August 25th, 2010 RSL vs Cruz Azul

RSL loses 5-4

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RSL close to making history, but a wild finish sees Cruz Azul rally

(realsaltlake.com 8-26-10)

Real Salt Lake came so very close to making history in Mexico City, but a late goal-scoring furry denied the MLSers as they fell to Cruz Azul, 5-4, in a wild Champions League match hindered by heavy rainfall and a waterlogged pitch.

Real Salt Lake had paced a 3-2 lead with just two minutes remaining on the clock. Had they held on to that tenuous advantage, they would have become the first MLS team to have won a meaningful game in Mexico.

However, as perpetual rain turned the field to a small lake, a series of slapstick routines resulted in an outrageous four-goal scoring flurry in the waning minutes that saw Javier Orozco finish the night with four goals and Christian Giménez tally a stoppage-time winner for the host Cementeros.

Cruz Azul jumped out in front early after Orozco received a pass off of a quick restart that found him in behind the defense, and he easily sidestepped Nick Rimando to score the goal.

Real Salt Lake leveled in the 23rd minute after a deflected ball found its way to Fabian Espindola's feet, and as he maneuvered in behind the defense he was fouled by defender Horacio Cervantes. Alvaro Saborio stepped up to convert the tying PK.

Saborío added his fourth goal of the tournament near the end of the first half as he picked off a back pass by Cervantes, who had not accounted for the pool of water between himself and the goalkeeper. The ball failed to travel the full distance back to his teammate, and Saborío pounced on the opportunity to give RSL a halftime lead.

The Mexican side came out in attack mode in the second half, intent on getting an equalizer. However, RSL capitalized with a counterattack when Saborío put pressure on a defender and picked his pocket. He then played a wonderful square ball that caught Espí,,ndola, who put the ball away with his left foot.

Cruz Azul narrowed the advantage in the 75th minute when Orozco scored his second of the match. He collected the ball off of a free kick with his back to the goal before turning and taking a shot that deflected off of the leg of an RSL defender. The deflection caught Rimando diving to his right as the ball headed toward his left and into the net.

In the 87th minute, Orozco scored his third of the match to bring it level, and then added a fourth in the 89th minute to give Cruz Azul the advantage.

However, Will Johnson appeared to earn RSL a point two minutes into stoppage time. The celebration was short-lived, though, as Cruz Azul took the re-start down into the RSL end and scored with a blast from the top of the area by Giménez.

Javier Orozco