TORONTO — But can they do it on a cold, rainy Tuesday night in Toronto?
Club America rolled into BMO Field ahead of the first leg of Concacaf Champions League semifinal against Toronto FC on Tuesday full of confidence. The Mexican giant had steamrolled its way through the tournament, and was coming off a morale-boosting derby win in league play over the weekend.
It only made sense that the most successful team in the history of the regional championship would arrive in Southern Ontario with a swagger, and America's outspoken head coach Miguel Herrera certainly provided some pre-game talking points.
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"Our league is very solid, very strong and isn't competing with MLS," Herrera told reporters a day prior to Tuesday's match. "Our league competes with leagues in Europe, and obviously the MLS is wanting to catch the Mexican league to also compete with the leagues in Europe in the future."
It wasn't the most outlandish thing Herrera has ever said, but it provided some bulletin board material for a TFC team that doesn't lack for motivation of late.
The reigning MLS champs had spent a year proving itself as the top dog of its own league, and is now focused on changing minds like Herrera's on just how good a Major League Soccer club could be.
On Tuesday, TFC got to show Herrera and Club America first-hand, as the Canadian side put on an impressive display in a 3-1 victory.
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The match itself was a mix of everything that makes Concacaf such a unique region in the world: Terrible playing conditions, heated exchanges on and off the field, controversial officiating, and, of course, some good soccer.
America's lone goal was a solo masterpiece by Andrés Ibargüen, and indicative of the kind of skill that litters the Mexico City club's roster. However, TFC showed once again Tuesday that it would not be overawed by a team that boasts a longer history and a much bigger payroll, instead putting on a show of its own in grabbing a crucial two-goal lead ahead of next week's second leg.
The cherry on top was a superb goal started and finished by Ashtone Morgan, who is TFC's longest-serving player. Despite his tenure at the club, his role has been reduced to that of backup in recent seasons, but on Tuesday Morgan showed full value for his part of a goal that was the result of some fine interplay in transition.
The local guy comes up big.
— Sporting News Canada (@sportingnewsca) April 4, 2018
Toronto native Ashtone Morgan extends #TFC’s lead to 3-1. #TORvAME
pic.twitter.com/dMBBYQhDH7
It was one of the prettiest goals ever scored at BMO Field, and given the magnitude of the match it could end up as one of the most important. A two-goal lead changes things dramatically for TFC as it prepares to play at a stadium that historically is one of the toughest in the world.
It also forces Club America to change its gameplan, as it surely didn't expect to have to try digging itself out of a two-goal hole. If anything, Tuesday's match at least made Herrera change his tune about MLS, at least a little bit.
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"It is a league that is growing," the coach said through a translator after the match. "They have great players with a lot of funding, and tonight Toronto took advantage of the mistakes we made."
Whatever happens in the second leg, TFC has already changed another mind.