Morales' late goal earns RSL draw, edge over Monterrey after first leg of CCL final

When Real Salt Lake hosts the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final next week, it will do so sitting in the driver's seat.

Javier Morales scored an equalizer in the 89th minute to give RSL a 2-2 draw with Monterrey in the first leg of their final matchup in Mexico. Salt Lake's two away goals gives the Major League Soccer side the edge heading into the home leg of the final.

RSL twice battled back from one-goal deficits to earn its result. Nat Borchers answered Aldo De Nigris' 17th-minute opener with a 34th-minute header off a Will Johnson cross. Monterrey retook the lead in the 62nd minute, when Humberto Suazo converted a penalty kick after Jamison Olave's handball in the box.

Morales evened the score after receiving a pass from the right from substitute Arturo Alvarez. His first touch took him into the box, where he calmly juked a defender to create space and fired into the far netting to stun the hosts.

Monterrey manager Victor Manuel Vucetich made a questionable double-substitution in the 20th minute, taking De Nigris and captain Luis Perez off simultaneously. While De Nigris received a yellow card for taking off his shirt celebrating his goal, it was unclear if both were moves were injury-related.

The move seemed to halt Monterrey's momentum and give Salt Lake an opportunity to strike, which it did through Borchers' header.

Monterrey controlled the second half, sending wave after wave of attack at the RSL defense. Goalkeeper Nick Rimando came up huge to impede Suazo on a close-range attempt just moments before Morales' goal. The Chilean striker had beaten the back line to a long ball over the top and was onside about 10 yards from goal when Rimando ran at him and leaped with his arms extended to cut off his shooting lane and force the shot out wide.

Instead of trailing 3-1, RSL equalized through Morales, and now holds the advantage through the away goals. RSL will be without captain Kyle Beckerman for the second leg at Rio Tinto Stadium, though, as he picked up a yellow card that will suspend him for the match.

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What did you think of the first leg? Impressed at RSL's ability to come back twice? Still wondering about the double substitution? Think RSL will be able to win without Beckerman? Who do you see winning the CCL title?

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