11 January 2009 - It Was A Mexican Standoff

On 11 January 2009, Guadalajara and Pachuca secured their spots in the Copa Libertadores after two own goals and a combined 36 penalty attempts in two shootouts.

They were two of the four semifinalists in Mexico's InterLiga competition, with Guadalajara matched up against Morelia and Pachuca paired with Atlas. The winners of the two matches then joined 2008 Apertura winners San Luis in the qualification stage of the Copa Libertadores.

Guadalajara fell behind to Morelia after conceding an own goal from striker Carlos Ochoa in the 57th minute, but midfielder Marco Fabián drew them level eight minutes later. Morelia then went down to 10 men after a second yellow for defender Fernando Salazar, but Guadalajara could not take advantage before time expired. They won the shootout 4-2, though, as Morelia's first attempt went wide and Guadalajara keeper Luis Ernesto Michel saved their last attempt.

In the day's other match, Pachuca raced to a 3-0 lead in the first half, but found themselves level after conceding three--including one own goal--in the second half. Atlas striker Jorge Achucarro scored the 88th-minute equalizer, but he did not fare as well in the ensuing shootout, as his first attempt was saved by Pachuca keeper Miguel Calero (pictured). With the shootout level at 7-7 after ten kicks each, the shooters started to cycle through again. And, again, Calero saved Achucarro's shot to win the match.

13 August 2006 - Probably The Only Time I'll Call An 8-Goal Margin "Close"

On 13 August 2006, the longest football match in United States history ended after 100 hours of continuous play. 

Hosted by MLS club Chivas USA in honor of the 100th anniversary of their parent club, CD Guadalajara, the match consisted of a Chivas side taking on a "Rest of the World" team. Played at the Bell Gardens Sports Center in California, it began on Wednesday, 9 August and continued for 6,000 straight minutes. 

Over 2,000 players participated in the match, including former professionals, team officials, local politicians, and even members of the Chivas USA dance team, the ChivaGirls. The last hour saw appearances from Guadalajara president Jorge Vergara, Chivas USA president Antonio Cué, Guadalajara's all-time leading scorer Salvador Reyes, and actress Kate del Castillo.

The Chivas side won the match by the relatively close score of 437-429, with proceeds from the match going to Chivas USA's charitable foundation.

24 July 2007 - Not To Be Confused With The Danish Top Flight

On 24 July 2007, the first two matches of the inaugural SuperLiga competition were played in California and Texas.

Intended to be a smaller North American version of the UEFA Champions League, the competition includes US and Canadian teams from MLS, as well as teams from Mexico's Primera División, drawing four teams from each league. The teams play a group stage with two 4-team groups. The top two teams from each group then advance to the knockout stages, which consist of the semi-finals and the final.

For the inaugural tournament, the teams were chosen by invitation. MLS selected DC United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, and LA Galaxy, while the Primera División chose Monarcas Morelia, Pachuca, América, and Guadalajara. In those first matches, FC Dallas drew 1-1 with Guadalajara, while the Galaxy defeated Pachuca 2-1 with an 81st minute matchwinner from Landon Donovan.

Both LA and Pachuca advanced from their group and faced each other again in the Final, where Pachuca got their revenge, winning on penalties 1-1 (3-4).

2 August 2003 - The Cynic In Me Suspects That Deal Was Already Done

On 2 August 2003, the MLS All-Star Game featured a foreign team for the first time, hosting Chivas de Guadalajara.

Established in 1996, the league's first season, the previous All-Star Games pitted an East team against a West team. The only exceptions were in 1998, when the format changed temporarily to a contest between MLS USA and MLS World teams, and 2002, when the All-Stars played against the US national team (and won, 3-2).

For the 2003 edition, the league invited Guadalajara, one of Mexico's most popular and successful teams, with 10 league titles to their credit at that point (though none since 1997). They met at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, where a crowd of 27,000 watched as the All-Stars took a 57th-minute lead with a goal from Chicago Fire forward Ante Razov.

Chivas quickly equalized with a strike from Jair Garcia (66'), but LA Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz (68') put the All-Stars back ahead and a late score from Chicago's DaMarcus Beasley (83') sealed the 3-1 victory.

It wasn't all bad for Chivas, however, as MLS announced a few months later that their next round of expansion would include a new affiliated club, Chivas USA.

1 August 1943 - An Uncommon Symmetry

On 1 August 1943, América and Guadalajara played each other for the first time, starting a rivalry that would become known as El Súper Clásico.

Both clubs had been around since the early 1900s, with Guadalajara founded in 1906 and América following ten years later, but they played in different regional leagues until the establishment of the Mexican national league in 1943. Guadalajara won that first meeting, 1-0.

At the time, the two teams were not close rivals. That came later, when they rose to become two of Mexico's most popular and successful teams (they currently have 11 league titles each, sharing the record).

Counting that first meeting, they have met a total of 205 times, including 137 times in the league, 12 times in the Copa México, and twice in the Copa Libertadores. América have a slight edge, with 75 wins to Guadalajara's 73 (and 63 draws).

Their most recent meeting was in a July 2013 friendly, played in Las Vegas. Guadalajara won 1-0.

11 January 2009 - It Was A Mexican Standoff

On 11 January 2009, Guadalajara and Pachuca secured their spots in the Copa Libertadores after two own goals and a combined 36 penalty attempts in two shootouts.

They were two of the four semifinalists in Mexico's InterLiga competition, with Guadalajara matched up against Morelia and Pachuca paired with Atlas. The winners of the two matches then joined 2008 Apertura winners San Luis in the qualification stage of the Copa Libertadores.

Guadalajara fell behind to Morelia after conceding an own goal from striker Carlos Ochoa in the 57th minute, but midfielder Marco Fabián drew them level eight minutes later. Morelia then went down to 10 men after a second yellow for defender Fernando Salazar, but Guadalajara could not take advantage before time expired. They won the shootout 4-2, though, as Morelia's first attempt went wide and Guadalajara keeper Luis Ernesto Michel saved their last attempt.

In the day's other match, Pachuca raced to a 3-0 lead in the first half, but found themselves level after conceding three--including one own goal--in the second half. Atlas striker Jorge Achucarro scored the 88th-minute equalizer, but he did not fare as well in the ensuing shootout, as his first attempt was saved by Pachuca keeper Miguel Calero (pictured). With the shootout level at 7-7 after ten kicks each, the shooters started to cycle through again. And, again, Calero saved Achucarro's shot to win the match.

13 August 2006 - Probably The Only Time I'll Call An 8-Goal Margin "Close"

On 13 August 2006, the longest football match in United States history ended after 100 hours of continuous play.

Hosted by MLS club Chivas USA in honor of the 100th anniversary of their parent club, CD Guadalajara, the match consisted of a Chivas side taking on a "Rest of the World" team. Played at the Bell Gardens Sports Center in California, it began on Wednesday, 9 August and continued for 6,000 straight minutes.

Over 2,000 players participated in the match, including former professionals, team officials, local politicians, and even members of the Chivas USA dance team, the ChivaGirls. The last hour saw appearances from Guadalajara president Jorge Vergara, Chivas USA president Antonio Cué, Guadalajara's all-time leading scorer Salvador Reyes, and actress Kate del Castillo.

The Chivas side won the match by the relatively close score of 437-429, with proceeds from the match going to Chivas USA's charitable foundation.

24 July 2007 - Not To Be Confused With The Danish Top Flight

On 24 July 2007, the first two matches of the inaugural SuperLiga competition were played in California and Texas.

Intended to be a smaller North American version of the UEFA Champions League, the competition includes US and Canadian teams from MLS, as well as teams from Mexico's Primera División, drawing four teams from each league. The teams play a group stage with two 4-team groups. The top two teams from each group then advance to the knockout stages, which consist of the semi-finals and the final.

For the inaugural tournament, the teams were chosen by invitation. MLS selected DC United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, and LA Galaxy, while the Primera División chose Monarcas Morelia, Pachuca, América, and Guadalajara. In those first matches, FC Dallas drew 1-1 with Guadalajara, while the Galaxy defeated Pachuca 2-1 with an 81st minute matchwinner from Landon Donovan.

Both LA and Pachuca advanced from their group and faced each other again in the Final, where Pachuca got their revenge, winning on penalties 1-1 (3-4).