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Top of the Match
Javier Antonio Orozco
Cruz Azul
Cruz Azul
Maxi Biancucchi
Cruz Azul
Cruz Azul
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Cruz Azul 5-4 Real Salt Lake: Goals Rain Down In Torrential Downpour
By Andrea Canales
Weather played a huge role in the clash between Real Salt Lake and Cruz Azul, delaying the second half of play for an extended amount of time after three goals were scored in the first half, with RSL leading 2-1.
It seemed early on that Salt Lake would suffer from the dire fortune that afflicted other MLS squads in CONCACAF Champions League action, when an apparent early goal by Will Johnson was called off. The midfielder pounced on a rebound given up by goalkeeper Gutierrez in the first minute. However, Johnson was judged to be offside, though the infraction was negligible at best.
Cruz Azul then benefited from a startling non-call, as the reset after a foul was whistled so quickly that the ball was never actually stopped, which is a requirement. The allowed freekick threaded the RSL defense and was reached by an alert Javier Orozco, who found himself in an individual duel with goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Orozco kept his nerve and cut the ball well around a sliding Rimando for the opening goal.
Real Salt Lake found themselves, in the matter of five minutes, with a goal denied them and a controversial one scored against them, but they were able to rally. Luck joined their side in the 15th minute, as a shot by Emanuel Villa of Cruz Azul rang off the post and bounced just in front of the face of the arc without ever crossing over.
About five minutes later, the defending MLS champions pulled even. The lively Espindola was pulled down in the box, and Avario Saborio put away the ensuing penalty kick without any fuss.
It was already raining, but around this point, the storm escalated, and pools of standing water began to form on the field, turning much of the action comical, as the ball would alternately stop or skip on the liquid, leaving the players befuddled.
Normal play did not apply in these situations, as Horacio Cervantez in the 44th minute found out to his dismay when he attempted a backpass to his goalkeeper and the ball held up in the water. Saborio reacted quickly, rounding the defender and eluding the goalkeeper to put RSL in the lead for the first time.
As the rain continued to pour down, Real Salt Lake held their advantage to the half.
At first, it seemed there would be no second half at all, as the weather conditions continued to be poor. Yet after a delay of several minutes, the second half commenced.
At times more of a mud-wrestling match than soccer, the game looked likely to injure players. Beckerman, in order to get power behind his kicks, would often hit the ball half-falling into a puddle.
However, Saborio seemed quite comfortable in the conditions. In the 64th minute, he played provider with a neat cross in front of goal that Espindola did well to put away.
Cruz Azul pressured hard to get another goal of their own, and managed that with a little help from a defender's deflection of an Orozco shot that defeated Rimando.
With Espindola and Morales subbed out of the match by that point, it seemed that perhaps coach Jason Kreis had made defensive subs far too early, given that the weather could change the fortunes quickly of either squad.
Indeed, the confident Orozco continued to score. In the 88th minute, he denied Real Salt Lake an away win with a well-taken low shot to the corner.
In the 89th minute, a reeling Real Salt Lake gave up another goal to Orozco, who fired quickly from an angle to make the score 4-3.
Yet plucky Salt Lake would not concede the battle, and this time, the player who was denied his goal in the opening minute made sure he scored one in stoppage time that counted. Johnson fired in the box to pull his team level.
The insanity of the game did not end there, though, as the final second ticked down in a scramble in front of the Salt Lake goal, until an attempted clearance fell at the feet of Christian “Chaco” Gimenez. He hit a rocket past Rimando for the winning goal in the 5-4 rainy slugfest.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
It seemed early on that Salt Lake would suffer from the dire fortune that afflicted other MLS squads in CONCACAF Champions League action, when an apparent early goal by Will Johnson was called off. The midfielder pounced on a rebound given up by goalkeeper Gutierrez in the first minute. However, Johnson was judged to be offside, though the infraction was negligible at best.
Cruz Azul then benefited from a startling non-call, as the reset after a foul was whistled so quickly that the ball was never actually stopped, which is a requirement. The allowed freekick threaded the RSL defense and was reached by an alert Javier Orozco, who found himself in an individual duel with goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Orozco kept his nerve and cut the ball well around a sliding Rimando for the opening goal.
Real Salt Lake found themselves, in the matter of five minutes, with a goal denied them and a controversial one scored against them, but they were able to rally. Luck joined their side in the 15th minute, as a shot by Emanuel Villa of Cruz Azul rang off the post and bounced just in front of the face of the arc without ever crossing over.
About five minutes later, the defending MLS champions pulled even. The lively Espindola was pulled down in the box, and Avario Saborio put away the ensuing penalty kick without any fuss.
It was already raining, but around this point, the storm escalated, and pools of standing water began to form on the field, turning much of the action comical, as the ball would alternately stop or skip on the liquid, leaving the players befuddled.
Normal play did not apply in these situations, as Horacio Cervantez in the 44th minute found out to his dismay when he attempted a backpass to his goalkeeper and the ball held up in the water. Saborio reacted quickly, rounding the defender and eluding the goalkeeper to put RSL in the lead for the first time.
As the rain continued to pour down, Real Salt Lake held their advantage to the half.
At first, it seemed there would be no second half at all, as the weather conditions continued to be poor. Yet after a delay of several minutes, the second half commenced.
At times more of a mud-wrestling match than soccer, the game looked likely to injure players. Beckerman, in order to get power behind his kicks, would often hit the ball half-falling into a puddle.
However, Saborio seemed quite comfortable in the conditions. In the 64th minute, he played provider with a neat cross in front of goal that Espindola did well to put away.
Cruz Azul pressured hard to get another goal of their own, and managed that with a little help from a defender's deflection of an Orozco shot that defeated Rimando.
With Espindola and Morales subbed out of the match by that point, it seemed that perhaps coach Jason Kreis had made defensive subs far too early, given that the weather could change the fortunes quickly of either squad.
Indeed, the confident Orozco continued to score. In the 88th minute, he denied Real Salt Lake an away win with a well-taken low shot to the corner.
In the 89th minute, a reeling Real Salt Lake gave up another goal to Orozco, who fired quickly from an angle to make the score 4-3.
Yet plucky Salt Lake would not concede the battle, and this time, the player who was denied his goal in the opening minute made sure he scored one in stoppage time that counted. Johnson fired in the box to pull his team level.
The insanity of the game did not end there, though, as the final second ticked down in a scramble in front of the Salt Lake goal, until an attempted clearance fell at the feet of Christian “Chaco” Gimenez. He hit a rocket past Rimando for the winning goal in the 5-4 rainy slugfest.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
H. Suazo
Striker Monterrey |
7 | 2 |
|
Oribe Peralta
Striker Santos Laguna |
6 | 0 |
|
H. Gómez
Striker Santos Laguna |
6 | 0 |
|
Abraham Carreno Rohan
Striker Monterrey |
5 | 0 |
|
A. De Nigris
Striker Monterrey |
4 | 0 |