The SuperLiga 2010 participants are as follows: From Major League Soccer: Houston Dynamo (2009 3rd overall) Chicago Fire (2009 5th overall) Chivas USA (2009 6th overall) New England Revolution (2009 7th overall) From Primera División de México: Pachuca (2009 2nd overall) Morelia (2009 4th overall) Puebla (2009 6th overall) UNAM (2009 9th overall) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_North_American_SuperLiga SuperLiga 2010 Schedule* (All Times Eastern) / * Subject to change Wednesday, July 14 New England Revolution vs. Pumas UNAM (Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, MA) 8pm Chicago Fire vs. Monarcas Morelia (Toyota Park – Bridgeview, IL) 9:30pm Thursday, July 15 Houston Dynamo vs. Pachuca (Robertson Stadium – Houston, TX) 8:00pm Chivas USA vs. Puebla (The Home Depot Center – Carson, CA) 10:30pm Saturday, July 17 Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution (Toyota Park – Bridgeview, IL) 7pm Monarcas Morelia vs. Pumas UNAM (Toyota Park – Bridgeview, IL.) 9:30pm Sunday, July 18 Houston Dynamo vs. Chivas USA (Robertson Stadium – Houston, TX) 8pm Pachuca vs. Puebla (Robertson Stadium – Houston, TX) 10:30pm Tuesday, July 20 New England Revolution vs. Monarcas Morelia (Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, MA) 8pm Chicago Fire vs. Pumas UNAM (Toyota Park – Bridgeview, IL) 9:30pm Wednesday, July 21 Houston Dynamo vs. Puebla (Robertson Stadium – Houston, TX) 8pm Chivas USA vs. Pachuca (The Home Depot Center – Carson, CA) 10:30pm
BRIDGEVIEW Ill. – Morelia scored early and often Wednesday night, embarrassing the Chicago Fire 5-1 in front of their home crowd at Toyota Park. The Monarcas attack was firing on all cylinders, as midfielder Elías Hernández (one goal, two assists) and Hugo Droguett (two assists), forward Luis Gabriel Rey (one goal, one assist) and right back Enrique Pérez (two assists) danced circles around the Fire defense. http://www.superliga2010.com/content/monarcas-step-all-over-fire-easy-victory , Mass. - A first-half goal from rookie forward Zach Schilawski gave the New England Revolution a precious 1-0 victory against Mexican side UNAM Pumas in the opener of SuperLiga 2010 at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday night. The result gets the Revs off to a fast start in Group B with a full three points against a difficult rival. New England, SuperLiga champions in 2008, improved their all-time record against Mexican clubs in SuperLiga competition to a perfect 6-0-0. http://www.superliga2010.com/content/schilawski-goal-downs-pumas-superliga-2010-opener
Schilawski's goal was pretty awesome. As for the competition, I don't really get it. Mexican teams are in their preseason run up, while MLS is midseason. MLS should dominate this one every year.
Because of when it is, I don't think its that important to the Mexican teams. They spend more and should have better talent, but their coaches are likely more worried about getting the team ready for the Mexican league season, while MLS coaches are in midseason form and results are more important.
the results of the regular season games are important so they will probably not even play their whole First XI for fear of injury or overworking them
MLS teams get a couple weeks off for this competition. They usually play their top players in this one. It also means a lot more to MLS because the million dollars the winner gets will cover about a third (or more) of the player salary cap.
So, I read about this tournament and I still don't get it. Would someone care to explain? Is it the equivalent to the Europa League?
That's more or less accurate. The top four from MLS and Mexico make it to the North American Champions League, the next four from each are in Superliga. As Wikipedia explains:
Ngwenya's brace lifts Dynamo over rivals Tuzos HOUSTON – The Houston Dynamo defeated their Mexican rivals Pachuca to open SuperLiga group play as a Joseph Ngwenya brace held off the Tuzos 2-1 on Thursday night at Robertson Stadium http://www.superliga2010.com/content/ngwenyas-brace-lifts-dynamo-over-rivals-tuzos Camoteros victory ends Goats' unbeaten streak CARSON, Calif. -- Puebla FC started their SuperLiga 2010 campaign on the right foot Thursday evening, downing Chivas USA 2-1 at the Home Depot Center. A second-half strike from Álvaro González turned out to be the game-winner as the Camoteros move into a tie for first place with Houston in Group A. The loss is Chivas USA’s first in four games. The Red-and-White used the evening as chance to try out the club’s new signings, handing Paulo Nagamura, Giancarlo Maldonado and Rodolfo Espinoza their first starts of the year. http://www.superliga2010.com/content/camoteros-victory-ends-goats-unbeaten-streak
New England defeat Fire, march into SuperLiga semifinals BRIDGEVIEW Ill. – Midfielder Marko Perovic stole a late goal as the New England Revolution defeated the Chicago Fire, 1-0, in SuperLiga action Saturday night at Toyota Park. Perovic put the Revs ahead in the 76th minute. Substitute forward Kheli Dube stole the ball from Fire defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe outside the 18 and the ball fell to Perovic, who promptly hit a low left-footed drive inside the right post from 25 yards. The Fire couldn’t muster any serious chances in the remaining 14+ minutes, ultimately dropping their fourth game in a row. http://www.superliga2010.com/content/new-england-defeat-fire-march-superliga-semifinals Pumas happy with performance, upset with result It seemed like Pumas were doomed right from the start. Monarcas went up with an early goal from Luis Gabriel Rey and later extended their lead by way of Hugo Droguett. To make matters worse, Los Felinos just couldn’t catch a break – they were twice called offsides and two shots rattled the posts. However, when all seemed hopeless for the Mexico City squad, their luck turned and two moments of sublime magic occurred in the second half. First, Leandro Augusto brought down a ball with his chest and, from outside the box, rifled in a shot. Later, Javier Cortés scored an amazing goal after volleying an unstoppable shot into the back of the net. Two goals, two absolute gems, one point. Despite the exciting comeback, Leandro Augusto wasn’t happy about the result. http://www.superliga2010.com/content/pumas-happy-performance-upset-result
Goats salvage a point vs. Dynamo, keep semis hopes alive HOUSTON – The Houston Dynamo and Chivas USA battled to a 1-1 draw on Sunday night at Robertson Stadium as Lovel Palmer’s early goal was ultimately canceled out by a Jesus Padilla header off a set piece in the second half. Houston came out of the locker room with purpose to start the game. In the very first minute, a Cam Weaver dummy resulted in Dominic Oduro being sent in on goal. Chivas USA keeper Dan Kennedy, though, was quick off his line and made a great save to keep the match scoreless. http://www.superliga2010.com/content/goats-salvage-point-vs-dynamo-keep-semis-hopes-alive Puebla rout 10-man Pachuca 3-1 to reach semifinals HOUSTON – With a great desire to be a finalist in their first SuperLiga experience, Puebla defeated Pachuca 3-1 on Sunday in an intense match at Robertson Stadium and clinched a spot in the semifinal round with a game to go. New Puebla signing Gabriel Pereyra and Mario Ortíz scored the winning goals for la Franja, while Franco Arizala was able to pull one back for Pachuca. Los Tuzos, considered the favorite to win the tournament before it started, failed to show the offensive punch that has characterized the team for the last few years and were thoroughly outplayed by a solid Puebla squad. http://www.superliga2010.com/content/puebla-rout-10-man-pachuca-3-1-reach-semifinals
Perovic buries winner, Revs through in first FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England clinched top spot in SuperLiga Group B with a 1-0 victory over Monarcas Morelia at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday night. Marko Perovic collected his third match-winner in four outings by volleying home after 62 minutes to separate the two teams and help New England to their seventh consecutive win over Mexican opposition in SuperLiga play Morelia enjoyed the better of the play in the early stages as they pressed forward looking for the win that would help them snatch first place away from New England. The visitors found possession easy to maintain with New England captain Shalrie Joseph resting with an eye on maintaining his availability for the semifinals, but they struggled to carve open a Revs back four that has yet to concede in the tournament http://www.superliga2010.com/content/perovic-buries-winner-revs-through-first Fire beat Pumas to rescue SuperLiga appearance BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Fire defender Wilman Conde scored in the 35th minute and Chicago made the lead stand up, defeating Mexican club Pumas UNAM 1-0 in SuperLiga action. Pumas needed to win to have a shot at advancing. But rather than looking like a club bent on earning the victory at all cost, they instead seemed like an unmotivated bunch. Chicago took advantage of Pumas' lackadaisical attitude and struck the only goal of the encounter. The Fire’s two All-Stars, Marco Pappa and Conde, connected to give Chicago the lead in the 35th minute. First XI winger Pappa curled a corner in from the right side and a completely unmarked Conde got on the end of it, heading the ball home from five yards out. Pumas nearly equalized just five minutes later. Forward Juan Carlos Cacho rolled a cross in from the right side of the area towards strike partner Juan Francisco Palencia in the six-yard box. It looked as if Palencia was going to get a foot to the ball, but he missed on a diving lunge and the ball rolled out for a goal kick http://www.superliga2010.com/content/fire-beat-pumas-rescue-superliga-appearance
Dynamo beat Puebla in heated game, claim top spot HOUSTON -- Despite a sluggish first half, Houston held off Puebla in an entertaining battle, both literally and figuratively, to win 1-0 and claim the the top spot in SuperLiga Group A. http://www.superliga2010.com/content/dynamo-beat-puebla-heated-game-claim-top-spot Chivas USA beat Pachuca 1-0 in SuperLiga exit Goats say farewell to tourney with 1-0 win over Tuzos ARSON, Calif. -- Chivas USA ended their 2010 SuperLiga campaign on a high note on Wednesday evening, downing Mexican First Division side Pachuca 1-0 at The Home Depot Center. New signing Giancarlo Maldonado played the hero, netting his first career goal for the Goats in the 7th minute. Although the Goats won, the result from the night’s previous game (Houston 1, Puebla 0) had left Chivas USA out of contention for a semifinals spot before the match began. http://www.superliga2010.com/content/goats-say-farewell-tourney-1-0-win-over-tuzos
SuperLiga 2010 semifinals set New England will battle Puebla; Houston take on Morelia The matchups for the semifinal stage have been set and are as follows: Semifinal 1: Wednesday, August 4, 7 pm ET New England Revolution (MLS) vs. Puebla FC (MEX), at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. New England Revolution reached the semifinal stage after stringing three victories – all 1-0 shutouts – to become the undisputed champs of Group B. Showing an organized and effective defense, the Revs won their opening match against Pumas UNAM, defeated MLS Eastern Conference rivals Chicago, and surprised offensive powerhouse Morelia to go unbeaten in the group stage. Because of their 3-0-0 record, New England will have homefield advantage for their semifinal match. Puebla jumped off to a strong start in their first match and became even stronger in their second one. First, Los Camoteros outlasted Chivas USA in a 2-1 victory then used showed an impressive passing and finishing display to down Pachuca 3-1. In their third game, however, Puebla had no answer to Houston’s scrappy play and were shut out 1-0 by the Dynamo. Nevertheless, the six points (2-1-0) La Franja got were more than enough to secure them the second spot in Group A. Semifinal 2: Thursday, August 5, 8 pm ET Houston Dynamo (MLS) vs. Monarcas Morelia (MEX), at Robertson Stadium in Houston, Texas Houston Dynamo kicked off their SuperLiga group stage with an emphatic win as Joseph Ngwenya’s brace lifted them past rivals Pachuca 2-1. For their second match, Houston hosted Chivas USA. Though it seemed that home team’s 6th-minute goal would hold up, the Dynamo dropped their guard and Goats striker Jesús Padilla found the net in the 71st to end the game in a draw. For their third match, Houston took on a potent Puebla and Dominic Oduro’s 63rd-minute goal sealed the win and the No. 1 spot in Group A for the Texas squad. Monarcas Morelia seriously flexed their scoring muscles in the first game of the tournament. Monarcas brought in some serious reinforcements during the offseason and it paid off, as they crushed the Chicago Fire 5-1 in their opening group stage game. They followed that win with a 2-2 tie against Pumas UNAM. Morelia carried their tournament-high seven goals into their last game against New England, but it appeared the Mexican squad flexed too hard too early and couldn’t find the net as they were shut out by the Revs 1-0. Nonetheless, their four points saw them through to the second round.
Monarcas Move On' Monarcas fend off Dynamo's late surge, advance to final HOUSTON – Morelia traveled to Houston and secured a 1-0 semifinal victory against the Dynamo to secure a spot in the SuperLiga final in a spirited battle on Thursday night. Morelia had several chances early to get out to an early lead, but forward Miguel Sabah failed to convert any of the chances. In the 14th minute, after a Brian Mullan turnover, the ball quickly found Sabah just inside the penalty spot, but his effort went over the bar. Revs bounce Puebla in shootout, head to final New England want to carry momentum into final FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Most teams would have folded when presented with the obstacles placed in front of New England in Wednesday night's SuperLiga semifinal victory over Puebla. Between the initial onslaught from the Mexican visitors, the injuries incurred by Kevin Alston and Marko Perovic and the chances spurned in the second half, there were plenty of reasons to fold instead of fight. Instead of allowing the circumstances to dictate the outcome, the Revolution persevered to emerge with a 5-3 win on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw and seal a date with either the Houston Dynamo or Monarcas Morelia in the SuperLiga final on August 24, 25 or 26 at Gillette Stadium. “I think that's a lot to do with the fact that we haven't lost for five games,” New England coach Steve Nicol told MLSsoccer.com after the game. “The guys feel as though, even when things go against them, they can just keep going and going. That's what we did http://www.superliga2010.com/
All Hail The Kings Sabah-led Morelia beat NE 2-1 to claim SuperLiga crown GSM) - Mexican side Morelia have won the 2010 Super Liga, beating MLS team New England Revolution 1-2 to lift the trophy. The match at Foxborough's Gilette Stadium had been under way for an hour and five minutes when Miguel Sabah opened the scoring from the penalty spot. Another ten minutes later, the Mexican added another to hand Morelia a more comfortable advantage. Home fans were given new hope in the 79th minute as Kevin Alston pulled one back but the Revolution failed to get another in the remaining minutes. Match-winner Sabah had to watch the final seconds from the side-line after conceding a second yellow card in added time. http://www.fotbal.tv/news/2010/September/02/morelia-beat-new-england-revolution-to-win-super-liga/
