|
Game stats: 
GUATEMALA CITY - Humberto Suazo scored his third goal in two games and gave Monterrey a 1-0 victory over Municipal on Wednesday that put the defending champion significantly closer to a quarterfinal berth in the CONCACAF Champions League.
The result moved Monterrey alone atop Group 7 with six points at the midpoint of the Group Stage, three points ahead of Municipal which must travel to Mexico on September 25. Chorrillo of Panama was pushed to the brink of elimination with zero points from two games as the Group Stage reached its midpoint.
Suazo, who had both goals in Sunday's 2-1 victory over Chivas de Guadalajara in the Mexican league, converted in the 80th minute after Municipal goalkeeper Jaime Penedo blocked his the Chilean striker's first shot. But the rebound came back to Suazo, who finished easily past the sprawled keeper.
Drenching rain and a handful of reaction saves from both Penedo and Monterrey counterpart Jonathan Orozco kept the game goalless until near the end.
Penedo was the most active, but Orozco also blocked a shot by Mario Rodriguez with his face.
Day-long rain intensified about an hour before kickoff, leaving standing water in several areas of the natural turf surface at Estadio Mateo Flores, and continued throughout the match. It resulted in unsure footing and some uneasy moments for defenders, who occasionally saw their back passes skid to a stop or be intercepted.
Monterrey had more possession and chances, most of which were from distance that Penedo punched away. Suazo forced a punch from a free kick in the 16th, Edgar Solis had a drive from distance that was tipped over in the 22nd and Angel Reyna saw his shot tipped wide in the 55th.
Similarly, Orozco had to dive toknock away a left-footed effort from distance in the 33rd by Leando Barrios, who 15 minutes earlier was just high and wide from 30 meters.
Second-half substitute Rodriguez had Municipal's best chance in the second half, finding himself alone on the right side of the area and sending a hard shot that Orozco blocked with his face. The blast left the Monterrey keeper dazed for a couple of minutes before continuing.
The result ended Municipal's two-game winning streak and eight-match unbeaten string at home in the Champions League, while leaving Monterrey with only one loss in its last 11 games in the competition.
