Los Angeles Blues News Release -- www.labluesprosoccer.com
Monday, September 3, 2012
FULLERTON, Calif. – The Los Angeles Blues are excited to announce they will take on Mexican heavyweights C.F. Pachuca this coming Thursday, September 6, at Birmingham Charter High School in Van Nuys. Tickets for the 8 p.m. PT clash are $30 and may be purchased by calling 213-500-1608 or at two different Pepe’s Sports locations in Los Angeles (2218 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, 90007; 1616 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, 90017). 
Pachuca, which is coached by legendary former El Tri striker Hugo Sánchez, is one of the most successful clubs of contemporary Mexican soccer, having been in the top flight for 14 consecutive years that included five domestic championships (1999, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007) and four CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League trophies (2002, 2007, 2008, 2009-10).
The Tuzos’ roster boasts numerous superstars of the game, such as current Mexican national team attackers Alberto Medina, Enrique Esqueda, Néstor Calderón and Nery Castillo. The quartet is joined by three fellow El Tri internationals in midfielder Jorge Hernández and backline anchors Óscar Rojas and Leobardo López, who is the team captain and a Pachuca legend, having played well over 200 games for the side since 2005.
The club from the Mexican state of Hidalgo also features plenty of foreign star power, spearheaded by team vice-captain and current United States midfielder José Francisco Torres. Other current internationals include legendary Paraguayan defender Paulo da Silva as well as midfielder Segundo Castillo and forward Félix Borja, both from Ecuador. The impressive list of outstanding talents is rounded out by veteran and former Spain striker Raúl Tamudo.
Pachuca Coach Hugo Sánchez is a former forward and one of the best players in the history of Mexican soccer. A prolific goal-scorer during his playing days, the now 54-year-old enjoyed a world-class club career that saw him tally over 400 times for teams in several different leagues, most notably Spain’s La Liga and Mexico’s Priméra Division. Highlights included 99 goals in 183 matches for Pumas UNAM, 54 goals in 111 matches for Atlético Madrid and a stunning 164 goals in 207 matches for crosstown rivals Real Madrid.
As a player, Sanchez won two Mexican and five Spanish league crowns as well as four Spanish Copa del Rey (domestic cup) titles, four Supercopas de España (competition between the Spanish league and cup champions), one UEFA Cup, two CONCACAF Champions Cups, one Copa Interamericana and one CONCACAF Gold Cup. He was honored as best goal-scorer of all top European leagues after the 1989-90 season and earned similar awards at the domestic level in Spain (five times) and Mexico (once).
The former star striker, who found the net 29 times in 58 appearances with the Mexican national team, has also made a name for himself as a coach, having won two league crowns with Pumas UNAM (2004 Clausura and Apertura) and having been in charge of El Tri from 2006 to 2008.
Sanchez and his Pachuca side will travel to take on the Blues at Birmingham Charter High School in Van Nuys on September 6 at 8 p.m. PT. Tickets may be purchased by calling 213-500-1608 or at the two Pepe’s Sports locations in Los Angeles.