TOYOTA, JAPAN - DECEMBER 14: Jesus Zavala of Monterrey celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 5th Place match between Club de Futbol Monterrey and Esperance Sportive de Tunis at Toyota Stadium on December 14, 2011 in Toyota, Japan. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
Club America is in a big hole after they failed to win and had Paul Aguilar sent off in their Liguilla match against Monterrey on Wednesday.
Monterrey are heading home to the Estadio Tecnologico as heavy favorites to advance in Liguilla. Not only did they snatch a draw away to Club America on Wednesday night, but they also watched Paul Aguilar get sent off in the dying minutes of the match. America is not deep at fullback, and will seriously miss Aguilar in the second leg. As the higher seed, Monterrey have the tiebreaker and will feel like they're ahead after pulling off a 0-0 draw at the Azteca.
Victor Manuel Vucetich selected his normal 4-4-2 team with Aldo de Nigris, Humberto Suazo and two attacking wingers, but they played a slightly more defensive game than they're likely to play at home. America created plenty of chances, but Monterrey goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco was spectacular on the night, making eight saves.
America's two best chances to score came in first half stoppage time, less than a minute apart. After Jose Basanta committed a foul, giving America a free kick from 30 yards out, Jose Cardenas stepped up and hit a great shot towards the top corner, but Orozco made a brilliant save. A minute later, Cristian Benitez chipped Orozco and nearly scored, but Severo Meza got back quickly to clear the ball off the line. America would never come as close as they did with those two chances at any point in the second half.
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