MLS ambition burdens teams

Frank Dell'Apa of the Boston Globe on how Major League Soccer's increased ambition is placing an unrealistic burden on its best teams.

He points out that D.C. United will play 30 regular-season games, plus as many as four playoff matches, and also competed in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Copa Sudamericana, SuperLiga, and US Open Cup.

Read the rest its very interesting. Frank makes a very good case and good solutions how to deal with unrealistic burden on several teams.

Copa Sudamericana Draw

As reported earlier DC United has been invited to join Copa Sudamericana tournament. As promised here is update on the draw. DC United will be playing Chivas de Guadalajara home and away first during what amounts to be the round of 16.

The list of Participating Teams by country is:

Argentina	Boca Juniors, River Plate, San Lorenzo and Estudiantes de La Plata
Bolivia	Jorge Wilstermann and Real Potosí
Brazil	São Paulo FC, Vasco da Gama, Figueirense, Goiás, Corinthians, Cruzeiro, Botafogo, Atlético Paranaense
Colombia	Atlético Nacional, and Millonarios
Ecuador	El Nacional
Mexico	Pachuca, América, and Chivas Guadalajara
Paraguay	Libertad and Tacuary
Peru	Coronel Bolognesi and Universitario
Venezuela	Zamora FC, and Carabobo FC
CONCACAF	DC United (USA)

D.C. United to play in the Copa Sudamericana

D.C. United will play in the Copa Sudamericana, a prestigious South American club tournament this fall. United was invited to the event after a third-place finish in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup this year. The tournament draw will take place at 12 PM Eastern Time Tuesday.

D.C. United was the first team from Major League Soccer to participate in the tournament when it was invited to play in the 2005 edition. That year, D.C. faced Universidad Catolica of Chile in a two-game aggregate goal series. United tied 1-1 at RFK Stadium, then lost 3-2 at Santiago, Chile, blowing a 2-0 lead.

Hopefully DC United will get past the first round this time, but it is an honor to be invited and MLS teams need to get more international exposure. I will keep you posted once we get our first round opponent named.