It feels good, doesn't it? It's nice to be cautiously optimistic when MLS clubs get decent results against Mexican teams.
On Tuesday night, the Houston Dynamo scored a big 1-0 win over Santos Laguna at BBVA Compass Stadium in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal. Then on Wednesday, the Seattle Sounders made a big road statement, escaping Estadio Universitario with a heroic 1-0 loss to Tigres UANL in their first leg, instilling some confidence they can get the job done next week back at CenturyLink Field.
Measured progress and cautious optimism. That's the name of the game. Winning a two-legged knockout series against a Mexican club in the CCL is still a major dragon to slay, and though the job isn't anywhere near done, the results in both games could've been a lot worse.
But you can add another beast to the list of Mexican clubs that MLS needs to contend with. Roughly 1,500 miles west of Monterrey on Wednesday night, something perhaps even bigger was brewing that will have a domino effect not just in MLS, but really everywhere around the US Soccer scene:
Club Tijuana dispatched mighty Corinthians 1-0 in the group stage of the Copa Libertadores, arguably the biggest victory in the short history of the Mexican club.
And in some small way, it's like MLS already has a 20th team – one that has overachieved and rocketed into the big time faster than any expansion team in league history.
Tijuana have gone from third-division newbies to champions of the top flight in Mexico in record time. Now they’re flying in their first expedition in the Libertadores, South America’s top club competition – and one in which many MLS fans would like to see their own clubs eventually participate as special invitees, like the Mexican teams.
And what should raise your eyebrows more than any of that is that Tijuana are drawing on resources that are probably right in your club's backyard by making a huge land-grab effort in the United States. Not just attracting thousands of fans in Southern California, but also enticing young kids with a dream of playing professionally to cast their eyes south across the San Ysidro border crossing.
Think about every young American soccer player – with Latino roots or not – who watched the Xolos top the Club World Cup champions on Wednesday night and saw Americans Joe Corona and Greg Garza in starring roles.
Or maybe they’ve seen star left back Edgar Castillo, who has been a standout for Tijuana and has become a US national teamer. Or perhaps they’ve heard that American products are all over the club’s ranks, like US youth national teamers Alejandro Guido, Stevie Rodriguez and Bryan de la Fuente.
Tijuana have been proactive about courting American kids, too, with two academies in Southern California to go along with their three academies across the border. A club spokesman tells MLSsoccer.com that there have been talks about expanding their youth reaches as far as Las Vegas and Arizona.
Sure, the Xolos are competing in the Liga MX with the big boys like Chivas Guadalajara, Club América, Santos Laguna, Tigres UANL and so on. But look at a map: Tijuana is so isolated, geographically speaking, that it’s nearly 1,200 miles from the closest Liga MX team in Torreón. Los Angeles, San Jose, Portland, Salt Lake City, even Denver are all closer.
Put simply, Tijuana have a decent argument that they’re in competition with six MLS clubs. For hearts, minds and talent.
Keep all that in mind as the Xolos keep dazzling in the Libertadores and keep packing 'em in to watch their team on the turf at Estadio Caliente. Remember that when you see the familiar crest featuring the Mexican hairless dog on beer lamps hanging in the windows of bars. Be aware of exactly what the club is doing when they post to their English-language Twitter account and Facebook page.
It's no longer just fun friendlies with the LA Galaxy. Defending Liga MX champions Club Tijuana want to be America’s team, too. This summer, they’ll also join the field of the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time. Very soon, they’ll take the field against an MLS club in a competition that matters.
When that happens, make no mistake: There’s a new dog on the block. They may be hairless, but they've got plenty of bite.
Jonah Freedman is the managing editor of MLSsoccer.com. “The Throw-In” appears every Thursday.
