Dynamo brace for Pachuca Wednesday night
Houston resumes CONCACAF Champions League Group A play in Mexico
And they do so shorthanded against the team that has become their biggest international rival.
Out of the lineup for the 9 p.m. CT kickoff are forward Luis Angel Landin (cup-tied), midfielders Corey Ashe (red card), Danny Cruz (U-20 World Cup) and Stuart Holden (red card), and defenders Andrew Hainault (red card) and Richard Mulrooney (disabled list).
Kei Kamara was traded to Kansas City on Tuesday for forward Abe Thompson, so he won't play and it is very unlikely that Eddie Robinson will play (knee surgery). It wasn't immediately clear if Thompson would join the team in Mexico.
The matches against the Tuzos are always exciting, and the teams' first meeting, the 2007 Champions' Cup semifinal, was no exception. After winning 2-0 at home, the Dynamo dropped a 5-2 decision in extra time at Estadio Hidalgo, losing on aggregate, 5-4.
Houston has had some success against Pachuca, winning twice in four tries, and earning the respect of Tuzos' players and fans along the way. Even with a short lineup, the Dynamo hope to play well enough to survive one of the toughest environments in which to play in North America.
"We have played some great teams from Mexico in the past, but we have played Pachuca more often than not," said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. "I think if you ask the guys the one team they would want to play from down there, they would say Pachuca because of the competition and the rivalry brings out the best in both teams."
The Dynamo will get Pachuca's best; that is for sure. But the Dynamo are missing several key players and no longer have the best record in MLS play. Kinnear said his team is ready for the challenge and noted the Orange is looking to keep a level head, despite the heightened competition this week.
"I think the team is taking the same approach as usual," said Kinnear, whose Dynamo is 0-4-5 all time in CONCACAF road games. "This team is pretty competitive. It doesn't matter what tournament it is. I don't think we are geared up more for CONCACAF than we were the year before, but for us, I think we have the mindset that every game that comes is just a new focus."
All time, MLS teams are 0-16-1 on the road against Mexican club teams in competitive play. That tie came a year ago when the Dynamo earned a 4-4 draw against Pumas last Sept. 30. MLS teams have been outscored 58-14 in Mexico, allowing nearly 3.5 goals per game while scoring, on average, less than one.
"We don't play for respect; We play to try to win and I think a great example of that is when we went down to Mexico, played Pumas and the result was 4-4," said Kinnear. "I think we have earned respect from the fans and teams down there based on how this team plays both home and away.
"On paper, it looks like Pachuca is going to be the best of the teams we will play from this group. Not to take anything away from the other clubs, but we understand the level of talent their team possesses."
Andrew J. Ferraro is a contributor to MLSnet.com
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