The Houston Dynamo and CF Pachuca have combined to produce several of the Dynamo's most memorable games during the team's two-year history, building an international rivalry that is recognized on both sides of the border.
Both sides remember the squads' last contest, when Pachucha outlasted the Dynamo in penalties en route to claiming the first-ever SuperLiga championship. It is only fitting that this year's tournament features a rematch of the most contested match from last year's event, as the Dynamo and Pachuca square off in this year's semifinals tonight at Robertson Stadium.
Continuing a rivalry that dates back as far as the 2005 CONCACAF Champions Cup, when many Dynamo players were in San Jose, Pachuca returns to Houston in SuperLiga during the 2008 Mexican Primera División Apertura league season. While the team has played just one league game, Pachuca head coach Enrique Meza affirmed that his team's attention is completely centered on the Houston Dynamo.
"The Houston Dynamo are what we are focused on, and it is our most important rivalry now." Meza said Monday. "The Mexican league is difficult, as many teams have signed players to improve, but the Dynamo are what we know we have to think about."
The Dynamo give Pachuca plenty to think about, as the home squad has come into form over the past few games, netting seven goals in three games of SuperLiga action and adding two more last Wednesday in MLS play. Defensively, the back line has only allowed two goals and earned a shutout against 2007 Mexican Primera División champion Atlante.
On both sides of the ball, Meza noted that any player on the Dynamo's roster could have a significant impact on tomorrow's game, and that the team's aggressive play is enough to trouble even the most talented teams, no matter their country of origin.
"We are facing a very talented team that is very difficult and very mobile," Meza said. "They have many talented players that compete for their national team, and their aggressive approach is very important. The Dynamo have a lot of players who make a difference for their team, and that is why they have gotten the results that they have over the past two years."
Despite claiming two MLS Cup championships in as many years, the Dynamo have yet to reach the final of an international tournament. With the chance to reach the final on the line, Meza believes tomorrow's game could be the most intense game between the teams yet, as the competitive discrepancy between the teams and leagues is diminishing.
"The level of competition is much more equal," Meza said. We have gotten more physical, so it doesn't bother us so much. Tomorrow's play should give us another tough challenge."
Both teams are approaching the contest with mutual respect but passionate desire to win. As defending champion, Meza's team could be considered the favorite entering the match, but the Tuzos head coach does not believe his team is above the Dynamo.
"Both teams are going to play with a level of respect for the other team," Meza said. "We have faced them in good games before, and we expect tomorrow night should be another one. We don't feel that we are the favorite, as we are facing another great team, but one team will have to win it on the field."
