Pachuca Longing For Revenge Over Visiting Arabe Unido

Pachuca will host Arabe Unido on Wednesday night and will try to avenge an earlier, horrid loss suffered to the Panamanian club in Central America.

Los Tuzos lost to Arabe Unido in their first game of the CONCACAF Champions League group stage but have since done well to recover. Pachuca have since clinched a spot in the quarterfinal round and would secure the group title with a draw or win over Arabe Unido.

But the stinging 4-1 loss in Panama on Aug. 19 is somewhat fresh in players' minds.

"That loss hurt us a lot, but the way we lost also hurt," Jose Francisco Torres told Mexican daily Esto. "They treated us bad."

Worse than losing in a rout was the way the match unfolded. Torres insisted that the Panamaian club was not exactly showing positive sportsmanship throughout the match.

"They taunted us and we understand that that's part of football but we were angry over that type of attitude," Torres said. "Now we're at home and want some revenge."

While Pachuca have done well to overcome the result, los Tuzos' memory is long.

"We don't forget the taunts," Pachuca manager Guillermo Rivarola said. "We've got a thorn on our side over the four goals and that taunts from some of their players."

With a win, Pachuca could eliminate Arabe Unido. The Panamanian club sits three points ahead of MLS side Houston Dynamo, but the Americans would need a win over Isidro Metapan as well as a loss by Arabe Unido are necessary, but Houston would also need to overcome Arabe Unido's goal differential - Arabe Unido have plus-six while Houston have plus-two.

If los Tuzos have any say, Arabe Unido's figure will go substantially down.

"First, we have to think about winning," Rivarola said. "Then, if we could do so with a large margin, we'd welcome it because that team made us feel very bad."

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