Monterrey's quest to defend its CONCACAF Champions League title is very much alive.
Humberto Suazo scored two more goals as Los Rayados coasted to a 4-1 victory (7-2 on aggregate) over Morelia and sealed a place in the CCL semifinals.
Luis Perez and Walter Ayovi added goals for Monterrey, which was in the control before the second leg even started after turning in three away goals in a 3-1 first-leg victory. Suazo, who scored twice in the opening leg, kicked things off from the penalty spot in the 44th minute. Perez also tallied from the spot in the 61st to put the tie way out of reach.
After Suazo scored his fourth goal of the tie in the 71st minute, Angel Sepulveda managed a consolation penalty before Ayovi capped the scoring.
Monterrey will take on the winner of Pumas UNAM-Isidro Metapan in the tournament semifinals, with the Salvadoran side carrying a 2-1 edge into Thursday's second leg in Mexico City.
Highlights from the match and a few more stories are after the jump to get your day going:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTLCmmRiuf4]
RANIERI SAFE AT INTER
Inter Milan may be marred in its worst slump in years, but after crashing out of the UEFA Champions League, the club's president is not prepared to take any action on manager Claudio Ranieri.
Massimo Moratti put his faith behind Ranieri in the aftermath of Inter's Round of 16 defeat to Marseille, giving the manager the benefit of the doubt. Marseille scored goals in second-half stoppage time of both legs, including the crucial away goal on Tuesday that sealed Inter's fate even though a last-second penalty evened up the aggregate at 2-2.
"I don't feel like taking any action," Moratti said. "I don't see how Ranieri is to blame. If we had lost 4-0 I might have seen things differently."
Ranieri took over for Gian Piero Gasperini in September and momentarily righted the ship before things started to fall apart for the storied club. Inter is in seventh place in Serie A and is in danger of missing out on European competition altogether barring another resurgence.
NAPOLI NOT LOOKING TO SELL CAVANI, LAVEZZI
Napoli has some of the world's most sought-after attacking players, and even though the club does not have the money of a Manchester City, Real Madrid or Paris-St. Germain, it does not plan on parting with its prized pieces barring an over-the-top offer.
Ahead of his club's UEFA Champions League second-leg clash with Chelsea, Napoli club president Auerlio De Laurentiis said that Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi are not for sale despite rampant interest from the world's biggest clubs.
"Right now everyone wants Cavani and Lavezzi, but we are not looking to sell," De Laurentiis said. "But if some crazy guy wants to put down £100 million, then, maybe."
GERRARD HAT TRICK PACES LIVERPOOL
The Merseyside derby wasn't much of a battle in the end, as Steven Gerrard's hat trick paced Liverpool to a 3-0 victory over Everton on Tuesday.
The result could have been worse if not for some early heroics from American goalkeeper Tim Howard, who made six saves in the match.
Gerrard finally broke through in the 34th minute, who scored off a failed clearance attempt. He tallied against six minutes after halftime off a great run and feed by Luis Suarez, and he completed his hat trick in stoppage time after another combination with Suarez to cap off the rout.
Even with the victory, Liverpool, which snapped a four-game winless streak in league play, finds itself with an uphill battle to qualify for the Champions League next season, trailing fourth-place Arsenal by 10 points with 10 matches remaining.
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Do you think Monterrey is a good bet to repeat as CCL champion? Think Ranieri should be fired at Inter? Do you actually believe Napoli isn't looking to cash in on Cavani or Lavezzi? What did you make of Liverpool's performance?
Share your thoughts below.
but they didn’t and that’s the point. the prior year? no doubt what you’re saying I agree with.
Makes me wonder about Man Utd and Madrid.
To be fair, I don’t think many cartel capos have MBAs.
Haha dubious decision making also extends to CONCACAF matches in Mexico. Did you see the Santos – Columbus game from 2 years ago? Columbus scored the winning goal but it was called back because the scorer didn’t have a numbered jersey, despite another official allowing him into the game when he had to replace his jersey.
You wonder how they get away with these things in Mexico. It is Mexico after all.
If the druglords support chivas then when are they going to move that joke of a junior team out of LA?
Druglords only support Chivas. Fact.
Now seriously, with a little bit of info you’d know that northeastern teams in Mexico belong to huge companies:
Monterrey – FEMSA, who holds the rights to distribute Coca Cola in all latin america.
Tigres – CEMEX, a massive cement company, one of the top in the world
Santos Laguna – Grupo Modelo, Corona anyone?
So if shady money is involved (and it likely is) is not close to these clubs. I’d worry when Tijuana, Pachuca or Chivas start winning big time cause those are the ones in the laundromat business.
Just look at RSL’s MLS record, along with CCL play leading up to the final last year, including a 2-0 away win with a B-team over New England. Oh, and there was a 4-1 thrashing of LA to start RSL’s last season too.
Even with Morales missing most of last season, RSL gets the 3rd best record and qualifies for CCL next year. If Morales doesn’t go down, RSL runs away with the Supporters Shield and probably the MLS Cup.
Not saying its impossible, but this would seem way more likely in FMF matches. The Refs used for the CCL are from other countries in CONCACAF. So im pretty sure the refs were not mexican and were only in mexico just prior to the game. It does make them harder to bribe, but definately not impossible.
Interesting. This could be a concern if the cartels care much about soccer. They basically control the economies and local governments in portions of northern Mexico and they have mountains of cash. I’m sure they could influence a referee if they set out to do it. Let’s watch Santos Sounders closely.
Tangential: full legalization of marijuana in US states with taxing and licensure would greatly reduce influence and violence by cartels – starting with I-502 this fall in Washington hopefully.
I disagree.
That said, I didn’t clarify correctly the point I was trying to make: the gap is getting smaller.
Wouldnt shock me. The mexican leagues & their financials seem to be shrouded in secrecy so who knows. With that being said, Monterrey is a good squad and they can force teams into mistakes.
…..they are also responsible for Suazo, DeNigris, Delgado, Ayovi, Perez and the rest of them being such great players.
What a tool.
Would be a little easier to call shenanigans if we could actually see the fouls, but 3 of 4 goals coming from the spot is a little suspicious.
Has anyone heard the rumors that drug lords in Mexico are influencing refs? 2 PKs in a knockout seems out of the ordinary but at the same time, all too often the byline.
RSL was far and away the best club in MLS at the time of the CCL final last year.
Suazo is class but an MLS club nearly beat them in the final last year.
It’s not even remotely close to being impossible.
RSL plays some good football but they weren’t even our best club last year.
Hopefully, that “best” club makes it to the final. I say that as a non-“best” club supporter, too.
Lets hope Monterrey crashes out in the semi-finals. They will be tough to beat for an MLS team if an MLS team gets to the final. Suazo is a first rate striker that made the difference in the final last year.