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FIFA: Tuzos and Ticos take the lead

/noticias.info/ Pachuca and Deportivo Saprissa will be thrilled with their 2008 CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final first leg results this week, both taking the edge over their respective MLS opponents to move a step closer to the regional final and the FIFA Club World Cup. Los Tuzos (the gophers) of Pachuca made easy meat of DC United in Mexico while Costa Rican giants Saprissa earned a crucial 0-0 draw on the road in Texas despite having to make do without star playmaker Walter Centeno.

The semi-final first legs opened with DC United at Pachuca's Estadio Hidalgo on Tuesday night. The visitors, who began their 2008 MLS season with a loss at the weekend, were up against it from the opening whistle as the home side poured on the pressure.

Despite dictating the pattern of play, Pachuca - CONCACAF Champions Cup holders - found themselves in a 0-0 stalemate at the interval and in need of a spark. Teenage substitute Luis Montes supplied it, scoring both goals against the 1998 Champions Cup winners in the second half.

His first came in the 58th minute by way of a thunderbolt to Zach Wells' near post. Montes, effervescent and dangerous throughout the period, then sealed the 2-0 win with an opportunistic tap-in nine minutes from time.

With a 2-0 lead to take back to Washington DC's RFK Stadium next Wednesday, the Mexican two-time Champions Cup winners are now firm favourites to reach their second regional final in as many years.

Toothless Houston
Over in Texas on Wednesday night, two-time MLS champions Houston Dynamo fared slightly better than their counterparts from the capital, but will have it all to do in the second leg after drawing Deportivo Saprissa 0-0.

Following an overly cautious opening period, Dominic Kinnear's orange-clad Texans - who lost their MLS opener at the weekend to New England Revolution - burst forward into attack in the second half. However, the all-Costa Rican giants from San Jose - without suspended playmaker Walter Centeno - were quite clearly content to sit back in hopes of securing a share of the spoils. Despite a few late scares from Ricardo Clark and Brian Ching - who missed a sitter in stoppage time - the Central Americans hung on to the draw and will be fancying their chances of getting a result next week at their cauldron-like Estadio Saprissa.

The winner of next week's return legs will meet over two legs to decide CONCACAF's club champions for 2008. The winner will also become the first team to book passage to the next FIFA Club World Cup in Japan. notas_de_prensa_archivo