Obviously the win was a great result for us playing against a very good Pachuca team.
Their front runners were fantastic players that had a great balance of skill and physicality.
I was impressed and at times exhausted with their tireless movment around the whole field. I also felt that their midfield was full of talented palyers that had alot of confidence on the ball. Overall I was impressed with them as individuals.
As far as the game is concerned I think it was a Jekyll and Hyde performance from us in that we played two completely different halves of soccer. The first was a very uninspired and the second was absolutely dominant.
It became quite apparent that they were not expecting us to be as agressive as we were in the latter stages of the game.
Once we stepped up our line of pressure and played more direct it seemed like they ran out of ideas and ways to break us down. I feel that it only helps show the true quality and character of this team that we were able to earn a 2-0 win. I am looking forward to the away leg as I am sure most MLS fans are. Until next week, enjoy the result.

Craig Waibel

*Editors note: Craig Waibel provided the assist on the game winning goal while also making a huge play in the second half covering for Zach Wells and heading a sure goal off the line.

Last night’s Dynamo 2-0 win over Pachuca was a win for all of Major League Soccer.
The Copa Sudamerica Champions get dropped in a classic game of two halves 2-0.
What a humbling night for Pachuca representing the Mexican League.
Before the game I was handed a copy of “Goles” magazine with the headline “Help saved by the water”….a clear reference that it’s writers felt the Dynamo were going to get it handed to them by Pachuca.
How wrong they were.
Mexican clubs had better not fall into the arrogance game like the Mexican National team has when playing the U.S.
Without fully breaking this one down (I will in the Chronicle this Sunday) all I can say was this was a glorious night at Robertson Stadium.
For me not sitting in the broadcast booth I was able to take in the game from a different perspective.
Amazing fans, loyal Dynamo fans, supporters groups TA/EB were relentless…supporters that never gave up. Hey I am considering joining the group just for the cardiovascular benefit. An undying suppport over the entire 90 minutes.
The fans were difference makers, the field glorious and a team with a budget far greater than the Dynamo’s were transformed into a rattled group. History was made last night in Houston, how wonderful to be there to see it unfold.
Send me your thoughts on the evening. GlennDavis@thesoccerhour.com

U.S. National team manager Bob Bradley has summoned both Brian Ching and Ricardo Clark in to camp that begins this Sunday.
Ching and Clark will be vying for playing time in upcoming U.S. games against Ecuador on March 25th in Tampa and against Guatemala on March 28th in Frisco, Texas.
The Frisco, Texas date is particularly appealing to Dynamo fans who could take in Ching and Clark in action for the U.S. up 1-45 north of Dallas.
The game would also be a reminder of the last time the Dynamo and Dynamo fans appeared in Frisco when they won the MLS Cup over the New England Revolution.
For more on the Bradley choices go to www.ussoccer.com for the entire roster.

Podcasts of ‘The Soccer Hour with Glenn Davis’ available at www.houstonchronicle.com and 790thesportsanimal.com

The Houston Dynamo vs. Pachuca Concacaf Champions Cup match will be played today at 5pm at Robertson Stadium. on the campus of the University of Houston.
As many of you have wrote in and emailed me, yesterday’s game tickets will be honored.
Thank you for your continued posts and emails.
Get out to Robertson tonite for international soccer.

Lightning struck a tree that hit a generator that provides power for Robertson Stadium forcing cancellation of tonite’s game.
At this point no determination has been made on re-scheduling the match.

You had to know he would be made an example of. Valencia substitute David Navarro has been banned for 7 months after entering the field and breaking the nose of Inter Milan’s Nicolas Burdisso setting off a melee at the end of their champions league match last week.
The bizarre sequence had Navarro profusely apologizing after the incident clearly realizing what he had done. UEFA is hoping that FIFA will also ban Navarro from any international competition.
UEFA also handed out the following suspensions: Valencia’s Carlos Marchena 4 match ban
Inter Milan Nicolas Burdisso and Maicon 6 match ban
Inter Milan Ivan Cordoba 3 match ban
Julio Cruz 2 match ban
Both clubs were fined .

The Houston Dynamo and one of Mexico’s top teams Pachuca square off in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup semi-finals at Robertson Stadium. The Dynamo will juggle early season fitness plus the importance of a result against one of Mexico’s top teams. Here are few things to consider as the challenge is a great one:
*Pachuca has a much larger player budget, in fact the Dynamo’s 2.1 million dollar player budget is miniscule in comparison to Pachuca. They have grander depth and quality of players than the Dynamo for those reasons.
*Pachuca was formed in 1904 while the Dynamo are in their second season in Houston after being re-located from San Jose.
* Pachuca arrived in Houston yesterday and did an hour and half session under head coach Enrique Meza at Robertson stadium doing some light training and a scrimmage. Noticeably absent was star Colombian goalkeeper Miguel Calero who arrived later that night to Houston.
*Pachuca’s next Mexican league game is against Tigres.
*According to head coach Dominic Kinnear Brian Ching will get significant minutes in this match while Dwayne DeRosario may perform in a substitutes role, look for his arrival in the second half potentially. He has been bothered by a hamstring.
*Zach Wells will get the start in goal for the Dynamo in this historic international.
*Tactics: The Dynamo will look to pressure Pachuca who are an excellent possession and passing team capable of playing in tight areas. Expect a fast start from the Dynamo who would benefit largely from the first goal from a confidence standpoint against the Copa Sudamerica champions. Will they be able to do it at Robertson on a smaller surface? The Dynamo will need outstanding performances from many in this one but the word is the player’s are “up” for the challenge of one of Mexico’s best clubs.
*DC United plays Chivas tomorrow night at RFK Stadium a game that can be seen on the Fox Soccer Channel. Tonite’s Dynamo match is expected to draw 10,000 yet the understanding of the importance of this game has not seemed to be grasped locally.
The winner of the Concacaf Champions Cup goes on to the FIFA World Club Championship in Tokyo, Japan. The Dynamo will play the return leg at Pachuca in April.

We came to grips with reality this week against the LA Galaxy after falling 1-0 at the Home Depot Center. It is always important to get a good reality check early in the year, so it was not too disappointing to have a poorly officiated scrimmage game turn out with a poor result for us. I have been lucky to win three MLS championships and the biggest drawback is the “champions hangover” that carries into the following season. Sometimes it is hard to motivate so soon after having a great run in November, and other times it is just to easy to think that just because you won it last year the chances are you may not do it again this time around. Either way it only takes one of the eleven starters having these thoughts to throw the whole team off kilter. It is a delicate balance so the quicker we are reminded that this is a new year the better.
We as a team are excited to play Pachuca because they are very good. We are still in out pre-season so I don’t think we can change much, however I do think that we will focus a bit more on our shape and our tactical awareness such getting the ball wide a little more often and closing the ball down a bit faster. As far as handling two great front runners at one time, we will rely on pressure, covering and always a little bit of luck. Every great defender will tell you that reading the game, timing and getting lucky are the three most important skills to possess. Enjoy the game and let me know what you think.

*Editors note: The Dynamo also tied Chivas USA 1-1 on their West Coast pre-season trip.
To hear Dominic Kinnear and Dwayne DeRosario address the Pachuca match go to www.houstonchronicle.com or 790thesportsanimal.com

Hello everyone, I am writing to you from Curitiba on our last day here. As some of you may know, we lost
our game to Atletico Paranaense’s first team 3 to 1. The atmosphere was unbelievable. There was about
10,000 fans but the noise level made it feel like there were 20,000 fans in the stadium. Unfortunately,
i hurt my ankle on a pretty nasty tackle and ill keep you updated after my MRI on Saturday. Heres Ramon
Nunez to give you a different point of view on the upcoming season. Hi everyone, this is Ramon Nunez.
When Chris gave me the opportunity to share my thoughts about the upcoming season in his blog i was
delighted. This season is a very important one for us mainly because of the way we went out of the playoffs
last year. I felt we had the players and the talent to go further than we did, but as far as team unity,
we were a little bit divided. This year things are being ran differently and players are responding so
far. Its too early to tell, but the team is looking very unified and playing very well together. Personally, this season is a very important one for me. This year I will be given more responsibility to showcase my talent and im eagerly looking forward to
that opportunity. From time to time this season, i will try to keep you updated on my progress as well as
the teams. (thats if Chris doesn’t hogg all of the spotlight) lol. Until next time, this is Ramon Nunez
saying enjoy the upcoming season.

-Chris

Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear and star midfielder Dwayne DeRosario are guests tonite on a special edition of the “Soccer Hour with Glenn Davis” on 790AM Radio The Sports Animal at 8pm.
Call in number 713-212-5790
Talking points tonite: Dynamo Pachuca in Concacaf Champions Cup semi-finals this Wednesday night.
*Free agency period in youth soccer, why this is harmful to player development.
*Champions League pairings
*European re-cap
*Houston area youth clubs are stepping up1