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.

DC United Eliminated From CCC

D.C. United has been denied a spot in the final of the CONCACAF Champions Cup by Chivas de Guadalajara after a 2-1 loss in Mexico City last night. Chivas will now go on to face the winner of tomorrow night's Houston Dynamo vs. Pachuca game (Houston leads 2-0 on aggregate).

After fighting for a 1-1 tie in the first leg of the semifinal, D.C. United got off to a good start in the second leg - Jaime Moreno's spectacular bicycle kick found the back of the net at Estadio Jalisco after 35 minutes. The goal was set up by a strong run on the left side from Luciano Emilio. But the celebration wouldn't last long, as Adolfo Bautista equalized just six minutes later, making it 1-1 at the half.

In the second half, it was all Chivas. Bautista and striker Alberto Medina gave the lagging DCU defense fits, penetrating deep into the attacking third repeatedly. In the 51st minute, Gonzalo Pineda's powerful shot from good distance went through 'keeper Troy Perkins' hands in the rain and trickled over the line - it proved to be the winning goal.

Fred, DCU's new Brazilian acquisition, made his debut in the second half, but wasn't much of a factor.

Also of note, Josh Gros came off in the first half with a possible concussion. He flew back to D.C. for futher evaluations while the rest of the team went on to Denver for their MLS opener against Colorado.