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FOXBORO - He's been getting his share of elbows, feet to the face and inadvertent trips - all the little nuances of the game of soccer that sometimes are whistled as fouls, sometimes not in Major League Soccer.

It's worth it because Geoff Cameron is wearing the bruises as his badges of courage, having broken into the starting lineup for the defending MLS champion Houston Dynamo.

"It's been crazy, I've been taking a beating, but it's been a great experience," said the Dynamo's rookie defensive midfielder, who will be "on the pitch" tonight at Gillette Stadium where Houston and the New England Revolution meet for the third time this season.

But, this is the SuperLiga championship!

The consortium of four MLS clubs paired against four Mexican First Division teams has resulted in the two of the best and most productive MLS teams over the past two seasons meeting again. New England went 2-0-1 in its "group" and then beat Atlante in a foul-filled semifinal round affair.

Houston went 2-1 in its group and then beaten Pachuca in its Final Four pairing.

Has it been as noticeably physical and chippy from Cameron's perspective in a Houston uniform as it has been for the Revolution?

In a foul-marred semifinal, New England had defender Jay Heaps red-carded and deemed unavailable for tonight's match, one of six ejections (five to the Mexicans) in the Atlante match.

"There were some cheap shots, but the refs were pretty good," said Cameron, the Attleboro native who went on to star at the University of Rhode Island - becoming the Atlantic 10 Conference's Midfielder of the Year for the fall 2007 season along the way.

When Houston beat Atlante in the opening round 4-0 (in which Cameron assisted on goals by Stuart Holden and Brian Mullen), the Mexicans were whistled for just two cautions (yellow cards).

When Houston lost 1-0 to Guadalajara, four yellow cards were issued to the Mexican side. The Dynamo also beat D.C. United (3-1) and then advanced to the semifinals. Houston saw Pachuca whistled for five cautions.

"To be honest, the (Mexican) teams are better, they play better soccer," said Cameron, "but they don't like the physical game.

"Pachuca was so upset when we beat them. They (Mexican teams) like to take more cheap shots - they're sore losers."

American soccer, not necessarily MLS, has a world-wide connotation of being physical in that players compensate for their lack of skills with aggressiveness and hustle. Some South American and European teams take exception to such. Cameron, at 6-foot-3 and a sturdy 185 pounds, has been able to hold his own and be a productive contributing member of the Dynamo since coach Dom Kinnear tapped his shoulder for duty after a pair of Houston players were summoned for U.S. Olympic Team duty and the customary match-to-match injury list.

Houston had taken 26 points in its 18 MLS matches, having lost just four matches.

The SuperLiga match is important for Houston because the Dynamo not only have yet to beat New England this season, but have yet to score a goal in 180 minutes. The Revolution won 3-0 March 29 in Foxboro and then won 2-0 in Houston on June 12.

"We got unlucky the first two times that we played them," said Cameron. "Since then, we've been getting more into a groove. We're starting to finish and score more goals."

Cameron has a goal and two assists in 15 MLS matches, having a half-dozen MLS starts and seven straight contests in playing all 90 minutes.

"SuperLiga has helped us, we have some momentum now," added Cameron.

All three SuperLiga matches played in Foxboro have been met with luke-warm reception by fans, less than 10,000 turning up for each.

However, with Cameron's Attleboro Army on hand, there will be a few Dynamo fans in attendance.

"Down here in Houston, the SuperLiga (attendance) has been great," said Cameron. "We had 21,000 for one match and 28,000 for another. There's a large Mexican population around here, much more so than in New England. I don't know how many will turn up in Foxboro, but if the match were being played in Houston, if we had home field, it'd be packed."

SuperLiga or MLS, in Foxboro, at some other MLS outpost or at Houston, Cameron is getting a life-time opportunity - to play professional soccer.

"I've started the past six or seven matches now, with guys being called up to the Olympic Team or with injuries," added Cameron, "but, the most important thing is that I've been fortunate to play well."