Major League Soccer had a chance to improve its standings among the world’s leagues on Wednesday in the finals of the CONCACAF Champions League.
However, Club America took apart Montreal 4-2 to take 5-3 aggregate win in the two-game series.
There is no shame in losing to America, the sixth consecutive club from Mexico to win the CCL.
As those who saw the Eagles play in the Georgia Dome a few years ago, they are one of the best non-European club teams in the world.
But the loss doesn’t help MLS commissioner Don Garber’s goal of turning his league into one of the world’s best in the next 10 years. Trophies are needed to improve perception, which will help lure in-prime talent come to the States.
The Impact were overrun by the Eagles in the midfield, created very few scoring chances and were outclassed. Watching Montreal’s performance was a lot like watching the U.S. national team: Montreal took advantage of its few chances, but the problem is it didn’t create enough of them.
Many wrote during and after the game that Club America’s depth was too much for Montreal. They are right. MLS salary cap prevents teams for establishing the type of quality in their rosters that’s necessary to compete in concurrent league and tournament settings.
The depth will likely remain shallow until the collective bargaining agreement, finalized earlier this year, is renegotiated toward the end of its term in 2021. Even then, a dramatic increase in the salary cap will be necessary to lure talent that’s not either aging or unknown to the league.
So, as a fan of MLS Atlanta, it would be unwise to expect that the team will be able to compete for anything more than the league championship or U.S. Open championship until a new CBA is agreed to.
Of course, to expect either of those things in the team’s first four years might be a little optimistic anyway.
Promotion: Want to know why promotion and relegation is such a passionate topic of debate for soccer fans?
Bournemouth, a small team in England, is why.
The Cherries secured promotion to the Premier League for the first time in its 125 year history last week. The club, located on the south coast of England, was on verge of shutting down seven years ago, but will next year will find itself playing against giants Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Simply getting promotion will mean as much as $200 million in additional revenue to the club, according to some reports.
If they can survive one year and avoid being relegated, that additional revenue could reach $350 million.
The stakes of promotion and relegation make that system far more interesting than college football’s playoff seeding, or the NCAA tournament selection show.
For example, based upon their attendance few seem interested in the struggling Braves. Really, why should they be? They know they can always return and buy tickets when and if the team begins to improve next year, the year after, or any year in the future. They know they can go see the Cardinals, or Giants, or Dodgers or any other National League team when it swings through town.
Imagine what the passion might be if fans knew that if the Braves finished with one of the worst three records in Major League Baseball this year that it could be demoted to Class AAA? No more Dodgers, no more Giants, no more Cardinals…at least until the Braves moved back up.
That is obviously impossible, but still fun to consider.
Silverbacks: The Silverbacks remained unbeaten with a 0-0 draw at Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday.
The Silverbacks (1-4-0) are in fourth place in the NASL with seven points, four behind the New York Cosmos.
The Silverbacks have five games remaining in the Spring season, starting with Saturday’s contest at Minnesota.
Points are at a premium because the Spring champ earns an automatic berth into the four-team playoff later this year. The Fall season champ earns another spot, and the two teams with the most combined points for both seasons and who didn’t finish first in either season earn the remaining two spots in the four-team playoff.
Georgians in MLS
Here’s a list of players with ties to the state who are in MLS:
Joe Bendik (@jtbendik), Toronto, GK, Kennesaw
Did not make the 18 for team’s 1-0 win over Philadelphia on May 2. He is recovering from a foot injury.
Next game: at Montreal on Wednesday and vs. Houston on Sunday.
Mark Bloom (@markbloom21), Toronto, D, Marietta
Did not make the 18 for team’s 1-0 win over Philadelphia on May 2. He is recovering from an injury.
Next game: at Montreal on Wednesday and vs. Houston on Sunday.
Ricardo Clark (@RicoC13), Houston, M, Jonesboro
Started, played 90 minutes and had four shots in team’s 4-1 loss to Dallas on May 1.
Next game: vs. San Jose on Tuesday and at Toronto on Sunday.
Warren Creavalle (@warrenspeak), Toronto, D, Acworth
Came off the bench to play 19 minutes in team’s 1-0 win over Philadelphia on May 2.
Next game: at Montreal on Wednesday and vs. Houston on Sunday.
Chris Duvall (@chrisduvall91), New York Red Bulls, D, Duluth
Played 90 minutes and had one shot in team’s 1-1 tie with Colorado on April 29. Made the 18 but didn’t play in team’s 2-1 loss to New England on May 2.
Next game: vs. NYCFC on Sunday.
Sean Johnson (@sjohn25), Chicago, GK, Snellville
Started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in team’s 1-0 loss to Sporting KC on May 3.
Next game: vs Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Alec Kann (@akann90), Chicago, GK, Decatur
Did not make the 18 for team’s 1-0 loss to Sporting KC on May 3.
Next game: vs Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Chris Klute (@chrisklute), Columbus, D, Silverbacks, Clayton State
Came off the bench to play 45 minutes in team’s 2-0 loss to D.C. United on Saturday.
Next game: vs. Seattle on Saturday.
Jack McInerney (@jackmcinerney9), Montreal, F, Alpharetta
Came off the bench to play 23 minutes and scored one goal in team’s 4-2 loss to Club America in CCL on Wednesday.
Next game: vs. Toronto on Wednesday and vs. Portland on Saturday.
Kwadwo Poku, NYCFC, M/F, Silverbacks
Came off the bench to play 21 minutes and had a shot on goal in 3-1 loss to Seattle on May 3.
Next game: at New York Red Bulls on Sunday.
Andrew Wolverton (@a_wolvie), Los Angeles, G, Atlanta
Did not make the 18 for team’s 1-1 draw with Colorado on May 2.
Next game: at Real Salt Lake on Wednesday and at FC Dallas on Saturday.
Walker Zimmerman (@thewalkerzim), Dallas, D, Lawrenceville
Came off the bench to play 58 minutes in team’s 4-1 win over Houston on May 1.
Next game: vs. LA Galaxy on Saturday.
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