The Dynamo will face a Costa Rican side for the second time in team history on Wednesday, taking on powerhouse Deportivo Saprissa in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
One year ago, the Dynamo eliminated Puntarenas F.C. in the quarterfinals despite a 1-0 loss in hostile conditions in Puntarenas, returning the favor with a 2-0 home win in College Station. This year, the Dynamo will get the home-stadium advantage of Robertson Stadium but will face an even tougher away match.
Deportivo Saprissa, located in the suburbs of the national capital, San Jose, is the most storied franchise in the country. Saprissa has won 26 Primera Division titles and three CONCACAF Champions' cup titles, winning the regional crown in 1993, 1995 and 2005.
Saprissa plays in Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, one of the only top-level fields in the hemisphere with an artificial playing surface and one of the most intimidating venues in the region. Saprissa was fined $15,000 by CONCACAF for crowd trouble in the quarterfinal round victory over Mexican champion Atlante.
The team, known as El Monstruo Morado (The Purple Monster) because of its purple uniforms, also finished third at the FIFA Club World Championship in 2005. In that tournament, Deportivo Saprissa beat Sydney FC 1-0, lost to Liverpool 3-0 in the semifinals and beat Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia by a 3-2 margin in the third-place match.
The team was bought by Chivas de Guadalajara owner Jorge Vergara in 2003 and has already clinched the top seed in the Costa Rican playoffs for this season. Deportivo Saprissa's standout players include legendary midfielder Walter Centeno, a mainstay for the Costa Rican national team, and veteran forward Ronald Gomez, who scored two goals at the 2002 World Cup.
Three other players - Jervis Drummond, Gabriel Badilla and Francisco Porras - have World Cup experience. Saprissa also boasts young talent in 24-year-old defender Michael Barrantes, 21-year-old goalkeeper Keilor Navas and 19-year-old midfielder Celso Borges.
The tournament's other semifinal will pit MLS Supporters' Shield winner D.C. United against defending champion and Dynamo nemesis Pachuca.
