SANDY, Utah (Wednesday, July 26, 2023) – Real Salt Lake were held scoreless in its second match of the 2023 Leagues Cup, suffering a 3-0 loss to Liga MX giants, CF Monterrey.
Real Salt Lake will now need CF Monterrey (Liga MX) to win, draw, or not lose by three goals against Seattle Sounders on Sunday, July 30 in order to advance to the Round of 32.
Despite the Claret-and-Cobalt maintaining almost all of the possession in the early moments it was the visiting side who struck first in the eighth minute. Capturing the ball in transition, Monterrey drove upfield, sending a cross in towards the penalty box, but a deflection off defender **Justen Glad** redirected the ball into the back of the net.
Monterrey doubled its lead in the 13th minute after a controversial call gave the Mexican side a free kick. From the set piece, Erick Aguirre received the ball on the right wing, chipping the ball towards German Berterame who placed his shot into the far post. Throughout the remainder of the first half Real Salt Lake sought to crawl its way back into the match, but was unable to put one into the back of the net, entering the halftime break down 2-0.
Real Salt Lake continued to struggle in the second half to find any real chances at goal with Monterrey’s defense frustrating RSL’s attack and shutting down any advances inside the final third. RSL nearly found a goal in the 60th minute when **Jefferson Savarino** found an open **Chicho Arango**, but the forward's stretched shot skimmed over the net. Arango nearly found the goal again in the 70th minute, but his header smacked against the crossbar.
Monterrey netted its third of the match in the 74th minute when a chip over the backline was toe-touched by Berterame into the back of the net. The goal all but secured the win for the Mexican side, giving Monterrey the 3-0 victory.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake will have to wait until Sunday to determine if there will be a next match for the Claret-and-Cobalt in the League Cup. With a CF Monterrey win, draw, or loss by three goals or less over Seattle Sounders on Sunday, July 30 RSL will qualify for the Round of 32 which will take place during the August 2-4 window.
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
MTY: Justen Glad (Own Goal): A cross sent in towards the penalty box deflected off the leg of Glad and into the back of the net.
MTY German Berterame (Erick Aguirre) 13th minute: Aguirre hit a short pass to Berterame who placed a low shot into the far post.
MTY: German Berterame (Maximiliano Meza) 74th minute: From a free kick position Meza chipped a ball over RSL’s backline where Berterame was able to get a toe on the ball and redirect it past the ‘keeper.
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): Gavin Beavers; Bode Hidalgo, Justen Glad, Brayan Vera, Bryan Oviedo; Jefferson Savarino, Braian Ojeda (Nelson Palacio 80’), Pablo Ruiz, Deigo Luna (Andres Gomez 68’); Rubio Rubin (Anderson Julio 58’); Chicho Arango (Danny Musovski 80’)
Subs not used: Zac MacMath, Tomas Gomez, Scott Caldwell, Ilijah Paul, Delentz Pierre, Jasper Löffelsend, Emeka Eneli
CF Monterrey (4-2-2): Esteban Andrada; Erick Aguirre, John Medina, Hector Moreno, Sebastian Vegas (Jesus Gallardo 78’); Maximiliano Meza (Victor Lopez 78’), Jonathan Gonzalez, Omar Govea (Luis Romo 67’), Joao Rojas (Jordi Cortizo 67’); Rodrigo Aguirre (Rogelio Funes 25’), German Berterame
Subs not used: Luis Cardenas, Cesar Ramos, Victor Guzman, Edson Gutierrez, Daniel Parra, Kevin Ortega, Ali Avila
Stats Summary: RSL / MTY
Shots: 15 / 8
Shots on Goal: 3 / 5
Saves: 3 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 5
Fouls: 13 / 10
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
MTY: Omar Govea (caution) 33’
RSL: Braian Ojeda (caution) 66’
MTY: Luis Romo (caution) 87’
