By Brian Dunseth
Guest Analyst

BIO Brian Dunseth is a former professional player who serves as a play-by-play announcer and analyst on CONCACAF Champions League TV partner the Fox Soccer Channel in the United States. He played 171 games in eight years in Major League Soccer from 1997-2005 and was the captain of the U.S. Olympic team that finished fourth at the Sydney Games. ARCHIVE: 3/30/12 | 3/10/12 | 9/23/11 | 8/19/11 | 7/29/11 | 4/29/11 | 4/7/11 | 3/04/11 | 10/01/10 | 8/21/10 | 7/30/10

If patterns hold, Victor Manuel Vucetich and Co. are working their way to another CONCACAF Champions League title.

Just like earlier in the knockout rounds, Monterrey did their first-leg damage as expected on Wednesday in Estadio Tecnologico and now have a two-goal lead heading into next week's finale against Santos in Torreon.

But the 2-0 win for Monterrey hasn't come without some major controversy and cost. Humberto Suazo, the hero of Wednesday night's victory, picked up a fourth-minute caution that will rule him out the second leg due to yellow-card accumulation.

While some - including Suazo - questioned the yellow card, the call that had the digital world ablaze came in the 57th minute, when Suazo lunged to reach a through ball, missed and instead slid into Santos Laguna keeper Oswaldo Sanchez studs up. Mexican referee Francisco Chacon called Suazo for a foul, but elected not to issue a second yellow card of the game.

Chacon's decision to allow Suazo to stay on the field would come back to haunt the visitors as the Chilean international scored three minutes later - and again in the 86th minute -- to give Monterrey the margin of victory.

Not only did Santos Laguna walk out of the first leg without the an important road goal, but it will be forced to play the second leg without its most imposing defender, Felipe Baloy, due to yellow-card accumulation for his foul on Suazo in the 40th minute.

Monterrey's pattern in the quarterfinals and semifinals was to win the first leg, and then comfortably prevail in the second. It won both legs against Morelia, and then after beating Pumas at home, went to Mexico City to grind out a 1-1 draw.

There is good news for Santos Laguna coach Benjamin Galindo. Herculez Gomez and his strike partners have scored six goals at home in Estadio Nuevo Corona in both the quarters and semis (6-1 vs. Seattle and 6-2 vs. Toronto) and it get back the services of striker Oribe Peralta, who leads the team with eight goals in the Mexican Clausura, who missed Wednesday's match because of suspension.

Look for Monterrey to play the same possession/passing-orientated game that it employed at the start of Wednesday's match. But if Santos Laguna can get a goal within the first 30 minutes, things could get interesting quick as Santos is incredibly dangerous at home and is always willing to commit numbers forward in the middle and attacking third.