D.C. United’s regular-season opener at Kansas City proved to be every bit the distraction that it threatened to be. All that’s left for United is to prove the value of sacrificing a result against the Wizards to focus on tonight’s first leg of the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup semifinals.
D.C. is confident despite going winless in its last three trips to Mexico, including one-goal losses in each of two visits to CD Guadalajara last season.
“I don’t think we’re going to see some of that shock value that we saw last year,” said United defender Bryan Namoff.
Unlike like the two series against Chivas — and the one against Pumas UNAM in 2005 — this time United will begin on the road, knowing they’ll have the backing of their home fans at RFK Stadium for the return leg April 9.
But first comes the dizzying prospect of playing in Pachuca (elevation circa 8,000 feet).
Los Tuzos, as they are known, don’t share the storied tradition of Chivas, but they’ve been one of the best clubs in Mexico of late. Pachuca is the reigning Champions’ Cup and SuperLiga title-holder, and it won the 2006 and 2007 Mexican Clausura (spring season) championships.
Led by bandana-sporting goalkeeper Miguel Calero, the Tuzos also have turned around their 2008 campaign, losing only once in the past seven matches in all competitions after going 3-4 in January and February.
