SuperLiga: Dynamo derailed on PKs

Anyone who thinks that MLS and Mexican clubs are not taking SuperLiga seriously did not watch tonight's match. After four goals, three ejections and 33 fouls, Pachuca defeated Houston 4-3 on penalty kicks in the first semi-final of the inaugural SuperLiga series at Robertson Stadium.

After each club's first three penalty takers were successful, Houston's Brian Ching hit the left post, but was rescued by a nice block by Pat Onstad on Damian Alvarez. Onstad, however, could not stop Pachuca's Rafael Marquez Lugo's effort, following Joseph Ngwenya weak attempt at a chip was stopped by Pachuca keeper (and White Snake roadie) Miguel Calero. Pachuca advance to the final to face the winner of DC United v. the Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center tomorrow night.

The Dynamo jumped out to a 1-0 in the fourth minute after Brian Mullan beat Pachuca's right-sided defense like a rented burro and crossed to an unmarked Dwayne DeRosario whose mishit bounced fortuitously off his face and past Pachuca keeper (and White Snake roadie) Miguel Calero.

A horrible mistake on defense nine minutes later left Patrick Ianni with no other choice but to tug the jersey of Christian Gimenez who had a breakaway opportunity. The tug clearly came outside of the box, but Gimenez waited until inside the box to tumble over. Referee Ricardo Salazar made the correct call, however, awarding a free kick outisde the box and sending off Ianni for fouling, as the last defender, to deny the clear scoring opportunity. Predictably, the classless Pachuca surrounded the referee demanding a penalty.

Despite being a man up, Pachuca continued to demonstrate that sportsmanship isn't a highly regarded virtue in the Mexican division as they argued EVERY call. Center forward Juan Cacho provided the requisite cheap shots we have come to expect from Mexican clubs, including a dangerously late challenge on Pat Onstad that drew the ire of Craig Waibel who had to be held back by teammates.

Pachuca decided to try playing soccer for a few minutes, instead of just complaining, and they managed to equalize in the 28th minute. After a superb build-up, Carlos Rodriguez got free on the left flank and his low cross beat Onstad and found Cacho who tucked it away easily from the six.

In the second half, Pachuca attacked en masse and Houston defended valiantly before sucumbing in the 62nd minute, as halftime substitute Andres Chitiva put the visitors up 2-1 with a low near post shot that Onstad couldn't turn away. Houston appeared to be headed to their third loss in three matches, until the 83rd minute. A long, searching free kick by Richard Mulrooney found Eddie Robinson in the box and his header made it 2-2. Mulrooney was superb all match in plugging up the hole left by Ianni's ejection.

Minutes later, Chitva continued Pachuca's classy ways by being sent off after receiving his second yellow for a clear dive. With all numbers equalized, the action was end to end, as both exhausted sides tried to avoid an extra session, but they could not.

In the first OT, Pachuca's Jaime Correa dumped Houston sub Corey Ashe who struck his head against a green pad covering the sideline camera. While on the ground, he kicked out his legs in the direction of a Pachuca player, for which he received a red card from Salazar. Pachuca players were sqwarming the sidelines, apparently thinking that Ashe was wasting time.

In the second OT, another sub Chris Wondolowski was nearly the hero as his hard shot forced a tough save by Calero after a beautiful through ball by Brian Ching found him on a dead run.

Houston, who are surely showing the strains of a packed schedule, have now lost three matches in a row, and will look to rebound on Sunday versus FC Dallas.

MLSnet.com Match Report