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FC Dallas tops Pumas to post first official MLS win in Mexico

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BY ADAM SERRANO

The hex for MLS clubs in Mexico has finally been broken. 

Marvin Chavez scored in the 66th minute to give FC Dallas a 1-0 victory over Pumas UNAM in their Group C opener. With the win, Dallas become the first team from MLS to win in Mexico in the CONCACAF Champions League 24 tries south of the border. Pumas field zero starters from last weekend's league game, but was able to force several key saves from Kevin Hartman early. 

After the early surge by the young UNAM team, Dallas began to control the match with Brek Shea creating several chances for FCD. Dallas finally broke through in the 66th minute when Jair Benitez fired a shot off the post that fell to a waiting Chavez, who easily scored from close range. 

Although Pumas fielded an extremely young side, it was just the second loss at home for the current Mexican league leaders, the first since a 1-0 loss to Cruz Azul in 2009. Action in Group C continues on Thursday as Toronto FC take on Panamian side Tauro in Panama City. 

 Dallas will look to take command of Group C next week when they travel to BMO Field om August 24th to take on Toronto FC. The Mexicans will try to rebound from the defeat against Tauro on August 25th.

Highlights of the match below:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJvDyIsBgds]

Comments

  1. Let me guess…you are about twelve and incapable of having an adult conversation.Please get over yourself.I have no issue being called out by a fan, but you know what, I can own up to it.Please take your delisional self to Big Soccer where all the trolls like you live.

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  2. So if this same Pumas team beats FC Dallas next month, what will that say about MLS?

    Cuz apparently just about everyone here thinks that MLS is the sh** now that one of their teams won in Mexico (against a B-side where Dallas still struggled to eke out a win)

    Just asking, because it seems a lot of people are losing perspective here.

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  3. You’re welcome. And thank you for making a big deal out of winning against the youth team. It gave them a high to know you took them seriously enough to send your first team.

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  4. right, you’re a fan of Mexican soccer, and you’re burned because a MLS team came down to Mexico and left with a historic victory, so you come on here with your passive aggressive weak sauce wishing it hadn’t happened, but it did, and hoping to poo poo the achievement.

    I get it too 🙂

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  5. Well, sometimes the fan in me speaks before thinking.I begrudgingly agree that I may have been a wee over critical…it is a win….in Mexico….where MLS teams are 0-49-5…and where the USMNT has never won.I get it.

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  6. expected more? pretty silly comment, considering no MLS team had ever before won south of the border, and Pumas never lose at home, well, almost never

    I expect better insight 🙂

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  7. Just ignore the morons T.

    Seattle plays almost all reserves Tuesday including a huge drop in goal keeper.

    Wins by 3 goals……

    Not one comment about the reserves.

    Same about all 24 of the previous non winning games in Mexico through the years.

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  8. I hear what you are saying.I just expected more from FCD considering Pumas A) were not taking it serious and B) started a very young team.But you are right, a win is a win and hopefully MLS bashers can drop this from their list of why the MLS sucks.

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  9. A win is a win. It’s there fault for not taking it seriously just like it was LA’s When they didn’t take CCl seriously and lost to the islanders last year. I hate the B-team excuse even when US and MLS fans use it.

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  10. I love how people try to downplay this. Both teams are competing in their regular seasons and both have to use their lineups wisely to compete on two fronts. Pumas didn’t WANT to lose at home in front of their fans. They lacked respect for their opponent and thought they could win with the lineup they fielded. Lesson learned. Also after following the tournament for a few years now, this is probably the first one where all the MLS teams are actually taking it seriously.

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  11. I wonder why American haters come to this site, let the Red Stripes bask in their Glory…. and it is true most MLS teams have sent reserves to the CCL tournament……..

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  12. It’s not the first time.
    Many mls clubs could not get a win in Mexico despite facing C-teams.

    It’s a step in the right direction for mls

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  13. It’s not the first time.
    Many mls clubs could not get a win in Mexico despite facing C-teams.

    It’s a step in the right direction for mls

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  14. I don’t disagree that MLS is getting better, but FC Dallas benefited by playing a young team whose timing was a little off. For all those who are clamoring for George John and to a lesser extent Ihemalu, this game showed their limitations with teams that have good and dynamic offensive players. They were caught flat footed a number of times and were fortunate with many off-side calls. Dallas did show well, but I honestly expected more from them considering the selection of Pumas. Shea and Chavez really showed well.

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  15. Dallas did put them away when they had the opportunity. 3 pts for Dallas, 0 pts for Pumas. You do realize this is the group stage and not a 2-legged knockout tie?

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  16. If Pumas decides to bring a full strength team to Texas, Dallas doesn’t stand a chance. The should’ve put them away when they have the opportunity.

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  17. for playin essentially a pumas reserve/youth team. FCD should have done better. it just shows that they wouldn’t have had a chance versus the full team.

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  18. First, kudos to FCD. It’s a big step for MLS.

    Second, I don’t care if Pumas took it seriously or as a lark, played their “A” team or fielded a youth, reserve, on-loan “F” team or somewhere in between. This gets a mental monkey off of the back of all MLS teams. It’s like the first time the USMNT wins a match (WCQ or friendly) in Azteca against El Tri. It doesn’t we win the rest from then on but it mentally makes a difference for future matches.

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  19. Dumb comment. 1) It wasn’t a “C” team, they played 3 starters and are the defending champions of the league. 2) There have been plenty of times the MLS team has fielded a squad of mostly backups down in Mexico themselves.

    There’s really no reason to downplay this accomplishment. Its an official tournament and can field whoever they want.

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  20. I wouldn’t say they got burned. The lost a game they had no interest on wining.
    Good win for Dallas, even if this was Pumas U20 team. After all, MLS teams have been playing Mexican “C” teams for years and never managed to get three points from them in Mexico.
    Got to start somewhere

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  21. Glad Dallas won the game.

    Even with a reserve U20 team out there, the refs would’ve found a way to give the game to Pumas just 2 years ago.

    Anyone remember the Columbus-Toluca game in March of 2010? Columbus was holding their own late in the game and Lenhart got a questionable straight red card.

    The comments on SBI were a riot, because everyone knew there was no way that CONCACAF was going to let an MLS team win in Mexico.
    http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2010/03/toluca-vs-columbus-crew-your-running-commentary.html#comments

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  22. PUMAS lost all respect, they simply flat-out never ever give a flip about CCL, I wish there can be a way to let other Mexican teams who actually want to play join…. at least Monterrey and Santos are tacking this tourney with respect..Putting a U-17/20 side is disrespectful…..Congrats FCD its not your fault, enjoy your victory

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  23. Brek Shea’s movement off the ball is actually really good, it’s too bad that some of his teammates don’t have the vision/skill to give him that over the top pass or through ball

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  24. Actually, Pumas has never cared about this tournament. Maybe other Mexican teams tend to be arrogant, but in this case it’s just that Pumas doesn’t care. They have always sent their reserves to this tournament.

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  25. That how cocky pumas was that they didn’t bother having there starters in the bench. There squad was full of u-17/20 players in the field and bench.

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  26. I’m happy for MLS and US Soccer for this achievement. Yes, an incredible achievement. That is not an overstatement.

    Hope this is the beginning of a new era and not just a fluke.

    Reply

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