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Backup Keeper Saves 2 PKs, Converts One Himself As Monterrey Claims 3rd At Club World Cup

By Travis Yoesting December 21, 2019
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Luis Cárdenas came up big when Monterrey needed him most.
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After a remarkable shootout performance from backup goalkeeper Luis Cárdenas, Monterrey can claim it’s the third-best team in the world after edging Al-Hilal on penalty kicks on Saturday at the Club World Cup. After a 2-2 draw, Los Rayados won the shootout 4-3 in the third-place match. 

OK, maybe the Liga MX side isn’t actually the third-best club team in the world, but don’t let that ruin a good excuse to party. 

Monterrey qualified for the Club World Cup by virtue of winning the Concacaf Champions League. Los Rayados beat Al Sadd in the second round thanks to a wonder-goal from Leonel Vangioni before falling just short to Liverpool in the semifinals. 

In the third-place match against Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia, Monterrey needed penalty kicks to see off a team led by former Toronto FC striker Sebastian Giovinco and the charismatic Bafétimbi Gomis, a former Lyon and Swansea striker.

Monterrey vs Al-Hilal Highlights

Brazilian Carlos Eduardo put Al-Hilal into the lead in the 35th minute, a clear attempt to wake up everyone in the Western Hemisphere who had gotten up for the boring Arsenal-Everton match and then fallen asleep.

Los Rayados stormed back in the second half, taking the lead with two goals in about five minutes.

Arturo González equalized for Monterrey in the 55th minute, heading into an empty net after the Al-Hilal keeper was a bit reckless.

Five minutes later, Maximiliano Meza made it 2-1 with two impeccable touches in the box.

But Gomis, who came on in the 60th minute, equalized in the 66th minute with his head and then pleased viewers around the world with his famous panther goal celebration.

Gomis came close to a late winner but the teams went to penalty kicks. 

In the shootout, both teams converted their first two attempts, including Gomis and Giovinco. Cárdenas denied Carlos Eduardo in the third round but Johan Vásquez skewed his shot high and wide on Monterrey’s fourth attempt to even things up through four rounds.

On the fifth penalty, Cárdenas denied Mohamed Kanno and then buried a spot kick himself to clinch third place in the world for Monterrey. Not bad for a backup whose only four appearances thus far this season came in the Copa MX. 

Here’s the full penalty kick shootout:

Third place at the Club World Cup is a strong showing for Concacaf. Last year Chivas finished sixth at the tournament. Pachuca was the last Mexican side to finish third or better, beating Al-Jazira in the third-place game in 2017. 

Maybe now Monterrey will be able to afford to pay its women’s team.

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