This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Mexico City • Real Salt Lake was on the cusp of history, leading Cruz Azul 3-1 in the 75th minute as part of its bid to be the first American team to beat a Mexican club team on the road in CONCACAF play.
But in an improbable conclusion, the teams combined for five goals in the final portion of a game that came down to the very last minute. At the end, RSL took a 5-4 loss in a rain-soaked match in Mexico City.
Cruz Azul forward Javier Antonio Orozco Peñuelas came through with a superb four-goal effort, including scores in the 88th and 89th minutes to take a 4-3 lead, stunning the defending MLS champions.
RSL found a reason for hope when forward Will Johnson tied the match with only about two minutes remaining. But Christian Giménez played the spoiler for Cruz Azul, winning a one-on-one with RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando in the final minute.
Cruz Azul's offensive explosion extended the legacy of Mexican dominance, and RSL's collapse extended American teams' futile record to 0-43-3.
"It's gravely disappointing," RSL coach Jason Kreis said of his team's lackluster defensive effort. "I feel we have a very mature team that doesn't typically make mistakes like that."
Forward Alvaro Saborio was a force for RSL, responding to a early Cruz Azul score by scoring on a penalty kick and a picked-off pass to give RSL a 2-1 lead in the first half.
When Saborio found Fabian Espindola for another score, it seemed like a rout. But from then on, Peñuelas dominated a porous RSL defense.
The loss leaves RSL tied with the other three teams in Group A of the CONCACAF Champions League at 1-1.
RSL is back in action Saturday at Toronto FC in an MLS contest.