Santos Laguna hanging six on all comers. Monterrey breaking hearts in Utah. Toluca finding a way.
If you've followed the CONCACAF Champions League for a bit, you don't need any elaboration on the above references. You know what Santos did last year, or what happened in the 2011 finale, or how Zinha entered god mode for a minute three years ago. You know "close, but not quite enough" is pretty much a yearly tradition for MLS teams at this point.
And as it stands, Liga MX teams are the undisputed kings of CONCACAF.
So what would it mean if Seattle turned the tables on Tigres UANL on Tuesday night (10 pm ET, Fox Soccer)?
Time for The Big Debate.
<strong>The Debater</strong> |
<p class="rtecenter" style="">Matt Doyle</p><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Doyle_1.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"> |
<p class="rtecenter" style="">Nick Rosano</p><img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/Rosano_1.jpg" style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"> |
<strong>The Argument</strong> |
A Seattle win changes nothing |
A Seattle win changes everything |
<strong>The Defense</strong> |
<p>It's hard to make an argument that any team <em>should</em> accomplish the unprecedented, but the Sounders really do have everything aligned. They got a <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/ccl/news/article/2013/03/06/ccl-match-recap-tigres-uanl-1-seattle-sounders-0" target="_blank">solid result in the first leg</a>, they got a weekend of rest, and now they have what's basically a Liga MX reserve team coming up to CenturyLink Field for 90 minutes of one-way traffic.</p><p>Tigres are blowing this off, and Seattle have to punish them for it. If they don't, that's a bigger story than a win would be.</p> |
<p>Seattle would be the first team in 11 years (and only the second overall) to vanquish a Mexican side over two legs. And obviously they'd be the first in the CCL.</p><p>Given the caliber of the opponent, one of the deepest and most in-form teams in Mexico, a win would surely signal that MLS has arrived and can be competitive on the international stage. Not to mention <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/ccl" target="_blank">it would push the Sounders closer</a> to that coveted CCL trophy and Club World Cup berth.</p> |
Who do you agree with? Let us know in the comments below.
