Real Salt Lake will look to take a major step toward becoming the first MLS team to win the CONCACAF Champions League title by gaining a favorable result tonight against Monterrey in Mexico in the first leg of their two-game Championship series (10pm, Fox Soccer Channel)
Monterrey, Mexican champions in two of the past three Mexican seasons, will look to keep RSL from registering any road goals, while also trying to put some goals past a stingy Real Salt Lake defense. Monterrey enters the match having struggled a bit in league play, having gone winless in four straight, but as we learned in the RSL semifinal series against Saprissa, a team struggling in league play won't necessarily have the same issues in Champions League play.
RSL will look to become the first MLS team in 24 tries to win a competitive match in Mexico, though a draw would set things up nicely for Real Salt Lake's second leg at Rio Tinto Stadium.
SBI will be offering live commentary on tonight's match so please feel free to follow along here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action:
Chris you do realize that they played in mexico right? and teams from brazil, argentina, paraquay and more struggle to play there. The fact that they got a tie and 2 away goals seems pretty good to me. Lets not forget RSL was up 3-1 against cruz azul and lost 5-4 in the second half in mexico. Then went home and easily beat them 3-1 when both teams still had alot on the line. Will they beat monterrey? who knows? will they tie them? who knows? But I gurantee you that they will play a whole lot better than they did tonight.
thats a well written “book” my friend…Real vs Real this december in japan…you heard it here first
Dude how many Mai-tai’s have you had! It’s perfectly OK to get excited but to say that the US National team is far superior to the Mexican National team is just the bubbles going to your head. Plus anyone can post from anywhere or are you a Nazi? It’s not called the www for World Wide Web for nothing! Stay classy (anonymous) This Guy!
I thought the match was a DRAW, what is a tie?
It doesn’t really matter how much they put into it. RSL hasn’t been defeated at home in almost 2 years. They probably won’t try though because they know they can’t win.
Last time RSL allowed 2 goals in a match at Rio Tinto was over a year ago.
Conditions for next week…59 and partly cloudy, nice conditions not 80 something and humidity like it was this game.
Dude, a tie in Mexico is a good result. Period. Give me a break with the bunker ball BS. This wasn’t Chelsea – Barca. RSL was playing a very good possession game for long periods of time.
Were people expecting RSL to come in and trounce Monterrey 4-0 on their own patch?
It was pretty much a perfect away performance given the opponent and the stage of the competition. Stay compact, defend, and take the couple of chances when they come. The only gripe would be the two moments of sloppiness and the fact that they invited pressure for too much of the 2nd half. Otherwise Kreis was dead on with his tactics.
torrado is a thug, and probably part of a drug cartel
You do understand that they TIED the game right?
done? there is still fate to contend with…this dec will see another year at the world club cup with 2 teams of the same name. however, unlike last year’s flop involving one of the “internacional” teams, this year will indeed see the teams w/the same names go at each other. The result? Real SL 2- Real Madrid 1
3 possible outcomes:
RSL wins the aggregate (any win in Utah). Monterrey wins the aggregate (any win in Utah).
Or they tie on aggregate (any tie in Utah). If the agg is tied, then away goals matter; so, if the score in Utah is 0-0 or 1-1 that gives the series to RSL, 2-2 goes to extra time, 3-3 or higher and Monterrey wins the series.
Losing to the US is okay because it’s a well known fact at this point that the USMNT is better than el tri.
+1
Yea that was very weak. Classless move.
LOL
Nope, soccer fan. And realist.
Are you brave enough to watch the replay?
Monterrey gave all they had. They wanted this so bad but as we all know.
MLS > fmf
USMNT > mexico
RSL > monterrey
That’s why the mexican supporters come on our boards, because it eats at them that we have developed into a far superior National team then they have. It scares them that the next hurdle is MLS teams dominating fmf teams. It’s only a matter of time. And tonight was the forming of the snowball.
Monterrey will play there subs, they don’t care about playing in the world championships. Money is more important than pride in mexico…Just ask the tri players why losing to the us is ok as long as the stadiums are full. In fact after the game they exchange jerseys and shake hands and sing cumbaya.
Wrong…:)
You are an idiot! We’ll see how biased the refs are in American soil! And while Monterrey is a Mexican team, it has players from different parts of the Americas. Both teams played horrible. One of the worst performances from Suazo and a boneheaded decision from Vucetich take out De Nigris and Luis Perez. Horrible calls by the ref who was clearly biased in favor of Monterrey. But the ref ain’t Mexican. And typical American resolve tied the game. Commendable performance by RSL that barring a disaster has ticket in hand. But to insult Mexico because of shoving and pushing in a heated match labels you an idiot in my book!
Good if you can get past the CONCACAF commentator who apparently hasn’t ever watched game in “the MLS”.
Olave = Oh-layv
Kreis = Krees
Espindola = EH-spin-DOH-la
Rimando = Rimandee (first 10 min)
Away goals rule applies.
overall not impressed with RSL tonight. they got lucky to tie and looked uninspired. IMO Saborio is a clinical finisher but a overrated striker and he looked garbage tonight, should have been taken out so much sooner. The defense was tactically sound but Monterrey showed there lack of technical ability and boy they looked clumsy. Every time Williams steps on the field you can guarentee some worthless shots and he didnt fail to deliver tonight. And come on people what is up with this play for tie bullsh*t. Bunker Ball never works and RSL were dominated all 2nd half because of this 3rd division tactic. better improve the next game because they did not look good at all.
Too many women whining in this post. Enjoy the game. Controversy is expected to make an exciting game.
I’m REALLY pulling for RSL, but it’s gonna be much harder without Beckerman in the midfield.
Yeah, they’re so mediocre that they won the Apertura mere months ago…
2-2 is a great result, all things considered. So shut up and let us enjoy it!
…and the crowd boos Karl
wait…don’t they just need to win by 1 or tie by three?
Oh calm down. Haven’t you noticed by now? Mexico obviously pays refs so that no MLS team or the USMNT EVER wins in Mexico. It’s just not going to happen I don’t think, it would be too embarrassing for them (though I hope I’m wrong).
Wonder how much Monterrey will put. Into the second leg, given the situation? Or if that will have any effect?
HELL YES!! RSL!
Monterrey likes to choke.
Of course, what would have been the winning goal was also incorrectly called back for offsides. But who’s counting? (Obviously not many here!)
Umm… Monterrey could win 1-0.
hahahaha…troll
HELL YES!! RSL!
BTW how is choking an opponent and then grabbing him by the jersey while he’s on the ground the same as an aggressive play going for the ball? No matter RSL accomplished what they wanted tonight.
Same time next week. Hope to “see” everyone back here at SBI.
RSl just missed a chance to make history in Mexico by wining a game. Monterrey is a mediocre team by Mexico standards, plus two forced subs in the first 20 minutes and yet RSL fails to take advantage.
2-2 final. Fantastic result. A RSL win, 0-0 or 1-1 tie sends RSL to the Club World Cup.
Suck it Monterrey. A gift PK and a gift non-red card and you still can’t win at home.
Nice RSL!!! Totally deserved.
Next week will be great! Who plays in place of Beckerman though?
Eat it Mexico. Eat it.
Take your cheating elsewhere.
Real goes into the second leg with a huge advantage. Any kind of result with Monterey scoring less than 2 goals wins it for RSL!
As an MLS fan…simply awesome.
Great showing by RSL. Very impressed with the toughneses and the great soccer played at times. Come home and win it boys.
What a game!
C’on RSl plays n MLS……..probably the worst referees in the world.
I’m happy to eat my words. Great last few minutes by RSL. Gotta love Javi. Rio Tinto will be rockin!
Everything is a foul against Espindola!
Great resolve by RSL. Toughness. Gotta love this team.
What a goal by Morales! Just when Real looked dead and buried (and lucky to be down only by one goal after the 2nd half display). Well done, RSL!
Don’t concede a stupid late goal and you have the upper hand b/f the 2nd leg.
YES! As an MLS fan I’m so into this game, it’s like RSL is my home team.
3 minutes extra time. vamos RSL!