MLS teams to take their best shot in CONCACAF tourney

Steve Carp

Monday, Sept. 27, 1999 | 10:34 a.m.

It's a somewhat awkward position to be in, trying to win your league championship while diverting attention toward a loftier goal of being considered among the world's elite.

Yet for the members of D.C. United and the Chicago Fire, the chase for the Major League Soccer title will be put on hold this week. There's bigger hardware on the line, not to mention a trip to Brazil. And that's something you don't get if you win the Lamar Hunt Trophy, emblematic of MLS supremacy.

Both teams are in town for the CONCACAF Champions Cup at Sam Boyd Stadium, facing six other club champions from Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras and Trinidad & Tobago. The winner of Sunday's championship game will represent CONCACAF (Confederation of North and Central America and Caribbean Football) in the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship in January in Brazil.

"If you look where the winner goes, this is a very important tournament," United coach Thomas Rongen said. "It's not just important for D.C. United, but for Major League Soccer."

It has been a struggle for the top pro league in the United States to gain acceptance as it heads toward the conclusion of its fourth season. Attendance has declined, there was a change in leadership when commissioner Doug Logan stepped down and MLS took a shot to its collective shins last week when the Colorado Rapids were defeated 2-0 in the final of the U.S. Open Cup by Rochester of the developmental A-League.

A win at the CONCACAF tourney by either United or the Fire would give the league a real boost.

"We're placing a lot of importance in the CONCACAF tournament," Fire coach Bob Bradley said. "All of it is a huge incentive -- for the league, for the players. We're going to play our best team in Las Vegas."

Chicago gets first run at a spot in the championship when it faces Joe Public of Trinidad & Tobago in Tuesday's opening match at 6 p.m. Toluca of Mexico, one of the favorites in this event, meets Alajucla of Costa Rica in the 8 p.m. nightcap.

D.C. United plays its first match Wednesday against Olimpia of Honduras at 6 p.m. Necaxa of Mexico meets Saprissa from Costa Rica following that contest.

As defending CONCACAF Club champions, D.C. United knows what this kind of tournament is all about. Defender Jeff Agoos said there's a lot more pressure than during MLS.

"It's a much different environment," he said. "The margin of error is so slim in a single elimination format. You can't afford to make many mistakes."

Last year, United beat Joe Public 8-0 and Toluca 1-0 for the title. Saprissa went 2-1 in last year's event at RFK Stadium. The Fire has one of the best goalkeepers in the tournament in Zach Thornton (1.07 goals-against average, 6 shutouts), who was named to the MLS' Top 11 last year. It also has former UCLA standout Ante Razov (12 goals, 31 points).