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SANDY — Real Salt Lake looked to get revenge for its 2011 CONCACAF Champions League final loss to Monterrey in Wednesday's Leagues Cup meeting, but the visiting team from Mexico had other plans.
Monterrey went up 2-0 after 13 minutes, decimating RSL's morale, which was worsened still by one of the goals being an own goal from Justen Glad. RSL managed to outpossess and outshoot Monterrey over the length of the match, but the shots just weren't falling for the home team.
RSL led in total shots 15-8 and had five "big chances" to Monterrey's three, according to soccer stat website FotMob, resulting in a bittersweet learning opportunity for the Claret and Cobalt.
"I thought we created some really good opportunities," head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "I thought for a large portion of the game we performed really well. Every game is its own event, but tonight, they (Monterrey) were killers in front of goal."
A header from Chicho Arango off a corner kick near the 70th minute could've trimmed the deficit to a goal, but the shot hit the crossbar and Monterrey went on to score in the 75th minute to seal the dominant win.
Chicho's header off the corner hits the woodwork #RSLpic.twitter.com/kRR0OF9E62
— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) July 27, 2023
The defense ended up being the area of needed improvement on Wednesday, with three goals given up on plays that Mastroeni says the team is usually able to handle. Argentine striker German Berterame score the second and third goals for Monterrey, though the goal scored by Glad ended up being the one that mattered most.
"I think we slipped up on two similar plays in the first half, and goals change games, you know," Mastroeni said.
Mastroeni pointed to Monterrey's decision-making speed as a major difference maker, saying RSL has not seen that level of speed and technical ability in MLS. When asked which league has a better chance of winning the tournament, Mastroeni said the leagues are closer in level than ever before and both could win the whole thing.
Despite the lopsided loss, RSL is still in a position to advance out of its group due to a 3-0 win of its own over last-place Seattle. The Sounders would have to win by three goals against Monterrey to even threaten a tiebreaker.
That match between the Sounders and Monterrey takes place on Sunday, July 30 in Seattle on MLS Season Pass.
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