Both Houston and D.C. could struggle in CCC first leg

Not too long ago, one of the annual rites of spring was watching MLS sides stub their collective toe in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. When they weren't losing to some of the region's more unfancied teams, MLS clubs were usually getting slaughtered by the big boys from Mexico.

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The Dynamo attack revolves around Dwayne De Rosario.

But in 2007, the pendulum began to swing back in favor of America's league. Both D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo progressed to the semifinals before suffering narrow defeats to Mexican opposition, thus bumping up the league's international standing. With the 2008 edition of the CCC ready to commence, it will be up to the same two teams to further burnish MLS' reputation, although the usual preseason obstacles of fitness and getting used to new teammates are more daunting this time around.

This is especially true for United. Unlike most championship contenders, the Black-and-Red's roster underwent a considerable overhaul this past winter. Defenders Bobby Boswell and Greg Vanney were traded to Houston and Los Angeles, respectively. Goalkeeper Troy Perkins left for European pastures. The roster purge was finally capped off by the trade of former league MVP Christian Gomez to Colorado.

To compensate, United has been scouring the globe, mainly South America, to find replacements. Wednesday's first-leg match at Jamaican champions Harbor View could see the first competitive match for United's "Gonzo" defense that includes new acquisitions Gonzalo Peralta and Gonzalo Martinez. The game will also indicate which goalkeeper, Zach Wells or Jose Carvallo, has the inside track on a starting spot.

Plenty of eyes will also be on the more attack-oriented additions to the team. It's unclear whether United head coach Tom Soehn will give Argentine midfielder Marcelo Gallardo his debut, but Franco Niell should see his first competitive action as he attempts to break into a forward rotation that includes Jaime Moreno and last year's MVP, Luciano Emilio.

When combined with the usual preseason fitness levels found at this time of year, the lack of familiarity could see United struggle a bit more than they have in past editions of the CCC, which in 2005 included a 4-2 aggregate victory over Wednesday's hosts. But they'll be taking on a Harbor View side that is operating well short of peak form. The "Stars of the East" currently are a disappointing fifth in Jamaica's National Premier League and needed a stoppage time equalizer last weekend to earn a 2-2 draw at bottom club August Town. Making matters worse is the suspension of captain Christopher Harvey, who picked up red card in last year's Caribbean Club Championships, and will be replaced on defense by the relatively inexperienced Montrose Phinn.

Harbor View does have some dangerous attacking weapons that could test the cohesion of United's new-look defense. The team's leading scorer is former MetroStars forward Fabian Taylor, whose 10 goals currently rank second in the NPL. Jermaine Hue, who spent two seasons with Kansas City, is counted on to provide service from the left flank, while Jermaine Taylor will be the man to stop in the center of midfield.

Houston's offseason has seen its own share of turmoil, and while it pales in comparison to that of United, the Dynamo find themselves with some unanswered questions ahead of their first-leg encounter Wednesday against CSD Municipal. For many, the match will provide the first look at new signing Franco Caraccio, who, along with Chris Wondolowski, will try to take up the slack from departed attackers Joseph Ngwenya and Nate Jaqua.

But of greater concern for Houston manager Dominic Kinnear will be the reduced numbers at his disposal. Midfielder Brad Davis tweaked a hamstring during last week's preseason tournament in San Antonio and could be ruled out of Wednesday's match. And while Brian Mullan is gradually recovering from offseason knee surgery, the fact that his wife is about to give birth to their second child could render him unavailable as well. Throw in the Olympic team commitments of Stuart Holden and Patrick Ianni, and Kinnear will be short of the kind of options that are normally required to survive a trip to Central America.

The Houston manager knows better than anyone what he is up against, having faced the Guatemalans back in 2003 when he was an assistant with San Jose. On that occasion, he watched his side fall behind 4-0 before the Quakes rallied with two goals on the road and two more at home. It proved to be for naught, as a late Juan Carlos Plata goal allowed Municipal to escape with a 5-4 aggregate victory.

Five years later, the 37-year-old Plata is still a first-team player for Los Rojos. But the hub of the side is former Columbus Crew midfielder Freddy Garcia, who leads Municipal with six goals while Guatemala national team captain Freddy Thompson provides the cover in midfield.

Municipal has struggled lately in front of goal, however. The team suffered its second consecutive 1-0 defeat last weekend at the hands of league leaders Petapa, which dropped Municipal to third place in Guatemala's Liga Nacional. It will be up to the likes of Plata, as well as former Crew attacker Mario Rodriguez to find a way through the Houston defense, although the absence of Marvin Avila to the Olympic qualifying tournament is a blow for the hosts.

The key for both the Dynamo and United will be to make sure their opponents are within touching distance at the conclusion of the first leg. When MLS teams head home with just a one-goal deficit, they've prevailed every time in the CCC. If they find themselves trailing by two goals or more, the odds go down considerably. Only the 2004 Chicago Fire, in a wild cup tie with Trinidad and Tobago side San Juan Jabloteh, managed to come back from the dead, turning a 5-2 first-leg deficit into a 6-5 aggregate triumph. Both D.C. United and the Dynamo will be hoping that no such heroics will be necessary, and that another step up the international ladder will be taken by MLS.

Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPNsoccernet. He can be reached at eljefe1@yahoo.com