Orlando Rodriguez led Arabe Unido with eight goals in the CONCACAF Champions League last year, helping the Panamanian squad advance to the knockout stage. But the forward was all set for a move to Honduran side Real Espana before failing a medical exam.
Rodriguez is back with Arabe Unido and can't wait for Thursday when Mexican giant Cruz Azul comes to his native Colon for the opening leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.
"What motivates me is where I come from," Rodriguez said. "My start in football was tough, but now things are working out. And now playing against a team like Cruz Azul is an honor. For me, my teammates and Colon, playing against Cruz Azul is a great source of pride and I hope everything comes out well."
Arabe Unido might be the underdog to advance to the semifinals, but the Panamanian powerhouse already has beaten a Mexican squad at home, defeating Pachuca during the group stage.
"They are different games," forward Rene Victor Mendieta said. "What happened against Pachuca is in the past. That was in the group stage. Now we are home and away. We need to score here at home and then go away and look for a good result."
On Thursday, Arabe Unido will be without Armando Cooper, Francisco Castaneda and goalkeeper Carlos Bejarano, each serving a one-game suspension that carries over from the Group Stage.
Cruz Azul will arrive in Panama with confidence after a 2-1 win against San Luis on Saturday in the Mexican Clausura. La Maquina has scored five goals in its last two matches, more than twice its offensive output in the first seven matches of the campaign.
Cruz Azul had a busy off-season, signing Christian Gimenenz from Pachuca, as well as Brazilian centerback Edcarlos and Argentine midfielder Maxi Biancucchi, cousin of Barcelona forward Lionel Messi.
Gimenenz, who struck against Atlas in a 3-1 victory last week, though is cup-tied and ineligible for Cruz Azul in the remainder of this season's competition.
On Saturday, Emanuel Villa and Jaime Lozano struck in Cruz Azul's fourth win of the season. La Maquina, which went undefeated in the CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage, is third in the Mexican Clausura's Group 3, two points behind second-place Pumas.
Cruz Azul, which fell to Atlante in last year's Champions League final, has high hopes of another deep run in the tournament. Arabe Unido, meanwhile, is looking to earn some respect for Panamanian football.
"It would be very important because it would show that Panama has good quality football," Arabe Unido coach Richard Parra said. "I have always thought that the Panamanian player could have success anywhere in the world. We hope that we continue to rise, so that one day we can be a power in Central America."
