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It was billed as an “International Friendly” but the game at Rio Tinto Stadium tonight seemed to be anything but. For a game that had absolutely nothing on the line but pride for either club, the intensity was at playoff level.

A first half that produces the following can hardly be called “friendly”:

  1 goal

  5 yellow cards

  1 rugby punt high into the stands by the Mexican goalkeeper

  2 red cards

  1 halftime fight in the tunnel

RSL came out strong, applying high pressure on the ball for the first 25 minutes and just flat outplayed Chivas. I was most impressed with the play from RSL’s strikers, Jura Movsisian and Fabian Espindola who tracked back for a number of balls in the midfield and would eventually combine for the opening goal.

Christopher Sullivan described it perfectly as Movsisian “hunted down” the Chivas defender near the top of the 18-yard box and the ball fell to Espindola who immediately went on the attack. A quick move to the left across the top of the box and an even quicker shot low to the far post sliced into the back of the net. A hitman’s steal and an assassin’s finish had put the home team ahead early.

Fabian Espindola Goal Highlight Video

Full Game Highlight Video

The goal only served to ratchet-up the intensity level and things would just get chippy. Three yellow cards for Chivas de Guadalajara vs Real Salt Lake’s two saw the Goats struggling to match the physical play of RSL.

The ref seemed to be losing control early. And, predictably, he would over-compensate near the end of the half.

After a tussle for the ball near the middle of the field, he would issue dueling red cards to Olave (RSL) and Solis (Chivas) in the 45 minute. It wasn’t enough to cool tempers in the tunnel though and there would be big changes by both managers to start the 2nd half.

But cooler heads would prevail and both teams would come back with completely different looks. RSL would change 7 players while Chivas changed 5 but looked decidedly more experienced.

CD Guadalajara would break through early after the restart to level things up. They would finally find continuity through the midfield with the substitutes and find a seam in the RSL’s defense to score on a slick 1-2 move and Omar Esparza would beat the RSL keeper at the near post.

Both teams would have their chances before the end of the game, including an open net for Robbie Findley and a beautiful header off a set piece for Chivas near the end of the game but neither would capitalize.

The game would end shortly after the 90th minute in a 1-1 draw.  But for 2 teams that have never played each other before, I can’t wait to see the next grudge match!

Category: Major League Soccer, american soccer | Tags: chivas de guadalajara, international soccer friendly, real salt lake