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CF Monterrey secured a 1-0 win in the first leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 tie against FC Cincinnati on Thursday at TQL Stadium. Brandon Vazquez scored the lone goal against his former club to add more drama to his return.
It was a tightly contested game between the two sides, with each team having their chances to score. Nonetheless, Vazquez was the only player to find the back of the net in the 24th minute. Rayados held onto the lead as they take the advantage home for the second leg on Thursday.
Following the game, Vazquez chatted with reporters and mentioned how scoring against his former team felt strange. The Monterrey striker is probably accustomed to fans cheering when he scores at TQL Stadium. However, this time around, as a visitor, things were different.
“For me, the most important thing, stepping on the field was helping my team win, and I was able to do that,” Vazquez said postgame on Thursday. “So I feel happy that I was able to score, and it’s a similar feeling that I’ve had.
“You know, I scored a lot of goals on this field in the stadium, but doing it for another team feels a little weird. But, you know, at the end of the day, we win, and I’m happy about that. That’s my mindset.”
Furthermore, the 25-year-old revealed why he didn’t celebrate his goal. Cameras actually caught the Rayados star making the folded hands gesture toward the crowd, likely telling them he’s sorry for scoring on them.
“I got a lot of respect for this club, for the fans here, for the city,” Vazquez added. “It’s all love.”