Real Salt Lake Vs. Monterrey, CONCACAF Champions League Preview: One Step From History
This has been called the biggest match in Real Salt Lake history and possibly the most important game in which a MLS team has ever played. Despite RSL having played in a MLS Cup and MLS teams playing in and even winning continental titles, this really does seem like a seminal moment for both.
In a perfect world, both teams would be coming into this match with equal motivations and on equal terms. Unfortunately, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Monterrey is much more concerned with their possibly missing the Mexican Primera Liguilla, while RSL is so focused on this match that they’ve even altered their MLS schedule.
Both teams are also missing some key players. RSL's big absence is defensive midfielder Kyle Beckerman, who is being forced to sit with yellow-card accumulation. Monterrey has even bigger problems, playing without forward Aldo De Nigris and midfielders Luis Perez and Jesus Zavala, as well as possibly midfielder Sergio Santana.
The game may very well fall short of its classic potential, but that shouldn’t diminish its potential importance. This has a chance to be a real benchmark game for U.S. soccer. With two road goals already in their pocket and a dead-locked aggregate score, RSL merely needs a 0-0 or 1-1 tie to claim the title. Considering they haven’t allowed as many as two goals in a home match in about a year and haven’t lost at home since 2009, both seem like good bets.
What they did right in Leg 1
- Real Salt Lake: There weren't a lot of opportunities to be had, but RSL made the most of the ones they did have. Nat Borchers scored on a wonderful header from an even better feed from Will Johnson and Javier Morales made a great individual effort for a goal in the 89th minute. Both came against the run of play. Defensively, they gave up more good chances than they'd probably like, but allowed two goals on the road and tied a Monterrey team that had only tied one other CCL opponent at home.
- Monterrey: It didn't necessarily show up on the scoreboard, but they really had their way with the Royals. They fired off 20 shots and very easily could have scored four goals. They did a good job of limiting the effectiveness of the RSL forwards, not allowing Alvaro Saborio or Fabian Espindola to have much of an impact.
- What they did wrong in Leg 1Real Salt Lake: Kreis preaches the need to hold possession, almost as much as a way of keeping the ball away from the opposition as much as controlling the ball. There’s no question that he was less than satisified with RSL’s only possessing the ball about 42 percent of the last game. That gave Monterrey way too many chances and they were lucky to head home even.Monterrey: For all Los Rayados’ domination, they don’t have much to show for it. They can bemoan one goal being called back for a questionable offside call and say they should have had another penalty on a handball, but their big breakdowns were on defense. The first goal was, perhaps, excusable, but the second was the kind of thing that just screams mental lapse. It could also end up being the biggest goal of the tournament.
Probable lineups
- Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): GK-Rimando; DF-Wingert, Borchers, Olave, Russell; MF-Johnson, Alexandre, Morales, Grabavoy; FW-Espindola, Saborio
- Monterrey (4-4-2): GK-Orozco; DF-Osorio, Mier, Basanta, S. Perez; MF-Cardozo, Ayovi, Morales, Martinez; FW-Suazo, Carreno
Key players
- Real Salt Lake: Morales doesn't always end up with the flashiest numbers, but he certainly seems to come up big whenever RSL needs him most. He is the key component of Kreis' possession controlling strategy. With Monterrey probably needing to score at least two goals to have a realistic chance at winning, the RSL defense is also going to be tested. The man on whom much of that pressure will be placed is Nat Borchers. While it's not entirely clear who will fill in for Beckerman, whoever that is has big shoes to fill. Jean Alexandre seems to be a solid choice to fill in and provides some decent skill to go along with some defensive chops.
- Monterrey: Humberto Suazo is probably the best striker on the continent, even if he's somewhere less than 100 percent. Monterrey needs to score and with De Nigris out, much of that burden will be on Suazo's shoulders. He's a special player and one that is capable of absolutely dominating. As long as he's in the game, Monterrey has a very good chance. Los Rayados also need to keep RSL off the scoresheet and goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco can continue to show that he deserves to be mentioned among the elite shot stoppers in the world.
Prediction
Monterrey has not been the most dominant team in CCL, but they have not lost any of their 11 matches. It would be a real shame if they managed to go undefeated and failed to win the championship. But destiny seems to be on RSL’s side, and it would be fitting if they could do it with a victory. Somehow, I see a 2-1 RSL victory.
For more Primera League coverage visit FMF State Of Mind. For RSL coverage, visit RSL Soapbox.
* Thanks to Eben Lehman of FMF State of Mind providing information about Monterrey.
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