Houston Dynamo Current Favorites in Regional Soccer Championship?

"Club Deportivo Victoria fall 3-0 to Deportivo Marquense" or something along those lines was certainly one of the top stories across Central America three days ago as the final brackets for the 2007 CONCACAF Champion's Cup takes shape. Marquense, a Guatemalan club, trounced the Honduran side, Victoria, to secure the final position for Central American contenders.

The other two Central American representatives took to the pitch on Wednesday to decide who would take the lead for the Central Americans in qualification. Puntarenas F.C. hosted C.D. Olimpia in Costa Rica and just snuck by the Hondurans 3-2 with a goal from Alvaro Guerrero in the final minute of play. This match helped determine the hierarchy for the draw which will place teams in the final brackets for the CONCACAF Club Championship.

Currently, the "pots" look something like this. "Pot A" for Mexico and the United States has only three of the four teams decided as the Liga Mexicana has not finished its Apetura for 2006. CF Pachuca was the first Mexican side to qualify for the regional tournament after winning the Clausura earlier this year.

Major League Soccer will send D.C. United, who finished the regular season with the best record in league, and the Houston Dynamo, who won the MLS Cup. D.C. United is one of two American teamsto have won the regional tournament, but the last time Unitedwon was in 1998.

Last year, both American sides were knocked out of the tournament in the opening round, but this year promises to be different. The traditional powers from Central America struggled to earn berths into the tournament. Niether Saprissa nor Alajuelense from Costa Rica nor Municipal of Guatemala earned spots in the big show. Also, of the traditional Mexican favorites only one can earn a spot in the upcoming championship. With Pachuca eating up one of Liga Mexicana's berths, it will be impossible for Club America and Pumas to make an appearance.