The Concacaf League returned on Tuesday night with an absolutely electric game. Heavy favorites FAS of El Salvador dominated the first half while visiting Managua FC clung on for dear life and were lucky to be down only 1-0 at halftime. But in the later stages of the game Managua completely took charge and overwhelmed FAS, not only scoring an equalizer but threatening for more. In this single elimination win or go home format, the tension during the final 10 minutes or so was palpable through the TV screen. Managua eventually clinched a historic upset victory after a lengthy penalty shootout.
People sometimes ask me why I'm watching a match between two teams that in the grand scheme of the world are so tiny. Surely I'd be more interested in watching the glitz and glamor of the UEFA Champions League? Now don't get me wrong, the high level European game is amazing. It brings incredible star power and so many players who are absolute wizards on the pitch, and the communal experience of seeing half my twitter timeline explode at the same time when there's a terrible VAR decision is special. I love it. And I'm a Liga MX fan, a league with no shortage of bright lights surrounding it.
But there is something very different about watching smaller teams, something that can simply never be replicated by the world's most prestigious leagues and clubs. I don't know what to call it other than magic.
Football is a game that is about so much more than the quality of play, or the stature of the players. It is a story; unscripted drama, and competitions like the Concacaf League offer a different type of drama that cannot exist in football's upper echelons. Managua are a side comprised of many players who need to work other jobs during the off-season to make ends meet. They play football in a country where baseball and boxing reign supreme, and are fighting for the entire soccer fan base in Nicaragua in an attempt to build more excitement around the sport.
A lot of these players had never played a match outside of their home country before; and if they lost last night, perhaps they never would again. This tournament is a once in a lifetime experience for clubs like Managua, (and Arcahaie and Verdes, who will hopefully get their chance one day soon), and they marched right into one of the most daunting stadiums on the continent, empty or not, and won a battle against relative giants. That's magic.
I don't say this to patronize or belittle the Managuas of the world. Lots of small clubs have great players and show a level of professionalism that Liga MX teams could never dream of. They aren't a curiosity; they are a testament to how great this game is and what makes it special. Hardworking dreamers who can accomplish extraordinary things as a team.
And we cannot forget teams like FAS on the other side of the table, who have their own unique stories to them. Once the kings of Salvadoran football, they haven't won a league title in over a decade and have watched arch-rivals Alianza achieve great success both at home and on the continental level. They purchased Colombian striker Raul Peñaranda, who led Alianza to great success in this very tournament just one year ago, and dreamed of a dramatic run of their own. Instead, they have gone home in the preliminary round, unsure of what the future holds for the once great club.
The storylines surrounding soccer teams are ever-present. It doesn't matter if you are in Concacaf, UEFA, CAF, or anywhere else, and it does not matter if the team is rich, poor, or somewhere in between. There will always be drama. I'm sure if you regularly read this blog you don't need much convincing, but I urge every fan to take some time to watch the unknown teams of their region battle it out. Learn their backstories, soak up the raw passion for the game, and enjoy the magic. That's what I'll be doing tonight with some more delicious Concacaf League, and I can't wait.
No comments:
Post a Comment