Javier Morales scored in the 89th minute from a hard right-footed shot to rally the team for the draw. Monterrey forged ahead in the 18th minute on a goal by Aldo De Nigris, but Nat Borchers headed in a Will Johnson cross to tie the game for RSL in the 35th minute.
In the 63rd minute, Jamison Olave, who was exceptional in the RSL defense all night, was whistled for a hand ball in the penalty area and Humberto Suazo made no mistake in helping Monterrey to regain the lead – until the 89th minute. Monterrey has never won the Champions League and is hoping to preserve a sixth Championship win in the tournament by a Mexican team.
Henry’s Double
Thierry Henry scored his first MLS double to carry the Red Bulls (3-1-2, 11 pts.) to a 4-0 win over hosts D.C. United for its second straight win and third on the season. The win also put the Red Bulls atop the Eastern Conference for the first time this season.
Henry started the ball rolling in this Thursday night encounter at RFK Stadium in the 12th minute when he headed in a cross from overlapping right side defender Jan Gunnar Solli.
In the 38th minute, D.C. United defenders failed to clear a cross from Jamaican international Dane Richards and Henry latched onto a loose ball on the 18-yard line and registered his second goal on the night. The Red Bulls never looked back as midfielder Joel Lindpere and forward Juan Agudelo scored second half goals to seal the victory.
Both second half goals were excellent, although Agudelo has a good chance of winning the goal of the week. Lindpere dribbled down the left side and cut in to unleashed a hard shot that beat D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid to his left; then came Agudelo’s spectacular effort as he received a cross from Solli, falling away from the ball with a defender on his back, the forward stretched to chip the ball in to the air and slammed a spectacular volley past Hamid; Agudelo came off the bench late in the game for Luke Rodgers. Bouna Coundoul recorded his second shutout of the season. The Red Bulls play Sporting Kansas City at home on Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Galaxy Wins Big
Landon Donovan also scored his first MLS double of the season as hosts Los Angeles Galaxy (4-1-3, 15 pts.) defeated the Portland Timbers (2-3-1, 7 pts.), 3-0, on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. Donovan, coming off an injured knee that kept out of the past three games, scored his first goal in the eighth minute when he was fouled in the penalty area by Portland’s Rodney Wallace; Chad Barrett scored in the fourth minute from a Donovan pass and Donovan rounded out the scoring before being replaced in the 67th minute.
“The guys did a good job getting me involved early,’’ Donovan said. “And then when you score early, it helps everyone’s confidence. It all played out very well tonight.’’
“We lost the game probably in the first 10 minutes,’’ Timbers coach John Spencer said. “I’m obviously disappointed we conceded two quick goals in succession. That’s something that
In other MLS games last weekend, Seattle Sounders FC won and lost. The Sounders defeated defending champion and hosts Colorado Rapids, 1-0 but lost winger Steve Zakuani, who suffered a broken leg from a vicious tackle from Brian Mullan with only three minutes gone in the game. Zakuani had surgery to repair a fractured right tibia and fibula. Zakuani scored 10 goals in 2010 to tie for the team lead.
FC Dallas also suffered a setback despite a win; last year’s MLS finalist Dallas beat hosts Vancouver Whitecaps, 2-1, but lost MLS 2010 MVP David Ferreira to a double fracture in his right ankle. The forward was injured in a hard tackle by Whitecaps defender Jonny Leathers. Ferreira scored eight goals and 13 assists last season and now has a team-leading three goals and an assist.
AP Photo/Miguel Tovar
