With J Hutcherson -- Anybody wanting to overlook Houston's opponent later tonight in the CONCACAF Champions League might want to check the Group A standings. Panama's Club Deportivo Arabe Unido are your leaders, undefeated with two wins and a draw. The Dynamo have gone 1-1-1. That draw was the first time these two clubs met, with now departed forward Kei Kamara putting Houston up at Estadio Agustin Sanchez before Orlando Rodriguez equalized four minutes from time.
It's easy enough to play up home field advantage for Arabe Unido, especially that 4-1 demolition job against Pachuca. Their one away game was a 1-0 win over Group A's worst team. Still, it's up to Houston to really prove that the away schedule will be Arabe Unido's undoing.
That's going to take more than a draw, putting the pressure on Houston to prop up the idea that Robertson Stadium isn't a place to expect points. Like in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying, the trick to the Champions League is setting up your own home field advantage while taking it away just enough to get the odd point. Combine that, and you're likely at or near the top of the table.
Houston already has their point from the August 26th encounter with Arabe Unido. Add three more, and they move into a legit contender for advancing from Group A. That holds regardless of what Pachuca does away to Isidro Metapan later tonight.
What's different for the Champions League is the pile-on game. That's happened enough to become a trend, and it's not exactly predictable. In Group A, it was that 4-1 result along with Pachuca taking out Isidro Metapan 5-0. In Group B, it was Marathon going an aggregate 6-2 over DC United and San Juan Jabloteh, only to get all of those goals wiped out 7-0 by Toluca. In Group C, it was Cruz Azul knocking off Columbus by five goals. In Group D, it was UNAM Pumas taking out Real Espana 5-1.
The result is a skewed goal differential. In Group D, second-place is at +2 while third is at -5. In Group C, firs-place is at +7 while second is at -2. In Group B, first-place is at +10 while second is at -3. And in Group A, Arabe Unido and Pachuca are even on differential at +4 while third-place Houston is at -1.
If the expectation is that Isidro Metapan exits the group without a win, tonight should be where Group A is decided. A slip for Houston, and they're likely in a position where they'll need to beat Pachuca at home on September 30th and hope Pachuca does the same on October 21st. They'll still likely end up in a position where goal differential decides the group.
As things stand, they need a win tonight to make goal differential a factor. Otherwise, it's extremely likely that this is the last gasp for the Dynamo.
On TV
La Liga on ESPN Deportes: Sevilla - Mallorca at 2pm and Racing Santander - Barcelona at 4pm. CONCACAF Champions League on Fox Soccer Channel: Saprissa - Puerto Rico at 8pm (also on Galavision) and Arabe Unido - Houston at 10pm. Galavision has Pachuca - Isidro Metapan at 10pm. All Times Eastern
Europe
Could the sweeper be on his way back? -- from The Guardian's Jonathan Wilson: But it is intriguing to see it reapplied and reinterpreted.
Final farewell for Sir Bobby Robson, a man who embodied English game -- from The Independent's David Miller: "With him there were no secrets."
Kenyon 'proud' of Chelsea legacy -- from BBC Sport: "We have grown the business and doubled the turnover."
Mark Hughes chooses the Blues and the boos over Manchester United -- from The Times' Matt Dickinson: By words and by gesture, they let Hughes know.
Carlo Ancelotti has gone from country boy to big fish in the city -- from The Telegraph's Henry Winter: "My first hobby is football!"
Americas
MLS fans in 2010 will benefit from league's decision to suspend play during the World Cup -- from The Newark Star-Ledger's Frank Giase: That fear is long past.
Williams makes his case for the Red Bulls job -- from Soccernet's Kristian Dyer: But Williams has the right experience for the job.
Lack Of Reserve League Taking A U20 Toll -- from Goal.com's Andrea Canales: Of course, that's the direction the short-sighted MLS leaders took.
Chivas USA, Galaxy should both reach MLS playoffs -- from The LA Times' Grahame L Jones: But with a month to go, the race is still far too close to call.
Comments, questions, solutions to problems that have yet to present themselves. Please, tell me all about it.
