The Houston Dynamo FC and Atlas FC will meet for the first time in an official tournament as a club icon returns to the Space City on Saturday at Shell Energy Stadium, in the 2024 Leagues Cup.
Mauro Manotas, who spent some of his growth years in Houston, scored important goals in the Dynamo’s conquest of the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Colombian forward amassed 64 goals across all competitions to become the club’s second all-time scorer, behind the legendary Brian Ching.
On Saturday, he could feature against his former club for the first time since departing for LIGA MX at the end of the 2020 season.
“He might get minutes in this game,” said Atlas FC manager Beñat San Jose, praising the player’s effort in his recovery from an ACL injury that sidelined him last November.
“It may be that his first minutes will be in the game tomorrow, coincidentally, against Houston — his former team — but obviously, that's because he's been training with us for a while now, and we're seeing good things. We'll see if he's in the game or not, but he is officially medically cleared.”
It would be the first appearance under San Jose, who was appointed as Atlas’ head coach weeks after that injury. The Spanish tactician mentioned he will approach the Leagues Cup with the intention of advancing as far as possible and team captain Aldo Rocha shared the same sentiment.
“Excited and convinced that we are going to do very well, also represent our league, but principally, Atlas FC,” said Rocha. “I have been able to play many matches over here and it is very nice to bring them a little piece of their club from Mexico.”
Rocha played the 2023 edition with Atlas, winning its group before losing on penalties in the Round of 32 to the New England Revolution. The four-time LIGA MX winner — twice with Atlas — expressed the nationalistic pride that comes when Mexican teams face U.S. clubs, but the feeling is mutual from the other side.
“I have a lot of respect for the Mexican-U.S. competition,” said Houston Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen. “I think there's going to be a real tension to this tournament, those are my instincts. I think this is going to get heated. I think both teams understand now that there's a lot at stake.”
Olsen’s squad also had a Round of 32 match decided by a penalty shootout last year, though the Dynamo made it one round further by getting past Pachuca. A Charlotte FC comeback victory in the Round of 16 caused the team to bow out in the next round, a loss defender Erik Sviatchenko hopes to redeem in this coming edition.
“The format last year showed that there was a real quality behind the league,” said the Dynamo defender. “It's always interesting to see other playing styles and meet the other teams from Mexico. I think that brings that rivalry up to a nice kind of surface.
“It's a possibility for a team to win a trophy, and I play for winning trophies.”
The match kicks off the action in the West 8 group, which also includes MLS side Real Salt Lake. Atlas will travel to RSL on Aug. 1, before the two MLS clubs conclude the group’s action on Aug. 5.
