By Gerardo Martínez Gómez

It will be an opportunity for Cruz Azul to bandage its recent woes. For Pachuca, the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League represents a chance to heal some old ones.

Cruz Azul will arrive at Estadio Hidalgo Wednesday night with conflicting memories: last week's 2-1 first-leg victory, and Saturday's 1-1 draw with Chivas de Guadalajara that ended its Mexican Liguilla playoff hopes.

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It's one-goal lead and likely shaken confidence suggest La Maquina must draw on emotional reserves to claim its first CONCACAF club title in 13 years - and end a streak of having lost four championship finals.

The teams match up nearly completely even, whether considering Jesús Corona and Miguel Calero in goal, Javier Munoz Mustafa and Melvin Brown leading the defense, Jaime Correa and Christian Riveros controlling the middle of the field and Edgar Benítez and Emmanuel Villa looking for the goals.

With Cruz Azul's Mexican league season over, manager Enrique Meza has no reason to send out his best 11 and look to quickly win back the support of its disappointed fans.

Emanuel Villa is Cruz Azul's most dangerous player, who despite lamenting the team's inability to qualify for the Liguilla, is convinced that this Wednesday will serve as a special opportunity for the team.

"It hurts me that we didn't qualify, but it is now a clean slate as we now have a final in front of us and I hope we do well," the Argentine forward said. "Even though winning the final won't be a substitute for the league as they are different competitions…we need to turn the page and think only about beating Pachuca."

When it comes to Pachuca, its task is of having to overturn a first-leg deficit on Wednesday, is complicated by three days later having to face top-seeded Monterrey in the first round of the Liguilla. Additionally, any goal allowed will negate los Tuzos' advantage of having scored an away goal in Mexico City.

Pachuca coach Guillermo Rivarola is sure that his team will take the first step in obtaining two important this year: win the Mexican Torneo Bicentenario and win the CONCACAF Champions League.

"The team is on the rise." the Argentine said. "We were fortune enough to enter the Liguilla and we hope to win on Wednesday. We know that they wanted to make the postseason, but were not able to and thus this is their last chance to win a final. We need to stay calm in order to come out on top."

A title also would give Pachuca another chance to prove it is capable of advancing past the first round at the Club World Cup, after having won the 2007 and 2008 CONCACAF Champions Cups only to be sent home early.

Everything is set for the Tuzos and Cementeros to battle for each club's personal glory: Cruz Azul will look to shake off its recent failures while Pachuca win the right to travel to Abu Dhabi for its third attempt at making history at the Club World Cup.