I’m not a big predictor, but I figured what the heck. Why not start.
Houston - Pachuca
I’m going to go ahead and say Pachuca will advance to the finals. The Dynamo are a good team, of that there is no doubt, but I’m not quite sure they’re fit and ready to play at a high level yet. Pachuca on the other hand is half way through the Clausura and sit atop their division in the Mexican League. With that being said, I think the Dynamo might be able to pull something together tonight at College Station, but I’m not to sure that it will be enough to see them through to the finals.
Game 1: Houston 2 - 1 Pachuca
Game 2: Houston 0 - 3 Pachuca
Aggregate: Houston 2 - 4 Pachuca
CD Guadalajara - D.C. United
This game is a bit more troublesome to predict. D.C. has looked good in thier previous games. The connections up front between Gómez and Emilio have been something to talk about. Those two, with some help from Argentine defender Facundo Erpen put seven goals behind the CD Olimpia doorman (one from Erpen, three a piece from Gómez and Emilio). There is no question of DC’s offensive potency, it’s their defense that casts doubt on their chances of advancing to the final. Chivas looked okay in the quarterfinals. They had moments of brilliance, but moments that they looked no better than their semi-final counterparts. Overall, I think D.C. will advance despite an iffy back four. Chivas does have the benefit of being in season, but they drew on Sunday against Pumas and then have to fly to D.C. for a Thursday night game.
Game 1: D.C. United 3 - 1 Chivas
Game 2: D.C. United 1 - 2 Chivas
Aggregate: D.C. United 4 - 3 Chivas
I’ll probably be wrong on both counts, but we’ll just have to wait and see. First leg of the Pachuca - Dynamo tie is tonight, while the Chivas - D.C. first leg is tomorrow the fifteenth of March. Second legs will be played on April fifth, and April third respectively. I’ll bring results when they come.
Due to weather conditions the game scheduled tonight has been postponed. Apparently there was a power outage of sorts, but that’s all that has been announced. The game will be replayed, but that date hasn’t been set yet. If you tune in to Fox Soccer Channel, you can catch the second leg of the Dynamo - Puntarenas Quarterfinal. Hopefully the game will be rescheduled quickly so Pachuca doesn’t have to fly back to Mexico. I will notify when the replay is announced.
