CONCACAF Champions League: Monterrey´s late drama

An 80th-minute equalising penalty sent Monterrey through to the CONCACAF Champions League final at the expense of Cruz Azul on Wednesday.

For much of the game, however, the result did not appear to be heading the 2010 Mexican Apertura champion’s way.

Fellow Mexican outfit Cruz Azul had scored a crucial away goal in a 2-1 loss in the first leg of the tie on March 16, and looked favourite to make the final after midfielder Cesar Villaluz scored in the 23rd minute of the second leg.

But the away side was awarded a penalty in the 80th minute after Chile defender Walter Ponce committed a foul.

Ironically, it was Ponce’s international team-mate Humberto Suazo who duly converted, sending Monterrey 3-2 up and into the final, where their opponents will be Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.

Real Salt Lake are the first side from the US to reach the final of CONCACAF continental competition since 2000, when LA Galaxy won the Champions’ Cup.

Thu 7 April, 2011

CONCACAF Champions League: Monterrey´s late drama

An 80th-minute equalising penalty sent Monterrey through to the CONCACAF Champions League final at the expense of Cruz Azul on Wednesday.

For much of the game, however, the result did not appear to be heading the 2010 Mexican Apertura champion’s way.

Fellow Mexican outfit Cruz Azul had scored a crucial away goal in a 2-1 loss in the first leg of the tie on March 16, and looked favourite to make the final after midfielder Cesar Villaluz scored in the 23rd minute of the second leg.

But the away side was awarded a penalty in the 80th minute after Chile defender Walter Ponce committed a foul.

Ironically, it was Ponce’s international team-mate Humberto Suazo who duly converted, sending Monterrey 3-2 up and into the final, where their opponents will be Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.

Real Salt Lake are the first side from the US to reach the final of CONCACAF continental competition since 2000, when LA Galaxy won the Champions’ Cup.

Thu 7 April, 2011

CONCACAF Champions League: Real Salt Lake 2 Saprissa 0

Real Salt Lake made a dream start to their CONCACAF Champions League semi-final against Saprissa with a 2-0 win in the first-leg on Tuesday.

Real, who finished just three points behind the Los Angeles Galaxy last season in the race for the MLS Supporter’ Shield, took the lead against the Costa Rican outfit through a Costa Rican of their own – Alvorio Saborio – who fired them ahead after just eight minutes.

It was the second time in as many Champions League matches that Saborio had opened the scoring for Real, after he broke the deadlock in their 4-1 quarter-final second-leg win over the Columbus Crew.

Argentinean striker Fabian Espindola doubled their advantage 11 minutes after the break as frustrations mounted for the Costa Ricans, who had five players cautioned during the match.

The victory gives Real a two-goal cushion to take to Costa Rica for the second leg, which will be played on April 5 at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma in San Jose.

Tue 15 March, 2011

CONCACAF Champions League: Real Salt Lake 2 Saprissa 0

Real Salt Lake made a dream start to their CONCACAF Champions League semi-final against Saprissa with a 2-0 win in the first-leg on Tuesday.

Real, who finished just three points behind the Los Angeles Galaxy last season in the race for the MLS Supporter’ Shield, took the lead against the Costa Rican outfit through a Costa Rican of their own – Alvorio Saborio – who fired them ahead after just eight minutes.

It was the second time in as many Champions League matches that Saborio had opened the scoring for Real, after he broke the deadlock in their 4-1 quarter-final second-leg win over the Columbus Crew.

Argentinean striker Fabian Espindola doubled their advantage 11 minutes after the break as frustrations mounted for the Costa Ricans, who had five players cautioned during the match.

The victory gives Real a two-goal cushion to take to Costa Rica for the second leg, which will be played on April 5 at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma in San Jose.

Tue 15 March, 2011

CONCACAF Champions League: Monterrey 1 Toluca 0

Mexican outfit Monterrey advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Deportivo Toluca on Wednesday.

Argentinean substitute Neri Cardozo scored an 88th-minute winner for the hosts, who also triumphed 1-0 in the away leg last week for a 2-0 overall aggregate over their Primera Division rivals.

They will face Cruz Azul in the semi-finals, after the Mexican club claimed their last-eight tie over Santos 5-1 on aggregate.

Cruz Azul midfielder Christian Gimenez will miss the first leg, due to get underway in Monterrey in two weeks’ time, after picking up two cautions in the quarter-final second leg on Tuesday.

Thu 3 March, 2011

CONCACAF Champions League: Monterrey 1 Toluca 0

Mexican outfit Monterrey advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Deportivo Toluca on Wednesday.

Argentinean substitute Neri Cardozo scored an 88th-minute winner for the hosts, who also triumphed 1-0 in the away leg last week for a 2-0 overall aggregate over their Primera Division rivals.

They will face Cruz Azul in the semi-finals, after the Mexican club claimed their last-eight tie over Santos 5-1 on aggregate.

Cruz Azul midfielder Christian Gimenez will miss the first leg, due to get underway in Monterrey in two weeks’ time, after picking up two cautions in the quarter-final second leg on Tuesday.

Thu 3 March, 2011

CONCACAF Champions League wrap: Cruz cruise in

Cruz Azul and Real Salt Lake are the first teams into the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals after impressive wins on Tuesday.

Cruz scored a 5-1 aggregate win over Santos Laguna on Tuesday but the victory came at a cost with goal ace Christian Gimenez sent off in the 64th minute after picking up his second yellow card in the match.

Gimenez, who scored Cruz’s second goal on the night in their 3-1 quarter-final win, will now miss the first leg of the final four against either Monterrey or Toluca. Monterrey lead the tie 1-0 on aggregate.

Cruz sealed their third successive semi-final place with three goals in 16 minutes against a Santos side who had dominated possession and had most of the early chances.

The visitors picked up a crucial early goal to make it 3-0 on aggregate when Emanuel Villa scored on a counter-strike in the 37th minute.

After the interval, Villa scored his second in the 51st minute and assisted Gimenez in the 53rd minute to effectively end the tie. Villa has now scored nine goals in the tournament.

Gimenez, who has scored three goals in the CCL, was their top scorer in 2010 with 20 goals in 36 matches.

After Gimenez was sent off, Santos pulled a goal back with Cristian Benitez scoring in the 71st minute. Benitez was able to slot home a shot that had cannoned off the far post and went directly to him.

Real Salt Lake beat Columbus 4-1 to storm into semi-finals where they will play either Saprissa or Olimpia.

The tie, which was delicately poised at 0-0 after the first leg, came to life in the 21st minute when Costa Rican striker Alvaro Soborio scored from 13 yards.

Real Salt scored their second in the 36th minute when Javi Morales scored unmarked at the far post from an Andy Williams cross.

Columbus hit back three minutes after half-time through Andres Mendoza.

But the visitors’ hopes were dashed in the 76th minute when Morales scored his second of the match to make the score 3-1.

Seconds before the final whistle, Williams blasted home a free-kick from 20 yards.

Wed 2 March, 2011

CONCACAF Champions League wrap: Cruz cruise in

Cruz Azul and Real Salt Lake are the first teams into the CONCACAF Champions League semi-finals after impressive wins on Tuesday.

Cruz scored a 5-1 aggregate win over Santos Laguna on Tuesday but the victory came at a cost with goal ace Christian Gimenez sent off in the 64th minute after picking up his second yellow card in the match.

Gimenez, who scored Cruz’s second goal on the night in their 3-1 quarter-final win, will now miss the first leg of the final four against either Monterrey or Toluca. Monterrey lead the tie 1-0 on aggregate.

Cruz sealed their third successive semi-final place with three goals in 16 minutes against a Santos side who had dominated possession and had most of the early chances.

The visitors picked up a crucial early goal to make it 3-0 on aggregate when Emanuel Villa scored on a counter-strike in the 37th minute.

After the interval, Villa scored his second in the 51st minute and assisted Gimenez in the 53rd minute to effectively end the tie. Villa has now scored nine goals in the tournament.

Gimenez, who has scored three goals in the CCL, was their top scorer in 2010 with 20 goals in 36 matches.

After Gimenez was sent off, Santos pulled a goal back with Cristian Benitez scoring in the 71st minute. Benitez was able to slot home a shot that had cannoned off the far post and went directly to him.

Real Salt Lake beat Columbus 4-1 to storm into semi-finals where they will play either Saprissa or Olimpia.

The tie, which was delicately poised at 0-0 after the first leg, came to life in the 21st minute when Costa Rican striker Alvaro Soborio scored from 13 yards.

Real Salt scored their second in the 36th minute when Javi Morales scored unmarked at the far post from an Andy Williams cross.

Columbus hit back three minutes after half-time through Andres Mendoza.

But the visitors’ hopes were dashed in the 76th minute when Morales scored his second of the match to make the score 3-1.

Seconds before the final whistle, Williams blasted home a free-kick from 20 yards.

Wed 2 March, 2011

CONCACAF Champions League wrap: Cruz Azul cruise home

Cruz Azul enjoyed a 2-0 first-leg win over Santos Laguna in their all-Mexican CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

Javier Orozco and Christian Gimenez both scored in the second half to give Cruz Azul a handy buffer heading into the second leg at Santos’ Estadio Nuevo Corona on March 1.

In Tuesday’s other quarter-final first leg, the Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake played out a spiteful 0-0 draw in Ohio.

Real Salt Lake finished the match with nine men after Tony Beltran and Nat Borchers were both sent off by referee Jair Marrufo, while Emilio Renteria was also dismissed.

Real Salt Lake will welcome Columbus to Sandy, Utah, for the second leg on March 1.

Wed 23 February, 2011

CONCACAF Champions League wrap: Cruz Azul cruise home

Cruz Azul enjoyed a 2-0 first-leg win over Santos Laguna in their all-Mexican CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.

Javier Orozco and Christian Gimenez both scored in the second half to give Cruz Azul a handy buffer heading into the second leg at Santos’ Estadio Nuevo Corona on March 1.

In Tuesday’s other quarter-final first leg, the Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake played out a spiteful 0-0 draw in Ohio.

Real Salt Lake finished the match with nine men after Tony Beltran and Nat Borchers were both sent off by referee Jair Marrufo, while Emilio Renteria was also dismissed.

Real Salt Lake will welcome Columbus to Sandy, Utah, for the second leg on March 1.

Wed 23 February, 2011