Though they didn't come out of Mexico with the result they would have wanted, the New York Red Bulls are confident they can finish the job at Red Bull Arena in Leg 2.
The Red Bulls dropped Leg 1 of the Scotiabank Conacaf Champions League Semifinals to C.D. Guadalajara, 1-0, on Wednesday night in Estadio Akron.
"We chose to play direct often, and tried to bypass some of their pressure," Head Coach Jesse Marsch said in his postgame press conference. "We could’ve been a little bit more opportunistic and a little bit sharper in the final third against a really good Chivas team in a really tough place to play. I think only being down one goal is a good result for us and we’ll go back to Red Bull Arena and be ready to push the game there.”
The lone goal came off a mistake in the midfield leading to Isaac Brizuela putting the home team up for good.
"I think we're a little unlucky for it to finish the way it did," Captain and goalkeeper Luis Robles said following the match. "We made one mistake and we got caught for it. I think we limited their chances. They didn't have a lot of opportunities. We're in a good position."
The atmosphere on the pitch was intense, and the Red Bulls had to play the final part of the game with 10 men, after Aurelien Collin received his second yellow card on the night. Both Collin and Alex Muyl will miss Leg 2 of the matchup due to card accumulation.
"It was really intense," Sean Davis said. "Coming here, at elevation, in a hostile environment, when all is said and done, we'll take the result."
The Red Bulls host Leg 2 at Red Bull Arena on April 10 at 8 p.m. ET.
"They're a very good side, a very combative side," Davis said. "They compete for every single ball. That's something we pride ourselves in as well, which made for a very chippy game, but we'll take the result."
Even after dropping Leg 1, New York is confident about heading home to finish the job.
"Obviously, it would have been nice to get an away goal, but this is the situation," Robles said. "If we can continue to play the way that we've played, I fancy our chances that we can get a couple of goals."
The head coach said his team will be ready to go.
“We’ve got lot to play for and our team will be ready," Marsch said.
