Dynamo learn schedule for group stage of 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League

The Houston Dynamo learned their four-game schedule for Group 3 of the 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League when CONCACAF announced the schedule on Friday.

The Dynamo will open their Champions League campaign on the road on Wednesday, August 22 against CD FAS of El Salvador. Houston will hit the road again a week later for a match against CD Olimpia of Honduras on Thursday, August 30. Both road matches will kick off at 9 p.m. CT. The Dynamo will play their final two group stage matches at BBVA Compass Stadium, hosting FAS on Thursday, September 20 and Olimpia on Tuesday, October 23. Both home matches are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. CT.

“We know it’s a tough group and starting with two games on the road will be difficult,” Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear said. “But we have to play two games on the road at some point and we will go into those games looking to pick up points.”

Tickets for both group stage home matches are included in Dynamo full season ticket packages. More ticket information will be available in the coming weeks.

The top team from Group 3 will qualify for the quarterfinals, to be held over two legs in March 2013. The tournament champion will qualify for the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup, to be held in December 2013 in Morocco.

“We are looking forward to a return to the CONCACAF Champions League,” Dynamo president Chris Canetti said. “It is an important tournament, and we are ready to compete with the goal of getting through our group and onto the next round.”

This is the fifth appearance for the Dynamo in the regional championship, including semifinal runs in the 2007 and 2008 Champions’ Cup tournaments. The Dynamo advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2008-09 edition, but failed to advance past the group stage in 2009-10. Houston qualified for this year’s tournament by advancing to the 2011 MLS Cup Final.