Energy to host Liga MX club Pachuca in friendly
On the eve of a Mexican soccer legend returning to Oklahoma City, the Energy has announced another marquee match with a Liga MX club.
OKC Energy will host Pachuca on July 11 at Taft Stadium, the Energy announced Monday.
The match vs. Pachuca will be consecutive years the Energy have hosted a Liga MX club. Club Deportivo Guadalajara, better known as Chivas, defeated the Energy 1-0 in a friendly on June 28, 2016.
“We’re excited to bring another international friendly to OKC,” Energy FC co-owner Bob Funk Jr. said. “The response from the soccer community for last season’s friendly against Chivas shows that this market is primed and ready for more soccer matches on this scale.”
Pachuca is the defending CONCACAF Champions League titlist and finished second during the 2016 Liga MX Apertura (fall) regular season. The club features United States National Team defender Omar Gonzalez. Hirving Lozano, a rising star on the Mexican National Team, is another significant Pachuca player. He led the club in scoring during its Champions League title run last season.
The Energy made the announcement ahead of its Tuesday match vs. Phoenix Rising, which features forward Omar Bravo. The former Mexican National Team star and Chivas’ all-time scorer, notched his final goal with the club during last year’s friendly in Oklahoma City.