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Played
April 27, 2011 10:00 PM EDT
Rio Tinto Stadium — Sandy, Utah
Referee: R. Moreno
Attendance: 20378
April 27, 2011 10:00 PM EDT
Rio Tinto Stadium — Sandy, Utah
Referee: R. Moreno
Attendance: 20378
Top of the Match
To Be Announced Shortly
H. Suazo
Monterrey
Monterrey
Flop of the Match
To Be Announced Shortly
Jamison Olave
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Real Salt Lake 0-1 Monterrey: Mexican team wins CCL again
Monterrey wins CONCACAF Champion’s League as RSL’s home winning streak snapped.
By Jeremy Horton
Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake (Getty)
SANDY, Utah -- Humberto Suazo scored in first-half stoppage time and made it stick for the final 45 minutes as Monterrey defeated Real Salt Lake 1-0 in front of a sellout crowd of 20,378 at Rio Tinto Stadium to win the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time in the club's history. The loss ended Salt Lake’s 37-match home unbeaten streak in all competitions.
First Half
Both teams came out of the gate eager to impose their will, but it was Salt Lake, with the backing of its home crowd, which had the better of play in the early minutes. In the 6th minute Fabian Espindola was fed a cross from the right wing by Robbie Russell, but he struck his shot weakly and Monterrey goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco made the easy save.
Espindola remained active and nearly opened his account twice more in the first 10 minutes. He poked a diving header just wide and then missed on a good opportunity with his feet that rolled inches wide of the right post.
RSL was very committed to its defense, effectively holding Los Rayados at bay. Monterrey did not have anything close to a chance until the 29th minute when a free kick was whipped into the box from the left wing. Ricardo Osorio just missed getting a toe on it and Nick Rimando was able to scoop it up. Minutes later, Osvaldo Martinez put a half-chance on frame, but the shot lacked pace and Rimando had no issues with it.
Real was effective in limiting Suazo’s touches in dangerous spots, but he managed to get a good look and free himself for an attempt in the 38th minute. He made a few cuts to open himself up, but his dipping left-footed shot went inches over the bar.
Monterrey continued to pressure RSL with a complex array of runs, and it made Salt Lake pay in first-half stoppage time. Suazo played a beautiful 1-2 play with Sergio Santana, with Suazo sending Santana through the back line and Santana avoiding a tackle by laying a soft touch back to Suazo, who pounded it into the open net to put Monterrey up 1-0 and 3-2 on aggregate. The halftime whistle sounded shortly thereafter, giving Salt Lake a psychological blow going into the break.
Second Half
Salt Lake did not come out of the half with much energy, but Monterrey changed its tactics a bit, trying to hold its one-goal lead with a renewed commitment to defense. That afforded RSL more possession than it had by the end of the first half, and as a result the home team enjoyed a few more opportunities. Jamison Olave hit a screamer from the top of the box after a corner, but his shot missed by a few inches.
In the 59th minute, Real again nearly leveled the match as Will Johnson fired from long distance, but his shot missed by about the same amount as Olave’s moments earlier, and Salt Lake remained wanting.
Salt Lake continued to apply the pressure, and in the 66th minute it had its best chance as Alvaro Saborio headed a quick corner hard on frame, but it went right to Orozco to keep Real off the scoreboard.
The final 15 minutes of the match were all RSL as Monterrey dropped more and more into a defensive shape. Real had countless services into the penalty area, only to see each and every one poked away by some clutch Monterrey defending.
As the final whistle drew near, Monterrey effectively killed off the match with timely defending and good possession play, although Morales poked one just wide during stoppage time.
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First Half
Both teams came out of the gate eager to impose their will, but it was Salt Lake, with the backing of its home crowd, which had the better of play in the early minutes. In the 6th minute Fabian Espindola was fed a cross from the right wing by Robbie Russell, but he struck his shot weakly and Monterrey goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco made the easy save.
Espindola remained active and nearly opened his account twice more in the first 10 minutes. He poked a diving header just wide and then missed on a good opportunity with his feet that rolled inches wide of the right post.
RSL was very committed to its defense, effectively holding Los Rayados at bay. Monterrey did not have anything close to a chance until the 29th minute when a free kick was whipped into the box from the left wing. Ricardo Osorio just missed getting a toe on it and Nick Rimando was able to scoop it up. Minutes later, Osvaldo Martinez put a half-chance on frame, but the shot lacked pace and Rimando had no issues with it.
Real was effective in limiting Suazo’s touches in dangerous spots, but he managed to get a good look and free himself for an attempt in the 38th minute. He made a few cuts to open himself up, but his dipping left-footed shot went inches over the bar.
Monterrey continued to pressure RSL with a complex array of runs, and it made Salt Lake pay in first-half stoppage time. Suazo played a beautiful 1-2 play with Sergio Santana, with Suazo sending Santana through the back line and Santana avoiding a tackle by laying a soft touch back to Suazo, who pounded it into the open net to put Monterrey up 1-0 and 3-2 on aggregate. The halftime whistle sounded shortly thereafter, giving Salt Lake a psychological blow going into the break.
Second Half
Salt Lake did not come out of the half with much energy, but Monterrey changed its tactics a bit, trying to hold its one-goal lead with a renewed commitment to defense. That afforded RSL more possession than it had by the end of the first half, and as a result the home team enjoyed a few more opportunities. Jamison Olave hit a screamer from the top of the box after a corner, but his shot missed by a few inches.
In the 59th minute, Real again nearly leveled the match as Will Johnson fired from long distance, but his shot missed by about the same amount as Olave’s moments earlier, and Salt Lake remained wanting.
Salt Lake continued to apply the pressure, and in the 66th minute it had its best chance as Alvaro Saborio headed a quick corner hard on frame, but it went right to Orozco to keep Real off the scoreboard.
The final 15 minutes of the match were all RSL as Monterrey dropped more and more into a defensive shape. Real had countless services into the penalty area, only to see each and every one poked away by some clutch Monterrey defending.
As the final whistle drew near, Monterrey effectively killed off the match with timely defending and good possession play, although Morales poked one just wide during stoppage time.
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to get the latest soccer news directly. Check out Goal.com's page; be part of the best soccer fan community in the world!
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
Results
Times In EDT
Match News
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 |