Costa Rica's Herediano Host Cruz Azul In CCL Qualifier

For Mexican side Cruz Azul, the long road back to the CONCACAF Champions League final begins in Costa Rica.

Jul 29, 2009 10:34:05 AM

More On :  Cruz Azul
Pablo Zeballos- Cruz Azul (Mexsport)
Cruz Azul reached the final of the CONCACAF Champions League earlier this year only to have their hopes and dreams of reaching the FIFA Club World Cup evaporate in a loss to Atlante.

Now, la Maquina must start all over.

Cruz Azul will play Costa Rican side Herediano in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions League qualifier in Costa Rica. Herediano will host the first leg on Thursday with the return leg slated for Estadio Azul late next week.
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For the Mexican side, the match will be the first opportunity manager Enrique Meza will have with his full squad available. Cruz Azul's three players who were part of El Tri's Gold Cup squad made the trip to Central America as Gerardo Torrado, Fausto Pinto and Jesus Corona traveled with the team.

Corona, the only one of the three who did not play in the Gold Cup, might make his debut for Cruz Azul.

Cruz Azul lost the season opener against Jaguares by 2-0 on Saturday with Yosgart Gutierrez in goal. Newcomer Ramon Nuñez picked up an injury in the game that kept him out of training on Monday but Nuñez made the trek to Central America.

In Herediano, Cruz Azul will face the reigning Costa Rican champions. Herediano feature Honduran forward Jose "Baba" Guity, who told Honduras daily Diez that he respects the Mexican side.

"Cruz Azul are a team of respect, of high quality but they do not scare us," Guity said. "On the field we are 11 against 11. That's where you show your caliber. At home we need to win, then we would just need to go look for a draw at their place but it is imperative to win here, at home."


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For more coverage of Cruz Azul, visit Goal.com's Mexican soccer section.

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