For the second time this year, Houston Dynamo suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Pachuca. Just like earlier in the year, the current Mexican champions knocked the current MLS champions out of the semifinals of a international tournament.
There are a lot of similarities between the CONCACAF Champions' Cup semifinal series the two teams played in March, and the SuperLiga semifinal the two teams played Tuesday night at Robertson Stadium, but the one thing Dynamo will look at most of all is they suffered another frustrating loss to Pachuca -- this time 4-3 in a penalty kick shootout after playing to a 2-2 tie over 120 minutes.
But, after playing a man down for most of the night, Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear was proud of his team for fighting back and forcing penalty kicks.
"I thought it was a good night of soccer," Kinnear said. "We knew coming in that this would be an entertaining night, a highly competitive night. Just great soccer on both sides. I think everyone got that. I was a little disappointed with the outcome. We've been on the good side of that, and now we've been on the bad side of that. I told my guys that the show they put on tonight, the game, the effort -- I think it's an overstated word, but it was awesome.
"We fought so hard. We played fantastically keeping Pachuca on their heels. It's hard to play Pachuca with 11, let alone 10. I'm really happy with the way the guys played. Even with nine guys there at the end, (Chris Wondolowski) tried to win the game," Kinnear continued. "It was difficult night for us. Difficult opponent no matter where you play them. Playing them with nine guys was even more difficult. I am very proud of my team.
"We haven't been beaten in SuperLiga. We've played four tough teams -- Club America, Morelia, D.C. United and Pachuca -- and Pachuca took us to penalty kicks to beat us. I thought the effort tonight was fantastic. I am very proud of my team."
After the Orange got on the board in the fourth minute on a Dwayne DeRosario goal, Patrick Ianni put Dynamo behind the eight-ball by receiving a red card in the 13th minute. Houston played from behind practically from that point on.
"I let the team down. I let the organization down," Ianni said. "Mostly, the guys out there playing. We just need to go out there and forget this now."
Pachuca tied the score midway through the first half and took a 2-1 lead in the 61st minute on an Andres Chivita goal, but even down a man, Houston fought back. Eddie Robinson headed Richard Mulrooney's free kick into the lower left corner in the 83rd minute and gave Dynamo a shot of life.
"We're playing down and we were just exhausted," Robinson said. "We felt that might be our last chance, so we gave it all we had. I got a piece of it. Richard and I were practicing at the end of practice yesterday, and I was trying to get a piece of it because I thought my timing was off. It felt that good to give us a chance. We were just unlucky tonight."
Two minutes later, Chivita was ejected with a second yellow card, and the sides were evened up. But in the 102nd minute, rookie Corey Ashe picked up a red card for kicking out at Pachuca's Jaime Correa, putting Dynamo down a man again.
Robinson understood what the two younger Dynamo players were doing, but the Dynamo defense kept the game tied through the 120th minute.
"We've always been a good defensive team," Robinson said. "Communication could have probably prevented the first red card. Two young guys, but I've been there. I've done that. I've let my teammates down, but the best thing you can do is learn from that. There's nobody in that room that can't say that they haven't done something to cost their team in someway. We have sympathy for those guys. Better happen now than in a playoff game."
Still, after playing a man down for most of the game and being exhausted in the Texas heat where it felt like 95 degrees and more all night, Dynamo still had a chance to win it.
With the shootout tied at 3-3, it was up to forward Brian Ching to try to give the Orange the lead. It seemed almost reminiscent of the MLS Cup Final last season, but this time, Ching hit the left post, and it bounced out. Pat Onstad saved Damian Alvarez's shot giving Houston life, but after Joseph Ngwenya's shot was saved, Rafael Marquez Lugo put the final nail in Houston's coffin.
Houston was disappointed with the outcome, but they felt like they gave it their all, and they know they still have the MLS Cup to play for.
"I hit it good. I'm a little disappointed it didn't go in, but that's the way it goes," Ching said. "I'm disappointed in myself. The guys gave a lot of effort just to get us back in there and give a chance to win. It's just a frustrating way to lose it. But, we showed heart. We showed why we're a good team. Hopefully we can build on this and make a run for the playoffs. Hopefully, win the MLS Cup again.
Jeremy Rakes is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
