Cup (three clubs): Cavalier FC (JAM), Cibao FC (DOM), Real Hope FA (HAI)
- Concacaf Central American Cup (six clubs): Antigua GFC (GUA), CS Herediano (CRC), Deportivo Saprissa (CRC), FC Motagua (HON), LD Alajuelense (CRC), Real Estelí FC (NCA)
- Leagues Cup (three clubs): Colorado Rapids (USA), Columbus Crew (USA), Los Angeles FC (USA)
- Liga MX (six clubs): CD Guadalajara (MEX), CF Monterrey (MEX), Club América (MEX), Cruz Azul (MEX), Pumas UNAM (MEX), Tigres UANL (MEX)
- MLS (five clubs): FC Cincinnati (USA), Inter Miami CF (USA), LA Galaxy (USA), Real Salt Lake (USA), Seattle Sounders FC (USA)
- US Open Cup (one club): Sporting Kansas City (USA)
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1739199957labto1739199957ofdlr1739199957owedi1739199957sni@n1739199957osloh1739199957cin.l1739199957uap1739199957