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Monterrey Topple America In Penalties, Reach Libertadores
Monterrey won InterLiga 2010 with a penalty-kick win over America and punched their ticket to Copa Libertadores.
Jan 14, 2010 1:40:48 AM
Los Rayados beat America in a penalty-kick shootout and gained direct passage into Copa Libertadores in the process. Monterrey, who also beat America en route to winning the Apertura 2009 crown, held America scoreless in regulation and converted all three of their attempts in the shootout as Jonathan Orozco made a pair of saves to help Monterrey claim the victory.
First Half
With Estudiantes having beaten Puebla in the opener, the result set up for the winner of this game to gain a spot in Copa Libertadores outright. That, however, only meant something to Monterrey as America were dependent only on their own result against Monterrey in order to secure passage to Copa Libertadores.
Neither side could find much of a rhythm in the early going as both teams spent the bulk of the first half trying to play cohesively.
Guillermo Cerda crossed the ball from the right flank to the left side of the box and Salvador Cabañas got to the ball amidst a crowd. Cabañas knocked a header on target but hit the post as he had Monterrey's Jonathan Orozco beat. The rebound caromed to the Monterrey defense and was cleared before Cabañas could get to the ball once more.
Jose Maria Basanta nearly gifted a goal to America. Basanta hit a poor ball towards Orozco inside the penalty area and Adolfo Rosinei nearly got to it first, but Orozco scrambled and cleared the ball moments beofre Rosinei got to it.
Walter Ayovie forced Guillermo Ochoa to make a diving save in the 43rd minute. Ayovi got the ball outside the penalty area and fired a shot on goal. Ochoa dived and got enough of the ball to force it out for a corner kick, which ultimately led to nothing for Rayados.
Second Half
America had control of possession after the intermission but the club failed to penetrate Monterrey's defense. Los Rayados were seemingly content with allowing America to control the ball without pushing forward too much.
In the 54th minute, Monterrey put Aldo De Nigris into the match. De Nigris, one of Monterrey's heroes during their Apertura 2009 conquest, won a few fouls in dangerous spots for Monterrey as he helped Rayados push forward ever so slightly. Monterrey had their best possession of the match in the 58th minute, after a free kick De Nigris had won led to some possession deep in America's third. However, Juan Carlos Valenzuela eventually cleared the ball out for a corner kick, and Aquivaldo Mosquera knocked the ball clear afterward.
In the 61st minute, De Nigris hit a header on goal that forced Ochoa to jump and push the ball over the crossbar. Moments later, though, Cabañas nearly put a goal away for America. Cabañas beat Osvaldo Martinez to a ball near the middle of the field and dribbled into Monterrey's area somewhat unmolested. Cabañas ripped a shot on goal but his attempt went right to Orozco. The end-to-end action continued moments later as Monterrey quickly moved the ball to De Nigris, who caught Ochoa well off his line. De Nigris, though, could not get a clean shot off and placed a ball from an awkward angle on goal but came close to placing the ball over the goal line regardless.
Martinez came close to giving Monterrey the lead in the 73rd minute. Martinez lined up a 27-yard free kick that eluded Ochoa's reach but slammed off the crossbar. A minute later, Martinez was again turned away by the woodwork as his attempt from the right side of the penalty area beat Ochoa once more but hit the rigth post and went out over the end line.
Neither team had many opportunities over the final quarter-hour until deep in stoppage time. Cabañas won a free kick 22 yards out. Cabañas and Pavel Pardo stood over the ball but it was Cabañas whootook the shot. The Paraguayan international, though, sailed his attempt over the crossbar, and moments later the match ended and went directly to penalty kicks.
Penalty Kick Shootout
Cabañas had America's first attempt but Orozco turned him away with a diving save. Luis Perez then took Monterrey's first shot and buried it into the upper right corner as Ochoa dived the other way.
Oscar Rojas and Walter Ayovi exchanged successful penalties before Orozco turned Aquivaldo Mosquera away. Martinez gave Monterrey a 3-1 edge in penalties. Pardo sailed America's last attempt over the crossbar, which gave Monterrey the win and a berth in Copa Libertadores.
Luis Bueno, Goal.com
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