The New York Red Bulls have it all to do in Mexico following a disappointing 2-0 loss to Santos Laguna on Tuesday night in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals.
Diego Valdes finished off Julio Furch's feed three minutes before halftime, who had been on the back foot for much of the game before taking the lead.
Furch added a goal shortly after the break for Santos, coming off Javier Correa's pefectly weighted one-touch redirection of Brian Lozano's pass from the right.
The Red Bulls outshot Santos 14-10, led 5-4 in shots on target and took all seven of the match's corners, but were shut out at home for a second consecutive CCL game at home against a Liga MX opponent. Chivas drew the Red Bulls 0-0 in the second leg of last year's semifinals en route to winning the tournament.
The result means the Red Bulls must win either 2-0 next week in Mexico to force penalties, or by three or more goals to advance outright to get back to the semifinal stage.
Goals
Three Things
THE BIG PICTURE:
Regardless of what happens in the return leg, the Red Bulls will have to make sure the effects of this night don't linger into MLS play. Before Tuesday, New York had made Red Bull Arena an absolute fortress.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH:
Furch and Valdez had the goals, but it will be Correa's exceptional, improvisational service that lives on from this match.
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Santos goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco had five saves was exceptional on multiple occasions, including this first-half foot save on
Daniel Royer
and later a 90th-minute denial of
Bradley Wright-Phillips
.
Up Next
RBNY: Tuesday, March 12 at Santos Laguna, Leg 2, Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals (9 pm ET | UDN, YahooSports.com)
