I don't think anyone that follows Mexican soccer was really surprised to see these two clubs meet in the Clausura final. Both of these sides have been on fire, Monterrey especially since Humberto Suazo decided he was going to stick around. This is also a rematch of the CONCACAF Champions League final from this year, in which Monterrey beat Santos to claim it's second consecutive CONCACAF crown.
Monterrey opened the match in good form, controlling possession and working their way into the Santos area. César Delgado forced a nice save out of Santos in the 7th minute as Monterrey knocked on the door. Suazo hit the ensuing corner but Walter Ayovi's shot went over the bar.
After the first ten minutes or so, Santos started to get their legs into the match and threaten the Monterrey area. Both Daniel Ludueña and Oribe Peralta took shots early, but neither of them could find the target. In the 30th minute Marc Crosas forced the first save out of Jonathan Orozco, but the Monterrey keeper parried it for a corner. Santos sent the cross in on the corner and Felipe Baloy rose and headed the ball into the net. However Baloy was whistled for a foul on the play and the goal was called back. It wasn't the last mistake he would make, but the half ended 0-0.
Monterrey came out the stronger of the two sides in the second half, and began to get looks at goal. Suazo sent shots high in both the 48th and 51st minutes. Los Rayados grew more and more frustrated, and every minute that went by, Santos became more confident.
Santos began to knock on the door again in the 56th minute when Ludueña cracked the crossbar from distance. Orozco didn't have much time to catch his breath though. In the 69th minute Peralta got on the end of a 50 meter pass from Crosas. With one deft touch he brought the ball down, settled it, and evaded the Monterrey defender. He then turned and smacked the ball past a stunned Orozco to make it 0-1 to Santos and give them the all important away goal.
Monterrey continued to press the issue, but as the match went into stoppage time, a Santos error gifted Monterrey the draw. In the third minute of stoppage time Baloy went to ground in the area on Suazo. The nasty tackle came in from behind and tripped up the Monterrey attacker, despite the fact that he was moving away from goal. The referee rightly awarded a penalty kick, which Suazo promptly scored to tie the match 1-1 at full time.
The second leg will be Sunday in Torreon, and I suppose Santos will be happy with the away goal. However, the Suazo PK could loom large as I have a hard time thinking that Santos is gonna hang a clean sheet on the CONCACAF champs in the next leg either.
No comments:
Post a Comment