Impact up against Liga MX’s Pachuca in CCL

Photo Credit: LIGA Bancomer MX

By: Jonny Rico & Sean Maslin
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Liga MX looks to continue its confederation dominance in the CONCACAF Champions League when the knockout stages kick off this week. While two Mexican clubs were left out in the group stage – Cruz Azul and Leon – two more very strong and talented sides remain; Pachuca and league champions Club America.

Pachuca is paired up against Canadian representative Montreal Impact. Although their 2014 MLS Regular Season (6-18-10, 28 points) record left a lot to be desired, their CONCACAF Champions League form was actually pretty good. Despite being grouped with the New York Red Bulls and FAS of El Salvador, the Impact survived Group 3 with a 3-1-0 record. Their run in the CCL and the retirement of club legend Marco di Vaio were the two memorable moments from what was otherwise a less than memorable season.

The additions of center-back Laurent Ciman (Anderlecht and Belgian international,) defenders Victor Cabrera (River Plate) and midfielder Marco Donadel (Napoli) should help ease the pressure off of the club’s young promising core.

Defenders Eric Miller, Maxim Tissot, and Wandrille Lefevre and midfielders Louis Beland-Goyette and Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare are all considered to be some of the top up and coming players at their positions. But they were thrown to the wolves in 2014 and the Impact’s numbers show it. The club allowed 58 goals last season (tied for third highest in MLS) and scored just 38 (second lowest in MLS).

Likewise Pachuca is a team full of young promising stars. The Hidalgo side were the core of the Under-20 Mexican National Team that won the CONCACAF U-20 Championships in Jamaica last month.

Hirving Lozano who lead that U-20 side is one of the most dangerous players on the Pachuca roster. Lozano has never feared the big stage. He made his professional debut at age 18 in a match against Club America in the mythical Estadio Azteca. Lozano came on as a sub and after a fantastic individual play dribbling by various America defenders from midfield the youngster kept his composure to score the winning goal of the match.

Jurgan Damm a Mexican-German winger is another one of the talented youngsters who loves to dribble at defenders and make plays happen. Damm, born in Mexico with German heritage came through the Tecos U.A.d.G youth system and had a short stint in Europe thanks to his European Union passport. He return to Mexico and has settled nicely into the Pachuca system which takes pride in its player development.

While Pachuca are a team full of youth in its roster the club has a history of international success. The ‘Tuzos’ are previous CCL winners and are the only Mexican club to have won a South American tournament winning the Copa Sudamerican.