On Tuesday, we will discover the first finalist of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup (CCC) when Pachuca host Club America in the second leg of that tie at Estadio Hidalgo.
A 1-1 draw at Estadio Azteca enabled Pachuca to remain unbeaten in the competition this season, as they seek to make the final for the first time since 2017.
Match preview
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A spirited Pachuca side did not let an early Club America goal deter them in the opening leg of this tie, drawing level a few minutes before the end of the half.
Los Tuzos held on with brave defending in the final 45 minutes and fended off Las Aguiles despite having just 39% of the possession when the final whistle blew.
That result has them on the verge of making the CCC final for the sixth time, with Guillermo Almada's men riding a three-match unbeaten run in all competitions heading into this encounter, following a 1-1 draw with Mazatlan on the final day of the Liga MX Clausura campaign, securing the final place in the quarter-finals of that competition.
Pachuca have never been eliminated from a two-leg semi-final tie in this tournament, exiting at this stage only once, in a one-game showdown against Honduran side Olimpia in 2001.
The away goals rule in the Champions Cup puts the club from Hidalgo in a tricky situation, as only a victory or 0-0 draw would see them through after 90 minutes, while a 2-2 draw or higher would eliminate them from the tournament.
In the 21st century, Los Tuzos have only suffered one second-leg defeat in the semi-finals of this competition (2-1 at DC United in 2008) but have won all of their CCC semi-final encounters played at Estadio Hidalgo.
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As has been the case throughout the 2024 Champions Cup, America came flying out of the gate in the first leg of this tie, scoring in the 12th minute, but they could not maintain that advantage.
It was the first time in the competition this season that they failed to emerge victorious from an encounter in which they had drawn first blood, and it also ended their three-match winning run at home in all competitions.
Since suffering a 2-1 defeat at Real Esteli in their opening 2024 Champions Cup tie, Andre Jardine's men have been dominant away from home, winning their last two CCC contests as the visitors by a combined score of 7-0.
Over the weekend, they finished first in the Clausura with 35 points thanks to a 2-1 come-from-behind triumph over Puebla away from home.
America have failed to advance in two of their previous three semi-final appearances at this tournament, while this is just the third time this century that they have played a Mexican opponent at this stage, losing 5-4 on aggregate to Toluca in 2003 and knocking out Santos Laguna by a cumulative score of 1-0 in 2016.
They have defeated Pachuca just once in their last five visits to Estadio Hidalgo in all competitions, claiming a 3-0 triumph in 2022 during the Apertura campaign.
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Team News
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In the opening leg last Tuesday, Pachuca were once again without Celso Ortiz because of a knee injury, Israel Luna sat out due to an issue with his ACL and Gustavo Cabral did not feature with a problem in his shoulder.
Jorge Berlanga made his first start of the tournament in the opening leg of this tie, Pedro Pedraza was in the starting 11 for the first time since the second leg of their tie with the Philadelphia Union, while Erick Sanchez was back in the fold after sitting out of their second-leg quarter-final tie versus Herediano.
Andres Micolta scored the equalising goal for Los Tuzos last week, the 1000th for Mexican clubs since this tournament underwent a format change in 2008-09.
Emilio Lara sat out of the opening leg of this tie, and the Club America defender is unlikely to play in this match because of a knee injury.
Jonathan dos Santos, Sebastian Caceres, Cristian Calderon and Israel Reyes were all back in the starting 11 last week after sitting out of their second-leg quarter-final fixture with the New England Revolution, with the Mexicans firmly in control of that tie.
Alejandro Zendejas netted his fifth of the competition, tying him with Martin Zuniga for fifth among Mexican-born goalscorers for America in the CCC.
Pachuca possible starting lineup:
Moreno; Berlanga, Cabral, Micolta, Aceves; Pedraza, Deossa; M. Rodriguez, Sanchez, Idrissi; Rondon
Club America possible starting lineup:
Malagon; Reyes, Caceres, Lichnovsky, Calderon; Zendejas, Dos Santos, Fidalgo, Quinones; Valdes, Martin
We say: Pachuca 0-1 Club America (Club America advances 2-1 on aggregate)
While they held their ground in the opening leg of this tie, Pachuca are in a precarious position heading into this encounter, and we believe that may play into the hands of the visitors, who have fared well away from home of late and have the attacking depth needed to make the difference.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
