The first leg of the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League final is in the books. For this RSL supporter, I've had my heart my throat all day long. See I have this issue with superstition. As a Braves fan since I was a little boy in the early 80s, I watched them suck, then become perennial contenders in the 90s. I also tuned in to a lot of World Series games that they blew, so I find it hard to watch my teams in big games for fear I'll jinx them. So this match petrified me.
It really petrified me that RSL got off to kind of a slow start. I'm always confident that we can hang with anyone, but I've seen us concede a lot of early goals as well. My fears seemed to be realized when De Nigris scored early, despite a great performance so far from Homeboy Nick Rimando. Then something strange happened. In the 22nd minute, Monterrey subbed out both De Nigris and captain Luis Perez. The Ap match report sights injury concerns. I think Monterrey thought they had it in the bag already.
RSL started to get it together. As I said earlier, I'm pretty confident that we can hang with anybody in any stadium. Just ask Cruz Azul and Saprissa. If we have something to exploit, it's our size game, and that's how RSL equalized. In the 34th minute, Nat Borchers headed in a high cross from Will Johnson to tie it at 1-1, which proved to be the half time result.
Coming out in the second half, Monterrey set up shop in the RSL half and kept the pressure on. About the 62nd minute, Olave, who we call THE VERB, was hit for a hand ball in the box. I think it was BS. Anyway, Monterrey was awarded the PK, which Suazo scored to put Monterrey up 2-1.
For a long time, it looked like that's how the match would finish. However, you NEVER count RSL out of anything. We have this guy, Javi Morales. That's MR. MORALES. Javi had, shall we say, a flair for the dramatic. Right at the death, he sliced and diced the Monterrey defense and knocked the equalizer into the corner. The match ended 2-2, and the Championship Tie will switch to Rio Tinto next week, and RSL will enjoy the advantage of two away goals. That could be HUGE.
Not much more to say except WOW. Whatever happens next Wednesday, thanks to RSL for the ride of a lifetime for this sports fan.
Note: RSL Captain Kyle Beckerman will miss the 2nd leg after picking up another yellow card in tonight's match.
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