After over a month since the draw in Nicaragua against Real Esteli, FC Dallas returns to CONCACAF Champions League group stage play on Wednesday hosting Guatemalan champions CSD Suchitepequez at Toyota Stadium. Much like Real Esteli, Suchitepequez represents a relatively unknown opponent for FC Dallas who will host a Guatemalan team in international play for the first time in franchise history. Here's your preview of Wednesday's matchup:
Home and Home
Having both earned four points from two matches against Real Esteli with +1 goal difference, the two remaining CCL matches set up almost exactly like a home and home playoff series between FC Dallas and Suchitepequez. Having scored one more goal than their Guatemalan counterparts, however, FC Dallas will need to simply match the Guatemalans through two matches to advance. A win for Dallas on Wednesday would ensure group advancement on the final group stage match day with either a draw/win in Guatemala or a loss equal or fewer than how many FCD would win by on Wednesday. Every goal matters, is what we're trying to tell you.
Who is Suchitepequez?
Whereas Real Esteli are veterans of the CONCACAF Champions League, Suchitepequez are entering the competition for the very first time. Suchi are two-time Guatemalan champions having ended an over 30-year title drought earlier this year winning the 2015-2016 clausura championship. Based in Mazatenango, a city of around 50,000 in southwest Guatemala about 100 miles from Guatemala City, Suchitepequez is truly a cinderella story in the CCL this year much like a Leicester City of CONCACAF. They are playing their CCL home games at the Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City as their home stadium does not meet CCL standards.
Their competition so far...
It's been a strange CCL for Suchitepequez. In their first match vs Real Esteli in Guatemala, Suchi was generally outpossessed in an even game and saved an Esteli penalty in the first half. A match that looked to finish 0-0 saw Suchi send a deflected free kick into the net in the 91st minute to earn a priceless three points.
In the return leg in Nicaragua, Suchi was again outshot and outposessed but took the lead against the run of play. However, Esteli were the beneficiaries of a deflected cross into the goal to tie the game up in the second half.
Who to watch for...
Goalkeeper Manuel Sosa made four huge saves in their group stage opening 1-0 win over Real Esteli including stopping a PK. They'll look to Mexican Amaury Escoto to provide much of the attacking punch. Having arrived from Tigres in 2016, Escoto brings over 50 Liga MX games worth of experience to Suchi.
How to watch...
CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets for Wednesday's match. You can watch the game live on the CONCACAF Facebook page(will be shared on the FC Dallas website as well) and it will be tape delayed at 1:00AM on Univision Deportes as well.
