Last night’s game made me wish I had stocked up on wine, or even tequila. Yes, that’s how nervous and emotional I was over LA Galaxy playing Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champion’s League. For the whole week before this game every soccer analyst had to bring up that NO MLS team except Seattle had ever won in Monterrey. This didn’t help my nerves at all. It also didn’t help that LA was down 2-1 on aggregate. Yeah, now you see why I needed some wine…
This game was much like the first leg. LA had chances, but didn’t finish and Monterrey rallied late in order to pull off the win. Bruce Arena made two changes to the lineup; first being the absence of Mike Magee. It was stated that he was out of the starting XI because of muscle soreness. There was also the addition of Landon Donovan to the starting XI. This was his first start since the MLS Cup back in December, and it proved that he was definitely back to his old ways. In the pregame show it was stated over and over that LA didn’t have to score quick, they just needed to score first in order to keep up their momentum. Unfortunately LA just couldn’t do it.
In the opening 45 both teams started off with a slow and steady pace. LA had the most opportunities, with eight corner kicks compared to Monterrey’s one. Robbie Keane had a moment where he almost turned into Hulk because he was so mad at the referee for not calling fouls. It was a sight to behold seeing him gesture like he was going crazy. With that being said, both teams went into the locker room even at 0-0.
Second half LA looked to be in control, but *surprise* they really weren’t. It was closing in on the 70th minute, and at this point I was trying to channel Bruce and tell him to put EVERYONE up front, with the exception of Omar and AJ. What was there to lose? LA was down on aggregate 2-1, and they only had twenty minutes left to take it or leave it! And thus, LA decided to leave it… in the 81st minute De Nigris took it home for Monterrey. It was just one of those plays that you knew was coming, and there was no way to stop it. As the final whistle blew LA was knocked out of CCL play, and Monterrey would advance.
In my opinion, it was all about finishing once again for LA. They just could not do it. I don’t know if they all have this microchip in their head that tells them not to finish, or what it is. But LA’s worst enemy this season has been the almighty finishing. LA played really well; they stuck with Monterrey for the majority of the 90 minutes but the finishing killed them.
LA’s next game will be Saturday, April 12 against FC Dallas
