Cruz Azul defeated Rayados de Monterrey, who played with 10 men from the 80th minute due to the expulsion of Uruguayan goalkeeper Santiago Mele, 2-3 on Tuesday to take the lead in the round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Erik Lira and Argentinians Gonzalo Piovi and Nicolás Ibáñez scored for the Azules, while for Monterrey Roberto de la Rosa scored a pair of goals.
An intense match
The Rayados came out to win at their stadium.
In the 11th minute, they were on the verge of being breached, when Uruguayan Gabriel Fernández got hold of a ball after a mistake by Alonso Aceves and headed the ball into the hands of goalkeeper Santiago Mele.
The Blues took the lead in the 25th.
From a corner kick, Lira took the ball and right-footed the ball into the net, 0-1.
When the Celestes were at their best, the Rayados equalized in the 35th minute, with a goal by Roberto de la Rosa, who accepted a ball from Carlos Sanledo, and took advantage of the loose marking to level the match.
Monterrey went for more and in the 40th minute took the lead, once again De la Rosa scored with a left-footed pass from Luis Reyes to make it 2-1 (Filed under: Cruz Azul beats Monterrey).
Mele’s dismissal and goal in the 90th minute seal the comeback
Just when Monterrey had stopped an impetuous Cruz Azul in their eagerness to attack, Uruguayan goalkeeper Santiago Mele sunk Los Rayados with a foul in the box.
This resulted in a penalty and his dismissal for two yellow cards.
Piovi converted the penalty in front of the Colombian Stefan Medina, Monterrey’s improvised goalkeeper, who suffered with a man down on the field.
In the 90th minute, Ibañez scored a right-footed goal off a pass from Omar Campos to give Cruz Azul the win.
They have everything in their favor to qualify for the quarterfinals in a series that will conclude next Tuesday in Puebla, home of the Celestes.
The Azules took the lead in the 25th minute
QuéOnnda.com
Technical data
Monterrey: Santiago Mele; Ricardo Chávez, Stefan Medina, Carlos Salcedo (Víctor Guzmán, m.73), Alonso Aceves; Luis Reyes, Jorge Rodríguez, Cristian Reyes (José Urías, m.73), Jesús M. Corona (Iker Fimbres, m.59), Lucas Ocampos (Luca Orellano, m.59); Roberto de la Rosa (Uros Djurdjevic, m.66).
Coach: Nicolás Sánchez.
3. Cruz Azul: Andrés Gudiño; Omar Campos, Amaury García, Erik Lira, Gonzalo Piovi; Rodolfo Rotondi (Jorge Rodarte, m.73), Agustín Palavecino, Jeremy Márquez (Luka Romero, m.93), Carlos Rodríguez (Andrés Montaño, m.81), José Paradela (Christian Ebere, m.81); Gabriel Fernández (Nicolás Ibáñez, m.73).
Coach: Nicolás Larcamón.
Goals: 0-1, minute 25: Erik Lira. 1-1, minute 35: Roberto de la Rosa. 2-1, 40th minute: Roberto de la Rosa. 2-2, 84th minute: Gonzalo Piovi. 2-3, 90th minute: Nicolás Ibáñez.
Referee: Drew Fischer, from Canada. He sent off Mele (80th minute) and cautioned Rodríguez, Mele, Reyes, Márquez and Piovi.
Incidents: First leg of the round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup between Rayados de Monterrey and Cruz Azul, held at BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, northern Mexico, in front of more than 28,000 fans.
With information from EFE
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