MLS still seems behind after MLS Cup champion gets bounced from Concacaf

ATLANTA — Atlanta United captain Michael Parkhurst said his squad needed a “near-impossible” performance to beat C.F. Monterrey on Wednesday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium to advance in the Concacaf quarterfinals.

That wasn’t a total exaggeration. Atlanta’s 1-0 win might have been a moral victory, but it was two goals shy of forcing a penalty shootout against the club currently sitting at No. 3 in the Liga MX Clausura’s table.

Atlanta United had already doomed itself in the late minutes of Leg 1.

A Mexican club has won the previous 13 Concacaf championships. MLS has one last hope to compete to win its first champions league title since LA Galaxy pulled off a Concacaf championship in 2000, Sporting KC will play its final leg against CA Independiente FC on Friday night. Kansas City is more than a longshot to advance, behind 2-1 with the tiebreaker on an away goal.

If Kansas City fails, it will be time to ask the questions that have typified discussions about MLS clubs competing in Concacaf: How can the top-tier league in the U.S. close the gap in international competition?

Better fitness could be one factor. Atlanta United conceded two goals after the 80th minute in Leg 1 of the competition. That sent Atlanta packing before players even flew home from Mexico after the match on March 6. Perhaps it’s also an indicator of a bigger problem.

Liga MX clubs are well into their seasons when Concacaf competitions begin in February. Monterrey had played 10 league matches, eight more than Atlanta, by the time the two clubs closed out the series on Wednesday.

More evidence unfolded in two matches on Tuesday. New York Red Bulls won Supporters’ Shield in 2018 by setting a record for points in a single MLS season. New York scored twice in the first 10 minutes of Leg 2 of its quarterfinals series against Santos Laguna (Mexico). Santos Laguna proceeded to score four times after the 72nd minute to stun New York. Tigres UNAL dealt a similar defeat against Houston Dynamo on the same day. A goal in the 68th minute delivered the final blow that prevented Houston from advancing.

Atlanta’s Jeff Larentowicz said after Wednesday’s match, that starting the MLS season at the same time as Concacaf champions league has set the league’s teams back in international competition.

“That’s not a coincidence,” he said. “The teams from Liga MX come in and are comfortable for about 60 or 70 minutes, then the put their foot on the gas. That certainly can be attributed to the timing of the season. I think they’re in a different form that MLS teams are. It’s difficult to come out of preseason, go to the foreign countries and get results.”

Adapting to the demands of new manager Frank de Boer’s system was another hurdle for Atlanta United to clear. More time might lend itself to better form.

“If you are looking backward you think, ‘If we were 11 or 12 games into the season and we met those teams, we would be better prepared, especially physically and the understanding between players themselves,” de Boer said. “I think we are getting closer. They have a history much longer than the U.S. I’m convinced that we are going closer and closer. Toronto showed that last season. We have to be a top form to beat those teams. Today we showed we can beat them. Now we have to do it also when we play away.”

Parkhurst has played some grueling stretches in his career. Atlanta was opening Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2017 and played a rapid string of matches in a short span of time. His 90-minute match on Wednesday was his sixth such match in 20 days. If Parkhurst plays all 90 minutes on Sunday against Philadelphia Union, he’ll have played 630 minutes in 26 days.

Atlanta United’s captain has played like this before, but it doesn’t get easier.

“It’s my first time doing it at 35 (years old),” Parkhurst said.

Atlanta United team president Darren Eales vocalized his opinion that MLS clubs will also need to embrace new roster management rules that allow for teams to spend more money and attract more depth. The current restraints allow for every club to sign three “designated players,” whose salaries and acquisition costs exceed the maximum budget charge. These rules are not the same across Concacaf’s affiliated leagues. 

Larentowicz echoed his president’s sentiments.

“MLS has continued to stress their desire to compete with Mexican teams, they feel that it’s very important, but it’s tough if you’re not spending the same money,” Larentowicz said. “I think Atlanta has done a good job of recruiting players, and the league has given a little more leash. Let’s be honest, we’re not in the same ballpark, period.”