Soccer
Wonder goals send Monterrey through
CF Monterrey goals: Deossa (30), Berterame (34, 90+7), Corona (39)
CF Monterrey scored three goals in nine minutes, two of them spectacular, to beat Urawa Red Diamonds and set up a last-16 meeting with Borussia Dortmund in Atlanta.
The Mexican side fired the first warning shot three minutes into the match when Alfonso Alvarado headed a looping cross off the crossbar. For the next 25 minutes the match was fairly even. Both sides had half-chances, but neither could capitalize.
In the 30th minute, however, the match burst into life in stunning style. Nelson Deossa took the ball from just inside the attacking half and lashed a 30-metre blast beyond Shusaku Nishikawa; the ball knuckling and dipping, deceiving the keeper.
Urawa Reds were caught napping again after a cooling break that followed that opening goal. Rayados doubled their lead as German Berterame coolly side-footed the ball into the far corner after being slipped into the box by Jesus Corona.
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Moments later, Monterrey moved out sight. Running with the ball roughly 25 metres from goal, Jesus Corona unleashed a right-footed screamer that once again left the Urawa Reds keeper helpless.
The second half began as the first ended. Rayados broke from their own half and had a four against one opportunity, but this time the Mexican's squandered their chance.
As the game wore on, it became evident there would be no comeback. In the dying moments, Berterame netted his second, Monterrey's fourth.
None of this stopped the Japanese fans from singing and bouncing throughout the 90 minutes.
Quotes
“Today our target was to play more offensive and I think we created our chances but unfortunately we conceded the first goal from distance and that was the deciding moment. After that immediately we conceded the second goal and then it was very difficult.”
Maciej Skorza, Urawa Reds head coach
“We knew that they would put pressure on us from the front. We tried to use that opportunity to create space and chances and didn’t start badly but after the first goal things fell apart from there and we couldn’t find a way back.”
Takahiro Sekine, Urawa Reds defender
Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match
German Berterame (CF Monterrey)
N/A
