MIAMI, Florida – With the new year under way, thoughts in the Concacaf region have turned to the first tournaments of the calendar year, including the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup scheduled to kick off on February 6.
It marks the dawn of a new era in Concacaf, with an expanded 27-team format, however there is still plenty of familiarity, including in some of the pairings in Round One. One of those is the match-up between Liga MX side Monterrey and Guatemalan giants Comunicaciones.
The two teams met in the group stage of the 2011-12 edition, which consisted of four teams in each group. Monterrey entered the competition as the defending champions after winning their first Champions Cup title in 2010-11.
But Rayados entered their first contest with Comunicaciones on matchday three on September 14, 2011, coming off a stunning 1-0 home defeat against the Seattle Sounders. Meanwhile, the Guatemalans had confidently taken down Costa Rican side Herediano 2-0 in their previous outing.
It was a spirited, open affair in Guatemala City between the two former Concacaf champions, with chances coming fast and furious. Just when it looked like the first half would end scoreless, Transito Montepeque of Comunicaciones whipped in a cross that met the charging Carlos Ramirez, who steered a shot into goal for a 1-0 Comunicaciones lead.
The second half was just as dramatic, with Monterrey star strikers and proven Champions Cup goalscorers Humberto Suazo and Aldo De Nigris entering the match in the second half in search of an equalizer, only to see the Comunicaciones defense hold firm to nail down the dramatic 1-0 victory.
Six days later on September 20, the two sides were reacquainted, this time in Monterrey with Rayados looking to return the favor and get back on track.
Monterrey came out strong, and after a couple missed chances, they landed the first blow in the 32nd minute on an excellent chest trap and right-footed finish from Sergio Santana. The home side doubled the margin to 2-0 in the 68th minute when Luis Perez converted from the penalty spot after Suazo had been fouled in the Comunicaciones area.
Comunicaciones showed plenty of fight, though, and suddenly the scoreline read 2-1 in the 82nd minute after a powerful strike from Carlos Mejia. Monterrey never blinked and sealed the three points on a right-footed volley from Suazo in the 86th minute to complete the 3-1 scoreline.
It was the start of a six-match winning streak and eight-match unbeaten run that ultimately propelled Monterrey to their second Champions Cup crown.
