By Peter Mallett

Vindication for both club and country has given members of Costa Rica's Herediano some extra incentive when they host Mexican side Cruz Azul in Thursday's first leg at Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero.

It will have been only a week when three members of the Costa Rican club took part in their country's emotional Gold Cup semifinal loss on penalty kicks to Mexico, which featured four Cruz Azul players.

Now two of Herediano starters who played in the heart breaking defeat have hinted it is time for a little payback.

"It's no secret that we will be motivated playing against Cruz Azul and the game comes soon after the [Gold Cup] tournament," Herediano and Costa Rica midfielder Andy Herron said.

It won't salve all the wounds, but possibly a few.

"I don't see it as a continuation of the Gold Cup or that game, but definitely maybe a little bit of revenge will still be on the minds some players like Andy and myself," added wing back Dennis Marshall, who also played in the July 23 match in Chicago.

Both Marshall and Herron picked up yellow cards against Mexico in a physical and spirited match, which included eight cautions handed out by Panamanian referee Roberto Moreno.

Goalkeeper Ricardo Gonzalez also was a member of the Gold Cup squad and started the Ticos' group matches against Canada and Jamaica.

Herediano also has several others who did not participate in this year's Gold Cup team but are part of the player pool for upcoming qualifiers, including midfield veteran Mauricio Solis, who has 110 caps, and defender Cristian Montero.

The club enters the Thursday's clash with the momentum of 1-0 win over Alajuelense on a 31st-minute goal by Jose Caesar Guity in its Apertura opener.

Cruz Azul, last year's Champions League runners-up to Atlante of Cancun, hope to avoid another disappointing domestic campaign. Last year, it finished 18th and last in the Mexican Clausura.

The worst fnish in club history led to the departure of coach Benjamin Galindo, who was replaced in June by the familiar face of Enrique Meza.

Meza led Pachuca to CONCACAF Champions Cup titles in 2007 and 2008, and also captured a Copa Sudamericana title in 2006.

Meza also has coached the Cementeros on three different occasions in the past.

"I am happy to be back because this is the team that I hold dear to me," he said. "This is where I was born into football and to arrive as coach for a fourth time to a club of great prestige is an honor."

Cruz Azul stumble its Mexican league opener on Saturday, losing 2-0 at home to Jaguares of Chiapas.

But Cruz Azul was missing three players who were part of Mexico's Gold Cup winning squad: goalkeeper Jesus Corona, defender Fausto Pinto and midfielder and captain Gerardo Torrado.

Torrado's penalty kick in the 56th minute sparked a 5-0 rout over the United States on Sunday at Giants Stadium.

Meza recently moved to bolster his offense with the acquisition of Chilean striker Emilio Hernandez, who could see his first minutes with his new club during Thursday's game in Herediano.

Other players of note for the Blue Machine include Dallas-born Honduran international Ramon Nunez and Mexican U-17 and U-20 midfielder Cesar Villaluz.

After Thursday's game, the two teams will prepare for the return leg on August 5 at Estadio Cruz Azul in southwestern Mexico City.