[Copy] Dynamo face Pachuca in SuperLiga semis

MATCH BACKGROUND

This is the second time in as many years that Houston Dynamo and CF Pachuca are meeting in the SuperLiga semifinals.

Last year, at Robertson Stadium, the teams were meeting for the third time in international competition on Aug. 14. Brian Mullan put the Dynamo ahead (4), but then Patrick Ianni was sent off (11). Juan Carlos Cacho pulled Pachuca level (28), then Andres Chitiva put Pachuca into the lead (61). But still a man down, Eddie Robinson headed home a free kick (83) to draw Houston level. Chitiva was sent off just before the end of regulation time to level both teams with 10 men, but Corey Ashe was sent off in extra time to again hand the advantage to Pachuca. After each team hit three of their first four penalties, Joseph Ngwenya's effort was saved by Miguel Calero, and Rafael Marquez Lugo converted to send Pachuca to the eventual title.

The clubs were drawn against each other in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup semifinals. In the first leg on March 15 at Robertson Stadium, goals from Brian Ching (57) and Chris Wondolowski (84) gave Houston a 2-0 lead. In the return match at Estadio Hidalgo, Gabriel Caballero (3) gave the Tuzos an early lead, then Christian Gimenez leveled the tie on aggregate on a penalty kick (18). Brian Mullan gave Dynamo the lead in the series again in the 53rd minute, but just six minutes later Gimenez again scored from the penalty spot to pull Pachuca level. Ching scored in the 79th minute to seemingly give Houston the goal they would need to reach the final, but Caballero struck back seven minutes to send the match into extra time. Gimenez completed his hat trick with a powerful blast (104) that gave Pachuca a 5-2 win on the night and a 5-4 win on aggregate to move to the final, where they defeated CD Guadalajara on penalties after a 2-2 draw over 120 minutes.

When the Houston club was based in San Jose, Calif., the teams met in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup in 2002. Pachuca won 3-0 in the first leg in Mexico (Marco Garces 10; Sergio Santana 53; Juan Arango 81), and while the San Jose Earthquakes won the return leg 1-0 (Ramiro Corrales 61), it was not enough keep Pachuca from moving on. Pachuca eventually won the competition that year, their first continental honor, defeating Monarcas Morelia of Mexico 1-0 in the final.

DOMESTIC FORM GUIDE
Houston Dynamo

Houston Dynamo returned to league action over the weekend - finally defeating D.C. United in a twice-postponed contest. The Dynamo will still be without versatile Richard Mulrooney, out with knee swelling, while defender Eddie Robinson is still bothered by a hamstring injury. But the Dynamo have made two additions to their strike force. Nate Jaqua has returned to the club following a stint in Austria, where he went after scoring six goals in 15 matches for the Orange last year, and Kei Kamara was acquired from San Jose.

23.07.08: D.C. United 0:2 Houston Dynamo

Three days after the clubs met in the SuperLiga group stage, they were supposed to meet in a match rescheduled from June 4, abandoned after 16 minutes were played because of heavy rain. But the game was postponed another day, after a power outage in Washington, D.C. Brian Mullan gave the Dynamo the lead with a 20th-minute goal, but the game was stopped yet again, in the 54th minute, because of lightning and another power outage. After nearly three hours, the game was finally completed, with Brian Ching heading home a free kick (79) to provide the final scoreline.

Pachuca CF

Pachuca CF began the 2008 Apertura for the FMF Primera División with a scoreless draw against Tigres UANL at Estadio Universitario in Monterrey, meaning they have now gone three matches without a victory since their come-from-behind win against Chivas USA in the SuperLiga opener that eventually secured their place in the semifinals. Pachuca reported no injuries for their opening league match.

26.07.08: Tigres UANL 0:0 Pachuca CF

Both teams had their chances, but Tigres had the better in the second half. Both teams also saw shots come off the woodwork. "I thought it was a just result, because neither of the two did much more, and therefore I thought it was merited," said Pachuca manager Enrique Meza.