(by James Edwards desnews.com 10-19-10)
Under coach Jason Kreis, Real Salt Lake is a goals-driven team.
One of their objectives this summer was to become the first MLS team to win a CONCACAF Champions League match in Mexico. It came close, but instead coughed up four goals in the final 20 minutes of a monsoon to lose a heart-breaker to Cruz Azul.
It more than made up for it Tuesday night at Rio Tinto Stadium, and in the process checked another first of its list.
In the final group game of the Champions League for both teams, RSL picked up an emphatic 3-1 victory in front of stadium record 20,463 fans to win Group A with 13 points. It is the first MLS team to finish atop a CCL group.
"It's kind of nice to get a little payback," said Rauwshan McKenzie. "They're coming here thinking they're going to put one on us, but we just held our ground and showed them what home field advantage is."
Getting the job done with a make-shift line-up that included Will Johnson starting on defense and teenager Luis Gil starting as well — against Cruz Azul's first-choice line-up — speaks volumes about how confident Real Salt Lake is at home. The victory ran the club's unbeaten streak at home to 32 straight in all competitions.
"Winning the group the way that we did with our second team, against their absolutely first team in our stadium in front of a pretty hostile crowd says a lot about the guys we have on this team," said Johnson. "It was a lot of fun to be a part of. It was a huge accomplishment."
Real Salt Lake will now turn its attention back to MLS play this weekend as it tries to win the MLS Supporter's Shield.
RSL had already secured passage into the Champions League quarterfinals regardless of Tuesday's result, so Kreis had the luxury of resting most of his regulars for this weekend's game in Colorado.
Not surprisingly, Cruz Azul took advantage by dominating possession early.
"A lot of the first half we were a little bit tentative again. I thought there were more opportunities for us to play and possess and we were doing quite a good enough job," said Kreis.
With an estimated 50-50 split in the stadium between RSL supporters and Cruz Azul supporters, nerves were to be expected from RSL's youngsters.
One player who didn't demonstrate those nerves was Paulo Junior. In his first start for Real Salt Lake he scored twice, including the all-important first goal late in the first half.
His second goal doubled RSL's lead in the 67th minute, and rookie Collen Warner increased the lead to 3-0 four minutes later.
Against any other team a three-goal lead is safe, but not necessarily at Cruz Azul.
The visitors pulled a goal back on a wonderful finish by Cesar Villaluz in the 71st minute, and RSL keeper Kyle Reynish came up with a huge save in the 83rd minute to keep the score line at 3-1.
"I just can't say enough about the contributions of the players that came in, and they have for the past six weeks," said Kreis.
Pablo Campos had a great opportunity to put RSL in front in the 32nd minute, but his penalty kick was saved by Cruz Azul keeper Yosgart Gutierrez. Campos was fouled in the box by Adrian Cortes following a great piece of individual skill as he beat three defenders.
Even though the experience of Johnson and Andy Williams made them more logical choices to take the PK, Campos insisted on taking it but he was denied.
With the visitors dominating possession, it could've been a disastrous miss.
Fortunately for Campos, Paulo Junior came to the rescue in the waning minutes of the second half as the speedy striker split a pair of Cruz Azul defenders and chipped the ball over the keeper.
Both RSL and Cruz Azul advance to the two-leg quarterfinals of the Champions League on Feb. 22-24 and then March 1-3. RSL will open on the road and then host the second leg against a yet-to-be determined team.
"It's a step in the right direction. We won't stop here. We need to make strides to get further in the tournament come spring," said Kreis.
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