February 12 – Last week in Guatemala, a 1-1 draw gave both CF Monterrey and CSD Xelajú M.C. plenty to play for as they hunted a last 16 spot. Ultimately Xelajú didn’t have enough and went down 2-0.
A much-changed CF Monterrey XI had six new faces from the first leg as Domènec Torrent looked to play his strongest side. With Sergio Canales and the well-travelled Anthony Martial, supporting the big Serbian striker, Uroš Đurđević, the home team was soon on the front foot at the Estadio BBVA, forcing CSD Xelajú M.C. to drop deeper and deeper.
Head coach Roberto Hernández Ayala is a canny operator, though. The Goats have won seven Guatemalan titles, and Ayala knows Monterrey inside and out, having played more than 100 matches for Rayados. With away goals in effect, his team had to score, but that one goal could completely change the complexion of the tie.
A cagey first 30 minutes saw most of the play in the Monterrey attacking third, but Darío Silva was rarely troubled between the posts until a drop in intensity allowed Martial some space. Time seemed to stand still as the ball found its way to the far post. Arms were raised for offside, but Iker Fimbres was onside by a good yard and had the simplest of tasks with a tap-in.
For CSD Xelajú M.C., the equation hadn’t changed that dramatically. They’d still need to score to take the match to extra time, and Ayala’s tactics of sitting deep and waiting for the counter-attack opportunity didn’t change as the first half ticked away.
Monterrey kept applying pressure, and just before half-time, Đurđević tested Silva with a bending top bins effort that the Goats keeper pawed around the post at full stretch. Just a minute later, Carlos Salcedo fired a low, fizzing drive, but again Silva was up to the task, sending his side into the locker room only a goal down and still in the tie.
Torrent made one change to his team, replacing Salcedo with Alonso Aceves due to injury concerns, and without their regular centerback, CSD Xelajú M.C. decided to break out of their defensive shell and show more attacking intent, which created opportunities for Monterrey to counter.
In the 51st minute, Canales saw his shot blocked, and then just four minutes later, Martial hit the outside of the far post when it looked easier to find the corner side netting with the entire Goats backline all at sea.
Ten minutes later, the pair combined to again test Silva, without success.
Now, CSD Xelajú M.C. had to put their foot on the gas. And that left them open.
Luca Orellano missed. Martial had another chance saved from Silva. Đurđević experienced the same, and then Óliver Torres had to score but somehow contrived to miss the target. Martial had another chance. It should’ve been six. Would this wastefulness come back to haunt Rayados?
The answer would be no. In the 83rd minute, Canadian referee Pierre Luc Lauziere deemed a soft push in the back a penalty, and the second-half substitute, Lucas Ocampos, made no mistake to take the aggregate score beyond the reach of any Guatemalan dreams – Monterrey 2 Xelajú 0.
CF Monterrey will now face one of their biggest rivals in the round of sixteen, Cruz Azul. A tie that promises to be a blockbuster. For CSD Xelajú M.C., they’ll head back down south, more experienced and wiser. Their next venture into the Concacaf Champions League will surely be brighter, but this time around, the seasoned professionals from Monterrey proved a bridge too far.
Final Score: CF Monterrey 2 vs 0 CSD Xelajú M.C. – 3-1 on Aggregate.