Santos Laguna Vs. Monterrey, 2012 CONCACAF Champions League Final: Rayados Trying For 2 In A Row

A late goal by Argentine midfielder Neri Cardozo proved to be the difference Wednesday night, as Monterrey successfully defended their CONCACAF Champions League title and have booked a place for the next edition of the Club World Cup at the end of the year. Although Santos Laguna won the match 2-1, they lost the final tie 3-2 on aggregate. Santos tried to save the scoring for the last 45 minutes of the tie once again, as they had previously against the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC in earlier knockout rounds, but they could not get the winner to give them their first lead of the final, and Cardozo put the Rayados ahead for good.

The scoring opened just before the halftime whistle, as Santos midfielder Daniel Luduena hit a rocket from the edge of the box that finally beat Monterrey goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco, who had an excellent game. With that, Santos had momentum to start the second half, and key striker and Mexican international Oribe Peralta made a trailing run into the box after teammates Darwin Quintero and Rodolfo Salinas were unable to capitalize on an opportunity. Peralta ran onto the ball in the 51st minute and scored another scorcher. With that goal, the aggregate score was tied 2-2, and the game opened up. Although Monterrey finally began to hold possession, and both teams took turns with the ball, the respective defenses were quite good and attacks were neutralized effectively for the next half hour.

A goal in the 83rd minute by Monterrey midfielder Neri Cardozo could prove to be the winner in the 2012 CONCACAF Champions League final. With the teams tied 2-2, Cardozo made a run into the box with the ball and his subsequent shot was deflected by Santos Laguna defender Aaron Galindo. That deflection fooled Santos goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez, and Cardozo put the Rayados ahead. With a few more minutes left in the match, Santos will be desperately seeking another equalizer, but Monterrey look to be firmly in control.

What makes this scoreline so remarkable has been that Santos has controlled the play for most of the match, and Monterrey’s attack looked considerably less potent with suspended star Humberto Suazo missing. With just a few minutes left in the tie, Monterrey are on the cusp of repeating as CONCACAF Champions League winners. Let’s see if there is any more excitement remaining in the final.

Game on folks! Oribe Peralta scored a cracking goal with several Santos Laguna players in position to score in the 51st minute in the second half of the CONCACAF Champions League Final second leg. The aggregate score for the final now sits at 2-2, so the slate is currently wiped clean with Santos 2-0 lead so far in tonight’s match. With another half hour or so to go in this match, the regional championship is still very much up for grabs.

The goal came when Darwin Quintero, who has been dangerous all game, dribbled up the endline from the right flank, shooting at a very tight angle. The shot was palmed high up in the air by Monterrey goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco, and Santos midfielder Rodolfo Salinas attempted a bicycle kick towards goal. That attempt was mishit, and the ball bounced beside Salinas. Peralta, Santos’ top striker, ran onto the ball in stride, and slammed it past Orozco.

The second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Final is at the half, and Santos Laguna nabbed a goal at the very end of first half injury time in Torreon to lead 1-0. With the hosts down 2-0 to Monterrey heading into tonight’s match, the onus was on them to get back into the tie, and their efforts had been thwarted until Daniel Luduena managed a rocket shot from the edge of the box to cut Monterrey’s lead in half. It was exactly what Santos needed, and will likely cause Monterrey to try and hold more possession in the second half in order to preserve a winning margin.

Santos have had several excellent chances, with Darwin Quintero getting most of the opportunities in front of goal, but near misses and excellent goalkeeping from Rayados goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco kept them from cutting into the deficit until the stroke of halftime. Meanwhile, Monterrey’s plan has been to sit back and absorb pressure from Santos, and while Orozco has been busy, it was a mostly effective strategy. With the 2-1 aggregate scoreline, Santos will surely push for a second goal, and as their strategy in the knockout stages has been to bide their time and wait for final half of their ties to come roaring back and pour on the goals, they may have Monterrey exactly where they want them. Considering Monterrey’s attackers have hardly had the ball so far tonight, they may not have the same rhythm as their opponents, and could be on the collective back foot, especially if Santos get an equalizer early in the second half. Regardless of what will happen in the concluding half, Quintero’s goal is exactly what this final needed to energize these teams. It should be a fascinating conclusion to the CCL final.

Here are the lineups:

It might be time to put a fork in Santos Laguna. It’s not that they aren’t very good and maybe they can still come back, but it seems unlikely considering their opponent in the CONCACAF Champions League final.

You would be hard-pressed to find any team in CONCACAF that could beat Monterrey right now. Their strikers, Humberto Suazo and Aldo de Nigris, make up the best strike partnership in all of the Americas and after some sputtering earlier in the year, they have found their form of late. They proved as much in getting to the final and defeating Santos in last week’s first leg, 2-0. Despite having to go to Torreon for the second leg, it is difficult to see Monterrey not holding the trophy at the end of 90 minutes.