MLS Club Results for the Week

San Jose's draw against Colorado could be seen as a loss for the Sounders, but honestly, the Rapids are amazing at home. That San Jose stole a few points from them is huge for Seattle. The expanded pacing formula (including H/A Strength of Schedule) now show Seattle at 7th with Colorado heading East for the Playoffs.

This also opens up Toronto for their first ever appearance in the Playoffs with them being barely edged by the Arsenal linked mile-highers.

In CCL action Houston blew out Unibe of Panama with a 5-1 result in the end (former Sounder Cam Weaver figured in the result). Dynamo now sit in second in their group with 7 points and two to play. The Crew continue MLS struggles against clubs from Mexico in the regional championship. Columbus is 0-7 aggregate against Cruz Azul, still holding 2nd with 6 points though. DC United have the opportunity to still play meaningful games, but tonight is a must win for them. They host Marathon, who had travel troubles getting out of Honduras.
As always, watch the CCL. This is your opportunity to see next year's opponents in games against MLS teams. Mexico has sent 6 teams in the current format with Cruz Azul and UNAM both qualifying twice. Costa Rica has sent 4 with Saprissa appearing in both. Honduras has sent 3 different clubs with both Marathon and Olimpia going twice. Other clubs that have appeared in both versions are Jalapa of Guatemala, Firpo and Metapan of El Salvador, San Fransisco of Panama and the Islanders of Puerto Rico. MLS double qualifiers are Dynamo and United. Half of the slots to this point have gone to the same 12 clubs.

Small AFC CL update after, just because I think that there is affordable talent there.

In Asia (which I likely pay more attention to then I should, the Uzbek clubs were surprisingly successful beating a South Korean squad and drawing a Saudi club. Sure it is only the first leg of the knockout rounds, but there is a chance that the AFC CL will have two Uzbek sides, a Qatari side and one from Japan in the Semifinals.

Asian pro-soccer is deeper than just Japan, South Korea, Australia and Saudi Arabia. Tournaments like this should have an MLS scout watching them. There are plenty of available international slots.