Two-time MLS Cup Champion Houston Dynamo will face off against Guatemala's Club Social y Deportivo Municipal on Wednesday, March 12 and Wednesday, March 19, 2008, it was announced today.
The first leg of this bracket will be played at 9:00 p.m. CT on March 12 at Mateo Flores Stadium in Guatemala City, while the second leg will be played a week later, on Wednesday March 19, at Houston's Robertson Stadium. Kickoff for this contest is set for 7:30 p.m. CT.
The winner of this aggregate-scoring series moves on to play the winner of the Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica)-Atlante (Mexico) quarterfinal series. Dates for these contests are April 1-3 for the home game, and April 8-10 for the away game. Should Houston advance, it will host the first leg of the semifinal series. Kickoff times are yet to be determined.
By virtue of winning the Major League Soccer crown for the second consecutive season, the Men in Orange will be participating in the CONCACAF Champions Cup after a great performance in 2007, where they were eliminated by Pachuca in dramatic fashion at the semifinal stage.
The Dynamo now has the legitimate opportunity to play against the World's best clubs. Should Houston win the 2008 CONCACAF Champions Cup, it will move on to participate in the 2008 World Club Championships in Japan against the champions of all the other soccer federations.
The CONCACAF Champions' Cup is the longest running international club competition in the CONCACAF region, and has crowned the champion club of the Confederation since its inception over four decades ago. Other teams participating are D.C. United (MLS's 2007 Supporters' Shield Winner), Harbour View (Jamaica), Pachuca (Mexico), Motagua (Honduras), and, as mentioned above, Atlante FC (Mexico) and Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica).
The Houston Dynamo is now accepting media credential applications for the 2008 regular season. To apply, please go to http://houston.mlsnet.com/t200/about/media/credential/. Approved credentials will be distributed at Robertson Stadium on March 19, 2008, our home date against CSD Municipal.
