PASADENA, Calif. -- There was something different about Monterrey and River Plate’s 0-0 draw on Saturday night. The stakes were higher, the songs of the 57,393 fans, louder. Both teams arrived in form - River Plate fresh off a convincing 3-1 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds, Monterrey inspired by a gritty 1-1 draw against Champions League runners-up, Inter Milan. But this was about more than just form.
For the first time at the Rose Bowl, both sets of fans seemed to be taking the Club World Cup seriously.
The summer-friendly atmosphere that pervaded previous fixtures gave way to a stadium of divided passions - the south half, a sea of blue and white Rayados; the north, red-striped flags in their thousands.
These were two teams who desperately wanted to win. Both, however, would have to settle for a point.
While River Plate started strong, it took little time for Monterrey to settle into the game. And once they did, they never lost their grip.
The Liga MX side masterfully lured the Argentinians out of position, with Nelson Deossa’s ability to maintain possession and find outlets allowing Monterrey to consistently exploit gaps left by River’s over-committed midfield.
Los Millonarios’ best chance came at the end of the first half when Lucas Martínez Quarta missed from just three yards. It’s a trend that continued through the second half: River Plate squandering their opportunities with clumsy touches and poor decisions, while Monterrey remained unshaken.
River Plate’s frustration mounted as Monterrey snuffed out attacks, finally culminating in a red card for Kevin Castaño in stoppage time that would seal the draw.
It’s a result that will likely irk the South American giants and their Liga MX counterparts, with both sides now relying on their final group game to ensure survival into the knockouts.
Still, it was the atmosphere that was the biggest story. The fervor, the tension, the raw emotion - this was the enthusiasm Gianni Infantino had hoped for.
Whether that energy carries through the tournament remains to be seen. But as far as goalless draws go, this one was a win for FIFA.