BC Pangie

Pachuca and Chivas will go into the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup next Wednesday on even terms. The match finished today with the sides even at two a piece. While Chivas’ Omar Bravo netted both for his side, Pachuca spread the goals out with one from Juan Cacho, and the other from Marvin Cabrera.

The game looked to be an interesting match from the beginning as Chivas had a wonderful shot from outside the eighteen bounce off the crossbar, nick the post, and then back out into play. This happened in the first five minutes, and it was this instance that set the pace for the game.

No one side dominated heavily, and both sides saw equal opportunities, but it was Pachuca who struck first on the counterattack in the twenty-first minute through Juan Cacho. Andrés Chitiva was led from his own half and then carried the ball into the corner where he slipped in a cross to Cacho who tapped it home.

Pachuca continued to look strong moving the ball forward, but so did Chivas. Bravo, Bofo, and Medina looked good up front. Bofo had a truly wonderful game as his touches were always on, and his knowledge of the game shown through. It was Bofo who set up Chivas first goal in the forty-fourth minute as he sent his clearance from the eighteen up the line to Omar Bravo who received it just inside of his own half. Bravo had space, and took it with speed. He continued to make his forty yard run into the corner of the box where he cut it back to his left food and sent a wonderful curling ball past Miguel Calero. It was truly a world class run, evidence of Bravo’s quality.

The second half opened much like the first with both sides looking to exploit the other, and neither side really looking scared. Calero was forced to make some top saves as Bofo continued to send people through in the box. Unfortunately for Calero, his quality saves wouldn’t be enough to stop a stupendous team effort goal from Chivas. Chivas showed great control as they moved the ball in and around the eighteen, until Ramón Morales took it to touch and then sent the ball square. His cross beat Claero and an unmarked Bravo couldn’t do anything but score.

After this goal, Pachuca made some changes, and it didn’t really look to do anything for the team, as Chivas began to dominate possession, creating chances and looking the better team. Chivas couldn’t find the back of the net, and thought they were safe when they took out Bravo late in the eightieth minute. They were not safe. Bravo was what was holding the team together upfront working well with Bofo. He came out and Pachuca scored two minutes later with a spectacular shot from Cabrera.

Pachuca dominated the last ten minutes, and probably should have won the first leg if not for some poor calls from the linesman. They had two goals ruled offsides, when replays showed that neither player was offsides. The first the player was even with the ball when it was played, and the second was a wonderful diagonal run that caught defender, goalie, and linesman flat footed. If Pachuca should go on to lose the tie they will undeniably feel hard done by the referees.

With DC United losing to Chivas on Tuesday the Houston Dynamo were MLS’ last chance of having a finalist in this years CONCACAF Champions’ Cup.

Houston went in with a two goal lead that was, unfortunately, not enough to see them through to the finals. It was a game that saw some nice goals from either side, but it was also a game that showed some questionable refereeing.

The Dynamo started without stand out Ricardo Clark who had damaged his knee in their previous encounter. This forced Kelly Gray to move out of the defense and into the middle, while Alejandro Moreno dropped back a bit to help cover for Gray. This changed things up for the Dynamo, but I don’t think it was what caused them to fail. They came out and it was clear they had a two goal lead that they were looking to preserve, that or they were incredibly lazy to start. Covering the defensive end, and banging balls upfield for someone to chase every chance they had.

This technique seldom works, and it wouldn’t work for the Dynamo as Pachuca struck in the fourth minute from a Christian Giménez free kick. Giménez whipped the ball in and it was flicked on to Gabriel Caballero on the back post. Unfortunately it looks that Caballero was offside. He was on when the ball was initially kicked but the flick on put him in an offsides position. This was only the first of a few semi-questionable calls.

Pachuca would bring the game back to level terms only eleven minutes later when Craig Waibel had a nasty hack in the box. The penalty was rightly given and Giménez converted to the right side. Zach Wells, the stand-in goalie who blocked a penalty earlier in the quaterfinals was able to get his hand to it, but not enough to keep it out of his net.

You would think two goals in a quarter of an hour would wake a team up, and maybe it did as Houston was to score next, although it wouldn’t come until the next half. Houston played the remainder of the first half on their heels. Giving Pachuca too much time to trap a pass and turn. While Pachuca gave Houston no time to control the ball at all. Due to this slacking defense, Pachuca were able to move the ball freely into the box and create plenty of chances. It was a surprise that the two sides went into the half even on aggregate.

The second half didn’t look much different with Houston really playing back on their heels while Pachuca played to win. However, Houston found the back of the net in the fifty-fourth minute after another questionable call by the referee. Brian Ching was chasing the ball out of bounds with a Pachuca defender in front of him. The defender went down and in retrospect it looks as if he fell without contact, and this was a good call from the referee, however, the ball looked to cross the line completely into the out of bounds. Ching continued playing it, as he should, and crossed it to Dwayne DeRosario who touched it on to Brian Mullan who converted. At this point Houston was back in the lead on aggregate (there are no away goals in CONCACAF).

Houston’s lead wouldn’t last long as yet another questionable call was given leading to a goal. Brad Davis was working one on one in the box near the end line with his back to the referee. He half-stepped into get the ball, but realized he wouldn’t get it and so pulled out. Unfortunately the Pachuca forward knew this would be a good time to take a dive and won yet another penalty. Should it have been a penalty? Maybe, but the referee was in a really poor position to see what had happened. The penalty was taken by Giménez again. Wells dove the same direction as the first but Giménez went left and converted easily. Once again the teams were on level terms.

The rest of the game was rather bland. Houston didn’t provide many chances, and Pachuca couldn’t convert despite their running at the goal all game. It looked to go into overtime, but then Houston magically got their second of the game. Once again it was Brian Ching involved in another goal. A free kick was taken Kevin Goldthwaite, who had just came on as a sub, ten yards outside the box. Unfortunately for Pachuca only two of their three back line pulled up for the offside trap. The remaining defender left Ching wide open with a free header that he did well to convert. This goal took the wind out of the fans. They looked as if they had resigned themselves to defeat. Dominic Kinnear, the Houston coach, looked down at his watch. Houston went into a shell. Ten minutes left in the match and they were going to hold on for the win. Or were they…

Pachuca would score a phenomenal goal in the eighty-sixth minute. Houston once again allowed for too much space when they were defending. Allowing passes in and out of the box, and attackers to turn and cross. Leobardo López got a pass in the box, dribbled towards the edge of the box, turned and crossed it in to Gabriel Caballero, the man with the first goal who had a beautiful touch off his head into the back of the net. There was no question on this goal. One of three legit goals in this game of seven.

Regulation time finished with the teams even on aggregate, and so it went to overtime. Pachuca had the momentum from the second half, and they had the fans behind them. Houston still had a chance, but it would be a tough battle if they were to win it.

DeRosario looked to get the first of extra time, but a phenomenal save from Miguel Calero kept the teams even. The game continued with Houston looking slow and tired, while Pachuca just kept hammering. It was amazing that this game even went to overtime. To most, it was no question who the better team was. Finally Pachuca picked up another goal - another questionable goal.

The first half of extra time went smoothly, there wasn’t any stoppages, and injury time didn’t look to be a factor. There was no clock held up by the fourth official, and everyone expected the whistle on fifteen. This was not to be the case. At about fifteen-twenty, Houston looked to clear the ball and the referee looked to blow his whistle. But he didn’t, he only put it in his mouth ready to blow it, but the ball landed at the feet of Giménez who took a few touches and sent his hat trick rocket home into the upper ninety. Zach Wells just stood there, unmoving, watching the ball find the back of the net. There was really nothing he could do about it. Should the referee have blown his whistle? He had it in his mouth, he was ready to blow it, but poor clearance and a Pachuca chance saw him take the whistle out of his mouth. Once the ball was in the back of the net, he blew the whistle. Of course this caused some hard feelings between Houston and the referee at this point.

The refereeing for this game was rather poor. He missed an obvious handball a few times, once in the box that would have given Pachuca their third penalty of the game. Houston came out slow, and finished slow. It was obvious Pachuca was the better team and deserved to win. Their were times it looked like Houston was a pub team that had no idea how to play against such skill. Giménez was easily the man of the match. He was in both ends of the field, showing skill, power, and intelligence. Also it should be noted that the Pachuca keeper seemed to try to get into it with the Houston coach at the end of regulation time. A rather interesting talking point if anyone saw it.

First Leg: Houston 2 - 0 Pachuca
Second Leg: Houston 2 - 5 Pachuca
Aggregate: Houston 4 - 5 Pachuca
Houston: 5/10 | Pachuca: 8/10

Unfortunately I didn’t get to see either of these games in their entirety.  I was able to catch the first half an hour of  Houston - Pachuca, and the second half of D.C. United - Chivas.  Neither of my predictions were correct, but I warned you of that, and, the Houston - Pachuca game was relatively close.

 Houston 2 - 0 Pachuca

I didn’t really think much of the Houston - Pachuca game. Houston had it’s moments of  dominance, while Pachuca aslo appeared to have runs of dominance moving the ball cleanly around the pitch.  This Pachuca team is a pretty good one, and prior to this game, I would have thought they could handle the Dynamo with ease.  After this game, I’m not so sure.  Granted I didn’t see the whole game, but this second game will be rather interesting.  Pachuca down to goals from Ching, and his sub - Wondolowski.  However, the second game will be at Pachuca’s home stadium, in Mexico City, a place where American teams have traditionally found it difficult to perform well.  Typically two goals would be a bit of a hole to climb out of, but it’s a feat that can be easily accomplished by this Pachuca team given the conditions.  Of course, the Dynamo will probably play a defensive game that could be difficult for Pachuca to penetrate.  Look for the second leg on FSC on April fourth.

If my previous prediction for the second game is to stand that still puts Pachuca into the finals.  But with a two goal lead, I see Houston  buttoning up  tight  and really forcing Pachuca to  work.  Revised Prediction: Houston 1 - 2 Pachuca or Houston 0 - 2 Pachuca: Houston wins on penalty kicks.  One of the things I failed to recognize is how well Zach Wells has been playing since he was brought on early on in the first leg against Puntarenas.

Chivas Guadalajara 1 - 1 D.C. United 

I thought D.C. would really take it to Chivas considering how Emilio and Gómez have been looking upfront as of late.  I was wrong.  Chivas popped the first goal early on in the second half, and D.C. didn’t claw back until into injury time.  I thought D.C. for the most part looked disjointed and forced.  Perhaps this was becaue once again it was pouring out and I picked the match up in the second half.  Chivas looked okay with Bravo and Bofo upfront, but nothing to pin the title on.  Overall, Chivas looked the better team, and although it was a nice set piece that led directly to yet another Emilio goal, I don’t see D.C. United coming through as I did earlier on.  Revised Prediction: D.C. United 1 - 3 Chivas.  Unlike my previous prediction I think Chivas will go through to face Houston.  This match can be seen on FSC on April third.

The Houston Dynamo, unlike their MLS counterparts in the CONCACAF Champion’s Cup, came into the second leg of the quarterfinals down to an injury time Kurt Bernard goal. MLS sides have appeared to have a bit of bad form against Costa Rican sides, and the Houston Dynamo went into tonights match looking to turn that ugly trend around.

The game started a bit slow with both sides holding the ball although Houston showed some good movement early on. That would soon deteriorate and there was a brief spell that saw both sides frantically trying to shove the ball forward. Fortunately this quickly ended as the teams found their grooves.

Houston looked sharp in the twenty-third minute as back Kelly Gray made a run forward that found him in the the Puntarenas corner. He whipped a good ball into the box that missed two Houston players but found a diving Puntarenas goalie in Shane Orio.

Houston continued controlling the ball and applying pressure to the Puntarenas back line and eventually their work would be paid off. In the twenty-seventh minute Brian Mullan ripped a shot from outside that troubled Orio as he knocked the ball down to a waiting Brad Davis. Davis reacted and knocked the ball into Orio who couldn’t do anything but deflect it again. This time the deflection came to Daglish who’s first touch sent the ball a little high. Fortunately for Houston, Daglish was able to have a better second touch that put the ball over a scrambling Orio and into the back of the net.

At this point the game was back to a draw and the momentum was with Houston as in the twenty-ninth minute Mullan showed good skill to carry the ball into the box. He then gave it to Daglish who was unable to do anything.

At the end of the first half there was no comparing this game to the previous tie as both teams looked a class of difference. People were moving, and it was a valiant effort by both sides.

The second half continued to see Houston dominance with some good counter attacking and brief possession for Puntarenas. Puntarenas came close to pulling ahead again in the sixty-seventh minute as a free kick from about twenty-five yards forced Wells to push the ball over the bar. The resulting corner kick amounted to nothing and it was Puntarenas who would rue their chances seven minutes later.

In the seventy-fourth minute a free kick from between the eighteen and the touchline from Houston’s Brad Davis found substitute Brian Ching who put his shot into Orio. Once again it was Orio having difficulty controlling and his deflection landed at the feet of Kelly Gray who put Houston up two nil on the game, and two one on aggregate.

Houston had another great chance to put the game out of reach minutes later as Daglish carried around two defenders and ripped a shot from just inside the eighteen that beat Orio but couldn’t beat the right hand post. Brian Ching followed it up but couldn’t get his foot on it to put it away.

Only moments later Puntarenas would get a flash at the Houston goal. Some good work and counter attack was able to pressure the Houston defense and the ball squirted to Alvaro Guerrero a few yards off the penalty spot. Guerrero lined up his shot, but leaned back as he connected and sent the ball well over the net.

Both sides looked like completely different teams from the previous leg, but it was Houston that was able to pull through with a win that sees them into the semi’s against Mexican side Pachuca. The first leg of that match will be played at College Station in Texas on March fourteenth.

It will be an interesting semi-final stage as both semi-finals feature a team from the MLS and one from Mexican’s first tier. We could see an all Mexican, all MLS, or in a sense, a Mexico/US final to this years CONCACAF Champion’s Cup.

Houston: 7/10 | Puntarenas: 5.5/10

Final Score: Houston 2 – 0 Puntarenas
Aggregate Score: Houston 2 – 1 Puntarenas