The soccer news starts with the New York Red Bulls and the Houston Dynamo exiting the 2019 Concacaf Champions League at the quarterfinal stage. There would be no remarkable comebacks for either of the MLS teams against Liga MX opponents, though the Red Bulls started strong at Santos Laguna.
New York trailed 2-0 going into the deciding leg at Estadio Corona, scoring two pqucik goals to make the series look competitive. Santos responded with a 4-2 second-leg win to take the series 6-2 on aggregate. Omir Fernandez opened the scoring for New York in the 4th minute with Daniel Royer doubling the lead in the 9th. Santos Laguna left it late, with Jose Abella scoring in the 72nd and Brian Lozano adding goals in the 76th and 81st minutes. Diego Contreras finished off the Santos goals in the 79th minute.
“It’s a tale of two halves,” Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles said. “We got a bright start and two early goals. We were really in the driver’s seat not only in the first-half but even as they put a lot of pressure on us in the second-half. We seemed to absorb it pretty comfortably. Even though you could feel the energy in the stadium rising, we still felt good. Then you look at the first goal and it’s a broken play and all of a sudden it changes.”
Revive el golazo de Brian Lozano en el resumen de la victoria de @ClubSantos a @NewYorkRedBulls #SCCL2019 #SANvNYR pic.twitter.com/uYuDtUA1ba
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) March 13, 2019
Houston exited the Champions League with a 1-0 loss at Tigres, 3-0 on aggregate. Carlos Salcedo scored the game’s only goal in the 68th minute with Nahuel Guzman making one save to keep the clean sheet.
Por si no lo viste, aquí te dejamos lo mejor del partido: @TigresOficial 1-0 @HoustonDynamo #SCCL2019 #TIGvHOU pic.twitter.com/XmO9FYLyj3
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) March 13, 2019
In the UEFA Champions League, Weston McKennie subbed out in the 73rd minute for Schalke’s 7-0 loss at Manchester City exiting the round of 16 10-2 on aggregate. Manchester City converted a 35th minute penalty to open the scoring, taking a 3-0 halftime lead on the night.
“We are extremely disappointed about the match and the scoreline,” Schalke coach Domenico Tedesco said. “Only one team enjoyed tonight’s game. We did alright in the first half an hour. Our plan was to not allow them any space and chances early on and then attack them in the second half. We then conceded a penalty, which didn’t have to be given. After that we just collapsed. Tonight I experienced the biggest capitulation as a coach. We made mistakes that you can’t afford to make against Man City.”
Matt Miazga’s Reading lost 3-0 at home to Leeds in the Championship. Antonee Robinson’s Wigan Athletic lost 3-0 at Blackburn Rovers.Lynden Gooch subbed out in the 74th minute for Sunderland’s 0-0 draw at Barnsley in League One. In the Copa MX, Rubio Rubin’s Dorados lost 3-0 at UNAM Pumas.
The NY Times’ Rory Smith on Juventus coming back at home against Atletico Madrid. The Independent’s Jack Pitt-Brooke with Atletico Madrid having no answers for how to deal with Cristiano Ronaldo. Give Me Sport’s Graham Ruthven asks about the situation with Arsenal under Unai Emery. Soccer America’s Paul Gardner questions promoting passion in pro soccer.
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