Orbelin Pineda (pictured) has appeared in 69 Liga MX games for Guadalajara since joining the club in December 2015. (Photo: Mexsport)
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Despite being just 21-year-old, Orbelin Pineda has already been involved in many big matches.
The midfielder played a key role in Guadalajara’s conquest of the 2017 Liga MX Clausura, appearing in 17 matches, including both legs of the 4-3 aggregate win over Tigres in the final. He has also distinguished himself at the international level with Mexico, featuring in five matches during the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup and three in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Therefore, it only makes sense that Pineda is welcoming the chance to play in the 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (2008) with open arms.
“It is a great opportunity,” Pineda told CONCACAF.com after Mexico topped Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday in an international friendly at the Alamodome. “Everyone wants to play in that tournament. Fortunately, it’s our turn. You have to give it your all and give 100 percent.”
Chivas will open its SCCL schedule in the round of 16 at the Dominican Republic’s Cibao FC, before returning home for the return leg six days later.
After getting a taste of the SCCL while with Queretaro in 2015/16 -- appearing in a 2-1 group stage loss at Panama’s San Francisco -- Pineda wants to become a CONCACAF champion.
“Of course I dream about winning the [SCCL],” he finished. “You always have to think in the positive until the end to try to win it.”
