Big Night For MLS in Champions League Play

The MLS could not have hoped for a better start to this year's CONCACAF Champions League. Following convincing wins by the Seattle Sounders and the L.A. Galaxy on Tuesday, Wednesday saw two MLS victories. The Colorado Rapids overcame a 2-1 first half deficit to defeat Isidro Metapán of El Salvador 3-2. Macoumba Kandji scored twice in the first half and Andre Akpan scored the game winner in the opening minutes of second half as the Rapids capitalized on a red card issued to Metapán forward Allan Kardeck. It was quite a performance from Kandji who was starting for the first time since the 2010 MLS Cup Final against FC Dallas. It was his shot that deflected in for the own goal to win the championship, but the goal came at a heavy price as he torn his ACL on the play and just recently got back on the field.

Photo Credit: boxscorenews.com

But Colorado's win wasn't even the biggest story of the evening. Across the border in Mexico City, FC Dallas became the first MLS side EVER to win in Mexico snapping a league-wide 24-game winless streak. Dallas got a second half goal from Honduran Marvin Chávezand goalkeeper Kevin Hartman took care of the rest as they pulled off the 1-0 upset over Pumas UNAM. Pumas admittedly didn't start their strongest side, and Dallas made them pay the price giving them the early leg up in their Group.

Photo Credit: mlssoccer.com

So Major League Soccer opens the tournament up with 4 straight wins with Toronto FC wrapping up the first round tonight in Panama against Tauro. Still a long way to go though with 5 more games left in Group Play. Round 2 kicks off on August 23rd. In other action last night defending champion Monterrey decimated Costa Rica's Herediano 5-0 behind a hat trick from 23 year old striker Darío Carreño. Jesús Manuel Corona and Aldo de Nigris added goals for Monterrey in the route.