Municipal's Diego De Souza (red jersey) is suspended for the CONCACAF Champions League game at Pachuca on September 24, 2014. (Photo: Juan Meoño)
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – In order to remain in contention for a quarterfinal place in the CONCACAF Champions League, Municipal (1-1-1, 4 points) must defeat host Pachuca (2-0-0, 6 points) on Wednesday at the Estadio Hidalgo.
Pachuca won their first meeting, 7-3, on the strength of four first-half goals.
Municipal’s task in the return match will be made more difficult because of suspensions to forward Carlos Ruiz, midfielder Diego De Souza and defender Dennis Lopez due to yellow card accumulation. Ruiz (2 goals) and De Souza (1) accounted for all three of the Rojos’ goals in the August 27 encounter.
“The only thing that Municipal can ask for is to win and I consider that is what we need,” said head coach Anibal Ruiz. “This can signify a point for us to keep growing and getting better.”
Municipal, which is coming off a 3-0 victory over Real España (0-1-2, 1 point) last week, has never advanced past the CCL’s group stage.
