MLS Takes on Liga MX: Champions Cup Semifinal Preview After Historic Quarterfinal Results

History was made at Estadio Azteca as Nashville SC became the first MLS club to claim a competitive victory at the iconic venue. Meanwhile, LAFC eliminated reigning Concacaf champions Cruz Azul in impressive fashion. Despite these achievements, the age-old question persists: has MLS truly bridged the divide with Liga MX? The complexity of this debate speaks volumes.

The Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals present a perfectly balanced showdown: Nashville versus Tigres, and LAFC against Toluca. Two leagues, four teams, and a bracket that couldn't be more evenly matched. As these matches approach during the week of April 28, let's examine what the quarterfinal round truly revealed about North American club football.

Closing the gap is more nuanced than it appears

Following LAFC's elimination of Cruz Azul, manager Marc dos Santos offered a candid assessment: "MLS has experienced tremendous growth in recent years. Thinking back 15 years, when MLS clubs faced Liga MX opposition, the gulf in quality was massive. That's no longer the case. The competition is much tighter now."

His observation holds merit, though "tighter" remains heavily dependent on the specific clubs involved. LAFC hardly represents your average MLS franchise. With attacking stars like Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga, Hugo Lloris protecting the net, and an intimidating home venue that has devoured opponents for years, they're exceptional rather than typical. Nashville's historic Azteca triumph came against an América squad currently struggling to secure a Liga MX playoff position after capturing three consecutive championships. Perspective is crucial.

Nashville's BJ Callaghan maintained a measured perspective: "This is simply one more step toward the semifinal, where significantly more work awaits if we're serious about achieving our goals." Precisely the right attitude. Defeating a struggling América constitutes a milestone, not a paradigm shift.

However, both MLS semifinalists will approach their matchups with legitimate confidence. Oddsmakers who treat either side as straightforward underdogs should reconsider. LAFC's home form is formidable, and Nashville has demonstrated their capability to triumph in the region's most intimidating environments.

Away goals rule continues causing controversy

Seattle Sounders supporters are feeling this frustration acutely. The Sounders defeated Tigres 3-1 on Wednesday at home in a genuine comeback performance, yet still exited the competition. Their 2-0 defeat at Estadio Universitario the previous week proved fatal, as away goals sent Tigres through despite a 3-3 aggregate scoreline. Manager Brian Schmetzer graciously called Tigres "a tremendous team," and he's correct. Nevertheless, his squad scored three goals in the second leg and advanced nowhere.

UEFA eliminated away goals in 2021. CONMEBOL subsequently followed suit. Concacaf remains the sole major confederation still employing this rule, and Seattle's elimination exemplifies why it produces questionable outcomes. A corner-kick goal from Tigres defender Joaquim shortly past the half-hour mark completely transformed the tie — Seattle's requirement jumped from one goal to four almost instantaneously.

"Our players battled back, levelled the match, and created multiple opportunities to score that fourth goal," Schmetzer explained. They certainly did. The rule simply rendered that fourth goal virtually unattainable within the match context.

Tigres manager Guido Pizarro acknowledged how close the tie was: "The matchup was genuinely balanced. We performed better there, while they found crucial goals at key moments here." Extra time would have determined the winner on the pitch. Instead, a goal scored 3,000 miles away decided everything.

Match officiating requires improvement

Two matches. Two Salvadoran referees. Two performances that conjured memories Concacaf would prefer to forget.

During the Cruz Azul versus LAFC encounter, Ivan Barton distributed yellow cards freely early, then inexplicably allowed Carlos Rotondi to execute what resembled a rugby tackle on Bouanga despite already being cautioned. In Seattle, Ismael Cornejo stood on the pitch awaiting a VAR review on Albert Rusnák's opening goal — a marginal decision where the subsequently drawn line hardly constituted the irrefutable evidence warranting goal disallowance.

Liga MX utilizes semi-automated offside technology. UEFA employs it as well. Concacaf expects its referees to manage high-stakes continental knockout matches without equivalent resources. As LAFC, Nashville, Tigres, and Toluca prepare for the semifinals, this competition deserves officiating infrastructure befitting the magnitude.

Tigres boss Pizarro summarized it simply: "I invested everything into advancing." Every team did likewise. Concacaf's minimum obligation is ensuring the margins are determined by football itself.