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On Saturday, San Antonio will host the first annual Scorpions International Challenge, a doubleheader that features their match against the Atlanta Silverbacks followed by an exhibition match between two prominent club teams from Mexico's first division: Reigning CONCACAF Champions League winner C.F. Monterrey Rayados and San Luis F.C. The doubleheader kicks off at 7:30 pm CT.

"We are honored to have C.F. Monterrey Rayados and San Luis FC come to San Antonio to be part of what will be a memorable week for our fans and city," Scorpions President Michael Hitchcock said. "Our goal with 'Futbol & Fireworks' is to bring fun and excitement to San Antonio while bringing the city together in celebrating what makes our city and our nation great."

The Scorpions intend to make the Scorpions International Challenge an annual event, bringing international clubs from around the world to play in San Antonio as part of a double header with a regular season Scorpions match.

C.F. Monterrey is one of the most prestigious clubs in the Mexican first division and is in the midst of its most successful era in club history. They have won the CONCACAF Champions League the past two years and have also won four league titles (1986, 2003, 2009, 2010) and a Copa Mexico tournament (1991).

San Luis, founded in 1957, is also a part of the Mexican first division and has had a string of success international tournaments, such as Copa Sudamericana and Copa Libertadores, in recent years.

About CF Monterrey Rayados

HISTORY

The Rayados were founded on June 28, 1945, making them the oldest active professional club from northern Mexico. They won their first title in 1986 when they defeated Tampico-Madero 3-2 in aggregate. C.F. Monterrey would win the title three more times (2003, 2009, 2010) in addition to a Copa Mexico in 1991.

In addition to the team’s success in the Mexican Primera Division, the Rayados have also made a splash onto the international scene, winning back-to-back CONCACAF Champions League titles and making its first FIFA Club World Cup appearance in 2011, where they finished fifth. The Rayados are currently in the midst of their most successful era in club history.  

KEY PLAYERS

Humberto Suazo – The Chilean striker has played with the Rayados since 2007 and has scored 78 goals in five seasons with the squad. He has also made a number of appearances for the Chilean national team, including Copa America 2007 in which he scored three goals for Chile.   

Neri Cardozo – Cardozo signed with the Rayados in 2010 and has made a splash for the team as an attacking midfielder, scoring 15 goals in two years with the team. The Argentinian midfielder is also made a splash in his home country several years ago, helping the Argentinian U-20 National Team win the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2005. He helped lift the Rayados to its second straight CONCACAF Champions League title against Club Santos Laguna with a late goal in the second leg of the series.

Angel Reyna – Reyna is one of C.F. Monterrey’s newest additions and is expected to instantly bolster the Rayados’ attack up front. Reyna has scored 23 goals for the Mexican national team since 2003 and in his first tournament as a member of C.F. Monterrey, he scored four goals and tallied two assists in the 2012 CONCACAF Champions League.

TEAM FACTS

They play their home matches at Estadio Tecnologico in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. The stadium has a capacity of 32,84 and was a venue for the 1986 Mexico FIFA World Cup… The club is managed by Victor Manuel Vucetich, who joined the team in 2009. Vucetich, also known as “Vuce”, has won five league championships with four different clubs in the Mexican Primera Division in addition to two Copa Mexico chanpionships and an InterLiga championship… The team will participate in the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup this winter in Japan as the CONCACAF representative after winning the CONCACAF Champions league last year.

About San Luis FC

HISTORY

The team was founded in 1957 and was initially known as the “Santos” (Saints). In the 1970s, the team began climbing up the Mexican soccer pyramid, winning the Tercera Division de Mexico in the 1969-70 season and then winning the Segunda Division de Mexico in the 1975-76 season.

San Luis won the Mexican Primera Division A (second professional level in Mexico) championship twice, in 2002 and 2004, to get promoted to the Mexican Primera Division. The team participated in its first ever international tournament in 2008 when they qualified for the 2008 Copa Sudamerica and made it to the Round of 16 after defeating Deportivo Quito of Ecuador 5-4 in aggregate before getting knocked out.

KEY PLAYERS

Oscar Perez – The Mexican goalkeeper has been capped 54 times by the Mexican national team since 1997and was a member of the teams that won the Gold Cup in 1998, 2003 and 2009. He was regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Mexico and helped Cruz Azul win a championship in 1997. He signed with San Luis in 2011.

William Paredes – The Mexican midfielder has made one appearance for the Mexican national team and spent several years with C.F. Monterrey before joining San Luis earlier this year. This Saturday, Paredes will be going up against his former team.

Jose Antonio Castro – Castro has made 33 appearances for the Mexican national team as a defender and has played with Mexican Primera Division giants America and Tigres earlier in his career. He also won the Golden Ball for being the Best Defensive Wing Back in 2005.  

TEAM FACTS

They play their home matches at Estadio Alfonso Lastras in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The stadium has a capacity of 35,000 and was built in 2002… The club is managed by Jose Luis Trejo, who was hired earlier this year. Trejo had previously managed other Mexican clubs such as Cruz Azul, C.F. Pachuca and Tigres.

Watch the TV ad for the Scorpions International Challenge