PACHUCA - FC Dallas will look to become just the third team to reach the CONCACAF Champions League Final on Tuesday night as they face Pachuca in Leg Two of their Semifinal match-up. Dallas took Leg One of the series, 2-1, just under three weeks ago, and needs a win or a draw to advance. The visitors have had plenty of time to prepare without a game since March 18, while the Tuzos are coming off a 0-0 draw against Puebla on Saturday night.
Altitude Acclimation
With an extended break in the schedule, Dallas has spent the week leading up to Leg Two in Mexico training and acclimating at a similar altitude to that of Estadio Hidalgo, some 8,000 feet above sea level. At that elevation, there is approximately 20 percent less oxygen in the air than at home in Dallas. Over the course of 90 minutes, that oxygen deprivation takes a serious toll and is part of the reason Pachuca hasn’t last a game at home in over a year. With a full week of training at altitude, however, the body can adequately adapt to this lack of oxygen.
Key Match-Ups
Matt Hedges vs. Franco Jara - The Tuzos’ leading scorer struck just three minutes into Leg One and put up a team-high four shots in Frisco. Pachuca will lean heavily on Jara to climb out of their 2-1 series hole. Hedges and fellow center back Walker Zimmerman will have to shut him down if they’re to advance to the Final.
Maxi Urruti vs. Oscar Murillo - Urruti’s confidence is at an all-time high after scoring once in Leg One and then twice just three days later in FCD’s home opener. With road goals being the first tie-breaker should the team’s be deadlocked after 180 minutes, Dallas needs at least one and Urruti is a prime threat to tally.
Projected Lineup
(4-3-3): Alfonso Blanco; John Stefan Medina, Oscar Murillo, Omar Gonzalez, Raul Lopez; Victor Guzman, Erick Gutierrez, Jorge Hernandez; Hirving Lozano, Franco Jara, Jonathan Urretaviscaya.