Houston Falls To Pachuca

The Houston Dynamo have been eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup after a tough 5-2 loss to Pachuca. Pachuca was far too aggressive for the men in orange throughout much of the game. Two of Pachuca's five goals were via Christian Gimenez penalty kicks, including a controversial call on Brad Davis after taking down Gimenez on the corner of the box.

But still, the Dynamo clawed their way back and even re-took the aggregate lead after Brian Ching's header in the 79th minute. But shortly before the end of regulation, Gabriel Caballero struck for a second time, sending the game to two fifteen-minute overtime periods.

Gimenez struck for his third goal just before the end of the first overtime period. Replays showed the official was about to blow the whistle to end the period, but at the last second, he let the play continue. Dynamo 'keeper Zach Wells couldn't even manage an attempt at stopping the perfectly-placed shot into the top-left corner.

Despite being completely outplayed in front of a rabid Mexican crowd, the Dynamo still nearly pulled it out. Instead, Pachuca advances to meet Chivas de Guadalajara in the final. Houston will be back in Texas for their MLS season opener against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday afternoon.

2007 Preview - Houston Dynamo

2006 record: 11-8-13 – 46 points (2nd in West)
-- MLS Cup champions.

Key additions: -none-
Key losses: Adrian Serioux (FC Dallas)

In their first year since relocating from San Jose, the Houston Dynamo captured the 2006 MLS Cup. Apparently, head coach Dominic Kinnear feels the team is strong enough, as no major acquisitions were made by the men in orange this off-season. Houston reportedly even turned down a blank check from AEG to go after a Designated Player.

Returning to the squad are perennial Goal of the Year nominee Dwayne De Rosario, Hawaii’s favorite son Brian Ching, and Kenny’s kid Paul Daglish, as well as veteran ‘keeper Pat Onstad. The core of the team remains untouched – Adrian Serioux is the only notable departure (expansion draft, then FC Dallas) – but with almost every other team in the West making big moves, Houston may find themselves left in the dust.

The Dynamo will struggle to make the playoffs this year in a crowded Western Conference and will be battling for the last playoff spot up through the final week of the season. I predict they will just sneak in at the last minute, and could make some noise in the playoffs if everything clicks at the right time again.

TJ's projected finish: 5th in Western Conference, 8th overall.