Nashville v Monterrey
Strong local ties, from their GM Mike Jacobs to the many past Red Bull players Nashville looks to get past their Mexican opponent to meet Messi and Company. Just one change from last game, due to card accumulation for Monterrey as Nashville features a pair of past RBNY players and just Godoy now in from last game with of course Mukhtar up front. Steve Cangialosi has called many a game for the Red Bulls as he will this one.
First corner at 3’, boxed away by the GK. Mukhtar unable to stretch enough to get to a ball across the 6 and send it goal ward. Great work in tight spaces by Nashville, lost as they are out of their defensive third it comes right back and a hard shot sends fans ducking just wide for the visitors. Godoy sends on down the line, it’s slid and tackled out by the defender, a deep throw in, for Dax over the top but too strong.
Lost again deep by the home team and a deep throw as it is defended by Zimmerman and we get a good look at Muyl of NYC. Looking to get it across but not able to and now it is a goal kick as the block of Lovitz hits the attacker. Monterrey is a big name out of Mexico and the crowd is just as loud for both teams a great atmosphere for all. Another lost chance for Monterrey, but these interceptions deep by the Mexican side will turn into a goal. Muyl lined up as he was looking the other way by an opponent, head on a swivel Alex. Another rush on goal by Monterrey. Great run by Nashville a back heeled pass and what a well taken curved goal by the MLS MVP, Muhktar. Backing up, drew the defender, created space then took his shot into the side netting. Did Muyl interfere with the GK, I say yes, he jumped at the ball. All Muyl has to be is judged to have impacted the play, I say yes he did, let’s see how the VAR rules. It must of course be a clear and obvious error to be called back, I am 100% with the call. In comes Picault at 16’ as Shaffelburg is off, Fafa is a 2nd generation at least player out of upstate NY and a tremendous singer. Fafa on his horse, yes he is nicknamed gazelle,beats a pair, gives to Muhktar despite some contact in the area a good non call by the ref and Monterrey has it. The replay shows little to no contact in the 18. Picault from Mukhtar sends in a curling shot, it is blocked. The GK, looking for an assist, his pass goes into the area, played across and another go on goal for Monterrey as the GK steers it wide for a corner. It is partially cleared and Monterrey has it now in their defensive third. Moore does well to play it out of touch under pressure for a throw. Muhktar snags a back pass and gets fouled from 25 yards is it a shot or a pass into the area? Into the 6 it goes, McNaughton and Muyl can’t get to it as Alex is not able to steer it on goal as he pushes it wide, far post. McCarty puts it over the endline for another corner as he clears it out of the danger of the penalty area. Played short, winds up in the area, Zimmerman clears and it goes to half field with Monterrey now to their side of the field, they have been playing it back then sprinting forward with numbers. A long ball to 18 yards out does that, they pull it back out a bit then in and the GK off his line but it’s lost, another curling ball in the area this time by Monterrey and the ball is headed out. A hard foul was called as play on the ball was so deep, right call. Monterrey holds it and winds up putting one off the cross bar. Crowd loud for a handball in the area by Nashville, no call and Monterrey holds possession. A lead ball misses its mark for Monterrey. Fafa choses his speed and tries to maneuver around a player but gets fouled. Just below the center circle, Muhktar is over the ball, Lovittz lofts this one into the area and the welcome arms of the GK. Another attack by Monterrey thwarted. Nashville is defending once at their defensive third, too deep as one beaten player and they are in on goal. Monterrey when stopped have no issue giving up lierally half the field to reset, a great time to pressure for Nashville. Mukhtar from McCarty gets deep and its played out with 5 yards of the endline another corner. Lovitz will send it in. GK boxes it clear, gets to Fafa who lets it rip from 20+yards. Bumberry chasing the ball pulls up short and caches the GK a bit no foul. Moore for Mukhtar who heads it well but at 4’ and the near post a great effort turned away by the GK what a bang bang play, the rebound sent in by Picault does no harm. The GK comes out for a ball intended for Alex it goes to the next goalkeeper he also is well off his line and back to Muyl who goes to Fafa then Dax and Moore on the wing, sends it in but easily cleared out for a Nashville throw in. Zimmerman heads it on low and hard a bit too much for Mukhtar to get on the end of it. Already 43’ in what a fast moving half. Moore back and forth with McCarty. Burnburry gets on the end of a long ball and a big delay on the offside call. McCarty beaten the ball played in is cleared, Fafa cautioned as the Monterrey player is face down still, his left hand goes up as does the opponents arm, but Fafa gets him in the face. There will be 3’ of extra time. Nashville gets it out to half field but back in and a half chance by Monterrey goes well wide. Zimmerman out legs the forward and sends it long to the goal, half time.
A long ball takes a poor bounce off the skull of Muyl but is played out for a corner it finds Dax who sends it off frame. Medina keeps a long ball on the field for Monterrey at the end line they hold it back to half field and get forward again. The shot, deflected leads to a corner for Monterrey. Headed out and over the end line for another corner, It falls to the feet of Rojas at the top of the area his shot, just wide but a good idea. Zimmerman steals a pass, it’s played into the 6 and partially cleared but gets to Moore. It is left for Fafa in the area he skies it off Muhktar, struck it right, on the way down but his foot rose well to high. The throw in stolen by Fafa played into the area and he wins a corner. Lovitz to take it, far post to Mukhtar who puts it on goal but punched out to Dax, his shot is grabbed by the GK who starts a fast break slowed as they were outnumbered. Medina plays it in, headed out towards midfield. Players collide in the area, both players go down in a heep, Medina was kicked but player was going for the ball, he jumped in front of the Nashville player who kicked him. It is going to VAR, could this be a PK?, no. A pass off target and too strong does not get near Mukhtar. A block at the edge of the area leads to a throw for the Mexicans. Medina puts one in, gets turned away but Monterrey recovers it, they move the ball around. A ball played in first time dropped back, first time shot what a piece of skill by Monterrey, blocked and cleared. A trio of players choose not to shoot the player who does for Monterrey is high and wide with his offing. Fafa back and again blocks a shot and advances the ball. Moore brings it up his wing, end line facing the defender looks to center it wins a corner. Mukhtar sends it in, out for a throw and again Mukhtar gets it in on goal. Surridge from Mukhtar puts the home team up at 67’ . A header won off the GK gets to Mukhtar and he just lays it off for a first time shot. This half an hour earlier than a recent goal of his facing Club America. The 20’ left is plenty of time for Monterrey to equalize, they open this by going from distance with a blast high and wide. Yellow issued as the Nashville player is taken down while racing forward, pulled down by his arm. McCarty not successful on his slide tackle and Monterrey has numbers going forward, Zimmerman saves the day. Mesa from say 25 slows loses an angle passes and it is now well outside the goal, now on the edge of the area, blocked shot by Moore. Moore tries to finesse one in, nope, then just played in goes in the goal but offside. Sean Davis another ex RBNY player awaits entering the game. Another long distance effort wide by Monterrey, let them keep shooting from here it is more difficult and they have not been on frame, McCarty out for him, both past captains Of NYRB, also off comes Muyl for Maher. Moore blocks a shot over at 80’ for a corner. Headed well off frame. More from Mukhtar sends it for Fafa headed out by the defense for a corner, that had to hurt. 83’ a wide weak shot by Monterrey. Fafa with a block at the top of the 18 leads to a corner at 85’. Romo with an off balance and target first time shot is out for a corner. What a save on a first time blast at 86’ the corner, half cleared but it was right at the GK. Another corner cleared but back to Monterrey, off them for a throw by Moore. A yellow as Mukhtar is dropped and his legs are kicked out from under him. 2:30 left in regulation, far from over. Another attack broken up leads to a corner by Nashville again Moore with it plays across to Lovitz, offside on his ball in. Corner again as the GK steers one over the end line for Nashville. Another shot, just wide of the Nashville goal is a corner as it was deflected, 6’ stoppage time. Fafa finds Mukhtar and his shot is blocked. Lopez puts one in the area headed wide. These last 3’ are sure to be frantic. DFK as Mukhtar moved on goal it’s from 20 yards to the goal, I expect it to be on goal as it is not a bad angle. Mukhtar will take it, he taps to Surridge, gets tripped but the throw in is given to Monterrey. Fafa attacks the goal and roofs it with 10 seconds left in extra time, wow, what a finish. A better person could not have put away that last goal.
An all MLS final, possibly a trio of teams going to the CCC. Does this mean that YES, MLS is better than Liga MX, hardly, all away games, hotel stays so much travel, different food, time zones, etc.