Trophy-miners Pachuca restoring faith in SuperLiga

Gabriel Caballero (11) and his Pachuca mates seem to be the only Mexican club taking the inaugural SuperLiga seriously. Bob Levey/WireImage.com

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Over the last three weeks, Mexican clubs have enjoyed more attention in the U.S. than they normally do -- at least among American soccer fans.

Four of Mexico's finest participated in the inaugural SuperLiga tournament in what was billed as a club tournament to replicate the international rivalry the two nations enjoy. And while nearly every match through the semifinals was competitive, the question remains as to what it all means.

For the Los Angeles Galaxy and Pachuca -- the first-ever SuperLiga finalists -- a $1 million prize awaits the winner of the Aug. 29 final at Home Depot Center. Thus, money and a spiffy-looking trophy are all that a Mexican club can hope to gain from the fledgling tournament.

Money and hardware? Yes. Prestige and reverence? Hardly.

Though the SuperLiga tale has yet to play out, the tournament has left in its wake a trail of pulsating and hard-fought matches. Still, that alone hasn't yet built up the tournament's status.

For Mexican clubs, the priority is winning the Mexican league. First and foremost, clubs aim to hoist the Primera Division trophy at the end of each season. But when playing against international competition, it's the clubs from well south of Mexico that inspire the most, and it's their tournaments that are highly regarded.

While Major League Soccer and Soccer United Marketing have done well to incorporate Mexican and American clubs in a somewhat meaningful competition, the allure for clubs has mostly been the seven-figure purse.

Trophies, though, should not be fought on the basis of money. Players, coaches and management should long for trophies for what they represent, even if there were no money involved. A trophy, such as the Mexican league's or the Copa Libertadores, should be desired because it's a significant accomplishment to capture it.

And while SuperLiga may one day stir such longing from Mexican clubs, that will only come in time.

Perhaps, then, it's fitting that the most successful Mexican club in recent history has reached the inaugural SuperLiga final. Pachuca improved in each and every SuperLiga match and is off to a rousing start in league.

Pachuca already lost to the Galaxy, a 2-1 setback in its first SuperLiga match on July 24. But los Tuzos went on to draw FC Dallas and beat Chivas de Guadalajara to claim a spot in the semifinals. They then survived a harrowing semifinal match against the MLS champion Houston Dynamo, winning on penalty kicks in Texas on Tuesday.

The club now finds itself in position to claim its fourth different trophy in the last nine months.

"This team is insatiable," says Pachuca coach Enrique Meza. "Whatever competition it enters, it wants to win by playing well and winning convincingly. That's everybody's mentality, from management to the players and the coaching staff."

Thus, Pachuca is in a position it knows only too well and one that it is only fitting of the level the club has set for itself.

"Pachuca has won quite a bit in recent years both domestically, in CONCACAF and the Copa Sudamericana as well," says Meza. "People get accustomed to winning and we have, too."

Holders of the Mexican league, CONCACAF Champions' Cup and Copa Sudamericana trophies, Pachuca is clearing space on its mantle for SuperLiga silverware. Perhaps if Mexico's finest franchise lays claim to SuperLiga, other Mexican teams may long for the success that Pachuca is enjoying, and long to build their own growing trophy case.

Quick recast for El Tri

For months, a U.S.-Mexico friendly in Mexico City was rumored, the it was finalized earlier this month. On Monday, though, the game was scrapped due to a dispute between U.S.-based Spanish-language networks.

Slated for Sept. 9, the date was suddenly open for both sides. The U.S. quickly set up a match against Brazil while Mexico will now play Panama in Estadio Azteca.

While U.S. national-team supporters are seemingly content with hosting the Seleção, Mexico supporters are left with essentially the same type of match. After all, Mexico replaced an opponent with no chance of winning in the Azteca with another opponent that has no chance of winning in the Azteca.

Granted, the U.S. would have provided better competition than Panama, but the result will be the same. It's debatable what El Tri stands to gain by beating a beatable opponent at home. A far tougher test will face Mexico when it takes on Brazil at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 12 -- but then again, El Tri has already beaten Brazil this year.

For the U.S., it's probably best the Americans won't have to travel to their personal house of horrors. Those lumps will have to wait until the quadrennial World Cup qualifier is played in two years' time.