SuperLiga Semis: Pachuca tops Dynamo in PKs
Eddie Robinson scored in the 83rd minute to tie the game at two, but it wasn’t enough for Houston.
Houston, TXÂ - For the second time this season, the Houston Dynamo and CF Pachuca met in an international tournament and for the second time this season they had to battle beyond regulation to decide the victor in a semifinal match.
Back in March, Pachuca bounced the Dynamo from the CONCACAF Champions Cup when Christian Gimenez capped off a hat trick in the 104th minute of the second semifinal leg, giving the Mexican club a 5-4 aggregated victory to advance and eventually win the tourney.
On Tuesday night Houston - the defending Major League Soccer champions - and Pachuca - the defending Mexican Clausura champions - battled to a 2-2 tie after 120 minutes of regulation and extra time soccer in 96 degree heat at Robertson Stadium in Houston before going into penalty kicks to decided who advances to the final of the inaugural SuperLiga.
And for the second time this season, Pachuca broke the hearts of the Dynamo and their fans by advancing 4-3 in the penalty kick shootout.
With the PKs tied at three after Pachuca’s Fernando Salazar, Gabriel Caballero and Luis Gabriel Ray matched Houston’s Wade Barrett, Chris Wondolowski and Richard Mulrooney, Brian Ching hit the post on his try. The outcome seemed bleak for Houston until Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad saved Damain Alvarez’s try to keep the shootout tied at three after four rounds.
Houston’s Joseph Ngwenya led off the fifth and final round by trying to chip Pachuca ‘keeper Miguel Calero with a cheeky shot, but Calero easily saved the effort. Rafael Marquez Lugo then booked Pachuca’s spot in the tourney final by burying his chance, ending the shootout.
The loss is the third consecutive one for Houston after dropping its last two league fixtures while Pachuca is off to a 2-0 start in the Mexican Apertura season.
Dwayne De Rosario got Houston off to a 1-0 lead in the game after taking a pass from Brian Mullan - who beat a defender wide - and one-timing it from about 10 yards out past Calero in the fourth minute.
Houston then suffered a devastating blow when defender Patrick Ianni was given a red card about 10 minutes later after he pulled down Gimenez, who was breaking towards Onstad in goal.
Playing up a man, Pachuca tied the game in the 28th minute when Carlos Rodriguez dribbled into the box on the left side and drilled a left-footed pass to Juan Cacho who had an easy tap in as Onstad was making sure Rodriguez didn’t beat him near post.
Pachuca’s Andres Chitiva got the go-ahead goal in the 62nd minute after the Dynamo defense failed to clear the ball out of the box before he fired a quick turnaround shot from 18-yards out just between the near post and Onstad’s outstretched arms.
Houston, still down a man, tied the score seven minutes from time on a free kick by a Richard Mulrooney from about 30 yards out that was headed home by Eddie Robinson.
Chitiva was given his second yellow of the game to even up the field five minutes from time, but Houston couldn’t take advantage in the first 12 minutes of the first overtime before Corey Ashe was sent off with a straight red for violent conduct to put Pachuca up a man once again.
Despite the extra room on the pitch with three ejections, neither team could muster much offense in the sweltering conditions. Late substitute Wondolowski had the best chance to score for either team in either overtime two minutes into the second extra frame. He had a semi-breakaway after an outlet pass from the midfield, but with a defender barring down on him, he unleashed a hard shot from about 15-yards out that Calero ate up.
Pachuca will now play the winner of the Los Angeles Galaxy and D.C. United Wednesday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. in the SuperLiga final on Aug. 29 at a site to be determined.
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