SUPERLIGA 2007
FINAL
Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - 8 p.m. PT
The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.
LOS ANGELES GALAXY v CF PACHUCA
REFEREE/ARBITRO:
Carlos Batres (GUA)
ASSISTANT REFEREES/ARBITROS ASISTENTES:
Hector Vergara (CAN); Amato DeLuca (CAN)
FOURTH OFFICIAL/CUARTO OFICIAL:
Baldomero Toledo (USA)
MATCH BACKGROUND
The Los Angeles Galaxy and CF Pachuca meet in the final of the inaugural SuperLiga, with regional supremacy and an unprecedented US$1 million prize going to the winner.
Past history
The teams have already met in the competition, with the LA Galaxy claiming a 2-1 victory on July 24 in the opening match for both teams. Alan Gordon gave the Galaxy a 50th-minute lead, and when Rafael Marquez Lugo pulled Pachuca level in the 78th minute, Landon Donovan scored three minutes to give the Galaxy the victory. That was the first loss for Pachuca in any competition since April 11. It was the first ever meeting in any competition between the clubs.
Continental honors
This is the fourth time clubs from the USA and Mexico will be meeting for continental honors in an official competition. In 1997, the LA Galaxy became the first U.S. club ever to reach the final of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, although they lost 5-3 to CDSC Cruz Azul of Mexico. The following year, D.C. United became the first U.S. club ever to win the continent's biggest club prize, defeating Mexico's CD Toluca 1-0 in the final. Then in 2001, D.C. United lost 2-0 to Club América in the final of the first and only CONCACAF Giants Cup.
Prior victories
The Galaxy became the second U.S. club ever to lift the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in the 2000/01 version, when they defeated CD Olimpia of Honduras 3-2 in the final. It's the club's only international honor. In 2002, Pachuca captured the CONCACAF Champions' Cup for the first time, defeating fellow Mexican side Monarcas Morelia 1-0 in the final. Pachuca then won the Champions' Cup last May, defeating CD Guadalajara 7-6 in a penalty kick shootout after the clubs tied 2-2 on aggregate over two legs. It was the start of a magical run that also saw Pachuca win the Nissan Copa Sudamericana, defeating Colo Colo (Chile) 3-2 on aggregate to become the first non-South American club to win a CONMEBOL competition, and then the 2007 Clausura to sit as reigning Mexican champion.
A historic confrontation
The USA-Mexico rivalry has certainly become the biggest in the region over the past decade, and arguably one of the biggest in the world. On the national team level, the countries have already met for a continental honor this year, the USA defeating Mexico 2-1 in Chicago in June in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Since the beginning of Major League Soccer, Mexican clubs have won 17 of the 28 meetings all-time in official competitions (with three draws), outscoring U.S. clubs 63-36. But in the inaugural edition of SuperLiga, U.S. clubs have held the advantage, winning three of the eight meetings with Mexican clubs (with four draws), holding a 9-7 edge in goals scored.
DOMESTIC FORM GUIDE
Los Angeles Galaxy
The LA Galaxy saw their league winless streak reach five games on Sunday, as their injury-hit side was shutout again. The Galaxy traveled to Colorado without seven first team players, unavailable through injury: Chris Albright (hamstring), David Beckham (ankle), Landon Donovan (calf), Kelly Gray (calf), Ty Harden (hip), Ante Jazic (ankle) and Abel Xavier (knee).
LAST MATCH:
26.08.2007: Colorado Rapids - LA Galaxy 3:0
Missing seven first-team players to injury with another suspended, the LA Galaxy allowed three goals in a 17-minute span in the first half in a 3-0 loss to Colorado. The Galaxy were shut out for the fifth time in their last six MLS matches as Conor Casey (26), Colin Clark (34) and Mike Petke (43) propelled the Rapids to the victory.
CF Pachuca
It had been more than a year since the defending champion in Mexican football had lost at home, but Pachuca lost their perfect mark in the current season in the final match before the SuperLiga final. The Tuzos ran out a number of youngsters, such as Paúl Nicolás Aguilar, Gilberto Eric Martínez y José Francisco Torres, who played well in defense and attack. Their inclusion by technical director Enrique Meza was with the objective of resting starters Fausto Pinto, Gerardo Rodríguez and Argentinians Damián Alvarez, Christian Giménez and Juan Carlos Cacho for the final.
LAST MATCH:
25.08.2007: CF Pachuca - Club Santos Laguna 0:1
In a terrific match, Santos Laguna maintained their perfect record with a 1-0 win against Pachuca. Daniel Ludueña scored the game's only goal in the 32nd minute for the Guerreros, who were saved on two occasions when Fernando Salazar and Juan Carlos Cacho hit the posts defended by goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez. Pachuca had not lost at home since August 20 of last year, when they lost 2-1 to Chivas, a stretch of 20 matches at Estadio Hidalgo without defeat.
