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NEW YORK — The gap is shrinking. The heads of Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX agreed Tuesday morning, but MLS commissioner Don Garber isn’t quite ready to declare victory.
The New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders FC each won their opening legs of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, a stunning sweep of their Mexican rivals that has many talking about how close the league is getting to its southern rivals.
The Red Bulls went to Tijuana and defeated Xolos 2-0 — the first knockout stage win on Mexican soil for an MLS team and the first time an MLS team won there by more than a goal.
Toronto followed with a 2-1 win over Tigres at BMO Field and Seattle knocked off Guadalajara 1-0 at CenturyLink Field.
The second legs begin tonight with the Red Bulls hosting Tijuana and Tigres welcoming TFC.
“MLS teams want to win the Champions League and we have not been able to do that,” Garber said during a media round table Tuesday at MLS headquarters. “That’s a real test for us. To see three of our clubs getting to this point is something we’re excited about. I don’t know how it ends up, we have a couple of games tonight and tomorrow, but we’re making progress.”
Many credit an influx of Targeted Allocation Money this season, which has given teams deeper rosters than ever before, as the biggest reason for the change.
“A real focal part of our investment is to get better and to be more competitive, at least in our own region,” Garber said. “Seeing a little more success this year than we have in the past is a step in the right direction, but I am deeply superstitious. One great leg does not a strategy make, but we are on the right path. Part of that is having a vision of where we want to be and what we want to be is more competitive against the top Liga MX clubs and I think we’ll get there.”
The results of the first-leg matches also sent shockwaves through Mexico, with daily sports newspaper Récord calling them “Insolting & Unacceptabol” on its front page.
Liga MX president Enrique Bonilla is a bit more diplomatic about MLS’ success and development as a league.
“Definitely the MLS teams are growing, they’re growing fast,” Bonilla said. “Each day it’s more difficult for our teams to get an easy win. Everybody thinks its an easy win, it’s not anymore. No matter what the score is, there are no easy games anymore when we play with the MLS. Yes, that gap is shortening.”
Garber and Bonilla were at MLS headquarters to discuss the formation of the Campeones Cup, an annual game that pits the MLS Cup champion against the top team in Liga MX. It’s the beginning of a long-term initiative between the two leagues, but neither believe it will take away from the CCL.
In fact, they think the exact opposite.
“I think this is going to elevate [the Champions League],” Garber said. “Its whole purpose is to serve as a vehicle to make the CONCACAF Champions League more valuable, to give it more exposure, to show that the two largest leagues within the confederation can have a special moment, if you will, that will just add value to and add importance to these games that are taking place today and tomorrow.”
Said Bonilla: “The sooner we have better football, the CONCACAF Champions League will have better football and we all can grow together. It’s not one thing or another. We are positive the CONCACAF Champions League is going to keep growing and we’re going to grow with Concacaf. I think it’s going to be for the good of all.”