The Houston Dynamo will have one fewer off date than originally thought. The Dynamo announced on Tuesday afternoon that the club will host Mexican Primera División club CF Monterrey on Sept. 4 at Robertson Stadium.
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The match will be Houston’s second friendly of the season — the Dynamo dropped the Dynamo Charities Cup to Bolton Wanderers on July 20 in a 2-0 defeat. It will also be a rematch of the inaugural Dynamo Charities Cup match that Houston won 2-1 over los Rayados in 2009.
“It’s an off weekend for us in MLS play and an international fixture date, and this is a game that we feel will be received well by our fans and by Mexican fans as well,” said Chris Canetti, Dynamo president of business operations.
Monterrey have won two of the last four Mexican first-division titles and will provide the Dynamo with a stiff test. The Rayados are the reigning CONCACAF Champions League winners, defeating Real Salt Lake 3-2 on aggregate to earn a spot in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup in December. Monterrey are led by forwards Humberto Suazo of Chile and Gold Cup standout Aldo de Nigris of Mexico.
The teams’ match in 2009 was competitive and is remembered for the game’s physical nature. Nine cautions in total were handed out, and four players — Houston’s Eddie Robinson and Monterrey’s Felipe Baloy, Luis Pérez, and Omar Ortiz — were ejected for a scuffle that ensued after a Robinson foul. In addition to the misconduct, 2011 All-Star Corey Ashe suffered an injury in the match.
The competitive nature of the contest is just one example in a line of tough and exciting friendlies the Dynamo have played against Mexican top-flight clubs. Against Monterrey, the Dynamo will look to improve on their 7-7-4 record against teams from south of the border.
“We always enjoy playing against teams from Mexico,” Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear said in a team release. “Monterrey is one of the more celebrated teams in Mexico, especially over the last couple of years, and they have great players and a great following here in Houston. We played them two years ago in the Charities Cup and had a great game, and we’re looking forward to another one in September.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com. Follow him on twitter at @Dynamoexaminer.
