By Peter Mallett

Arabe Unido only needs a draw. However, it needs to get that draw at Pachuca.

The defending Panamanian League champions from Colon, travel to Mexico's Estadio Hidalgo on Wednesday night, holding a three-point edge over Houston in the fight for the final CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal berth from Group A.

Arabe has lost two of its three away games so far in the Champions League, beat only winless Metapan and scored no more than a goal in each of them. Pachuca has won all three of its home games in this year's Champions League by a combined 10-0.

However, while an Arabe loss and a victory by Houston over Metapan of El Salvador would leave both tied on points, the Dynamo would advance to the quarterfinals for a second straight year based on their head-to-head results.

"If you play the guessing game you might be led to believe that Pachuca would win against Arabe -- but nothing is guaranteed in this competition and we know that our team must travel to Metapan with an objective of obtaining the three points," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said.

Pachuca has a two-point edge atop Group A and will be out to avenge a 4-1 road loss to Arabe in the opening round of the Group Stage on August 19.

Not only will Arabe's rematch with the Tuzos decide first place in the group, it could also go a long way in determining the Champions League golden boot winner.

Arabe striker Orlando Rodriguez leads with eight, one better than Pachuca's Ulises Mendivil.

In their last Champions League match on September 29, Rodriguez scored three times in a 6-0 victory over Metepan.

Pachuca returns to Champions League play after a 1-0 victory over the Dynamo in Houston - getting a 23rd-minute goal by striker Edgar Benitez -- his fourth of the tournament - and holding off the Major League Soccer side 1-0.

Pachuca's struggles in Mexican Primera Division continued Saturday with its third loss in four games - a 2-0 loss to Apertura Group 2 leader Morelia -- and likely will be in no mood to surrender points to Arabe in Wednesday's CCL Group Stage finale.

In Panama on Saturday, Arabe used an 89th-minute goal by Victor Mendieta to capture a 1-0 victory over Chepo FC.

The Dynamo at minimum need a win when they travel to Estadio Jorge Calero Suarez to face Metapan - and then get some help from Pachuca.

Houston drew 1-1 against Arabe in Panama on August 26 and then won its home leg 5-1 at Robertson Stadium on September 22.

Domestically, the Dynamo have surrendered their chance at the MLS points title - the Supporters Shield -- with just one win in five matches, including a 0-0 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy which saw Brian Ching ejected.

At least Houston faces a side still searching for its first Group Stage win, points and goal.

Metapan opened the Group Stage on September 19 holding Houston to a 0-0 draw for 68 minutes before succumbing to a Ching goal.

Since then, it has been outscored 16-0 in four games.

"They [Metapan] might figure they have nothing to lose and attack from the opening whistle," Kinnear said. "When the pressure is off - players sometimes care less about mistakes - but there is always that pressure of being a professional and getting a result."

In El Salvador, the reigning Clausura champ appeared to be improving after scrapping out two consecutive draws.

But on Saturday, Metapan was beaten 3-0 away to league leader CD FAS in a match which saw it reduced to nine men after the striker Anal Canales and midfielder Mario Morales were ejected.

The result extended its winless streak to eight in all competitions.