Home turf won’t give edge to U.S.

Steve Carp

Tuesday, Sept. 28, 1999 | 9:53 a.m.

Just because the CONCACAF Champions Cup is being played on U.S. soil doesn't mean the two Major League Soccer entrants in the eight-team tournament have a leg up.

Far from it. In fact, given Las Vegas' proximity to Southern California, the "home" teams might be considered Toluca and Necaxa, Mexico's two participants, rather than D.C. United and the Chicago Fire.

Toluca's Red Devils, who lost to United 1-0 in the title game of last year's CONCACAF Champions Cup, will play Alajuela of Costa Rica in the second game of tonight's quarterfinal doubleheader at Sam Boyd Stadium after Chicago opens play at 6 p.m. against Joe Public of Trinidad & Tobago.

Mexican national team forward Jose Manuel Abundis teams with Paraguayan star star Jose Saturino Cardozo to give the Red Devils a potent 1-2 scoring punch. Keeping the duo in check will be the key for Alajuela's hopes of advancing to Friday's semifinals.

Necaxa, which plays Saprissa of Costa Rica at 8 p.m. Wednesday, has had a strong run during the decade of the '90s. It has appeared in the finals five times, winning in 1994-95 and repeating in '95-'96.

Midfielders German Villa and Alex Aguinaga are the glue for Necaxa, which is off to a fast start in its league, 4-0-1.

Saprissa has won this tournament twice in the past six years and nearly made last year's final. The "Mulberry-Violet Colored Monster," as the team is known, tied Toluca 1-1 in the semifinals at RFK Stadium only to lose on penalty kicks, 3-2. An own goal in the 20th minute gave the Mexicans their lone goal in regulation.

"Nobody is going to take these teams lightly," D.C. United coach Thomas Rongen said. "Toluca and Necaxa are serious contenders. They have Mexican national team players and other internationals. Both teams are very good teams."

A lot of soccer people like Olimpia's chances Wednesday against D.C. United. The team from Honduras is strong up the middle with goalkeeper Carlos Prono, midfielder Jorge Caballero and striker Wilmer Velasquez, who has twice led the Honduran league in scoring.

"We hear they're pretty talented," D.C. United's Jeff Agoos said of Olimpia. "I think when you reach this point, every team is going to be tough. We just have to concentrate on doing the things we do well and try and dictate the tempo."

With the refurbishing of Sam Boyd Stadium, the width of the field will be close to 70 yards. In the past, it was tough to get 60 yards, making for compact, unattractive soccer. Look for a more wide-open, creative game on the new grass pitch.

"I think you're going to see some highly skilled, highly competitive matches," Fire coach Bob Bradley said. "We have a lot of international experience and I think it's going to come in handy against these teams."