Real worked and worked the counter attack all night long in their CONCACAF Champion’s League Final 1st Leg against Monterrey of Mexico. In the end it produced 2 road goals and a draw in the match. Here are a few quick post-game thoughts:
1. I have always loved the Mexican style of up-and-down soccer, it’s fun to watch. Monterrey is a really, really good team. Loved the passing.
2. Chilean Humberto Suazo is the real deal. That man can play! He was a threat the entire match.
3. Losing Beckerman due to yellow card accumulation is going to be huge. It is going to be very difficult for the Royals to overcome this loss. Andy Williams will most likely fill the spot and he is certainly capable, but Kyle is the heart and soul of the team.
4. The crowd was excellent in Monterrey. Even with Fox Soccer’s bad mic’s throughout the stadium, the crowd was electric.
5. Jamison Olave proved why he is MLS’s best defender. The man is a middle linebacker playing defense for Real Salt Lake. If he’s born in Texas or Florida and not Columbia he’s a big-time linebacker somewhere. He is a beast and saved the day on the back line more than a few times. Also, how is he not playing for Columbia? That has always been a mystery to me.
6. Javier Morales’ finish to make it 2-2 late in the match was excellent! The funniest part about it all? The team was too tired to really celebrate! They left if ALL on the field and that moment made it obvious.
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7. Man of the match was Nick Rimando. With RSL playing the counter-attack so much he was put under a lot of pressure for much of the match. He made big save after big save. Rimando is responsible for the team going back to SLC on equal ground.
Overall this was a great result. The table is set perfectly for RSL to come away with a trophy. Rio Tinto is going to be rockin’ next week. It’s been nearly TWO YEARS since they lost a match at home. With the all important two away goals scored in Monterrey the final could be a memorable night not only for Real Salt Lake, and not only for Major League Soccer, but also soccer in the USA as well.
(image courtesy of Brian Nicholson, Deseret News)
