⚽ A Story Of Cheating, Revenge and Resiliency

Soccer fans were treated to an absolute revenge masterclass in Saturday’s CONCACAF Champions League semifinal. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider: LAFC fans were given a masterclass in revenge on Saturday ... we take a look at if anyone can beat Alabama ... and we are treated to a beautiful moment from Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, at this weekend’s PNC Championship. A significant slice of American soccer history could be created this week but we will get to that later - much later - because first of all we get to talk about the heartwarming, festive, feel-good topic of … revenge. Admittedly, it is not the most charitable subject for the start of holiday week but payback in sports, when it is executed perfectly and deservedly, is just as delicious as warm, sugary, Christmas cocoa. On Saturday, we saw an absolute revenge masterclass, the blueprint by which all such future triumphant acts should be judged. It was enough to simultaneously send Twitter berserk while etching an instant smile onto the face of even those with no vested interest in its outcome. And it all happened because Guillermo Ochoa cheated. Despite his team, Mexico’s Club America, leading Major League Soccer’s LAFC 1-0 in the semifinal of the CONCACAF Champions League, goalkeeper Ochoa decided that it wasn’t enough. [STORY IMAGE 1] Just before halftime, Ochoa left his goal to sprint over to LAFC’s Eduard Atuesta, who was on the turf having just been denied a marginal penalty appeal. What happened next is best described by simply watching [the video]( of the FS2 coverage, but to cut a sneaky story short, Ochoa checked to see if the assistant referee was watching, repositioned himself to obscure the view, then theatrically fell to the turf as Atuesta rose to his feet. Fooled by Ochoa acting as if he’d caught The Undertaker on a bad day, the referee gave Atuesta a red card, at which point Club America was on a fast track to victory. Or so it seemed. Now let’s take a little closer look at revenge, which starts to be desired in sports when players and fans feel cheated by circumstance. Immediately, the victims start wishing for retribution on whoever and whatever caused their outrage. Occasionally, they get an opportunity to exact aforementioned revenge and, even more infrequently, they actually complete the task and revel in it forever more. The reason why LAFC’s revenge was absolutely seamless is because it had everything. [STORY IMAGE 2] First of all, it was immediate. The MLS team, led by former United States head coach Bob Bradley, didn’t have to wait for another chance on another day in another season. It got to turn the tables right away, defying the man disadvantage to surge back in the second half, win 3-1, and book a spot in Tuesday’s final (10 p.m. ET on FS2). The reaction was spectacular. After the teams scuffled following the red card, Carlos Vela, Ochoa’s former national team colleague, scored twice to put LAFC ahead within two minutes of the second half beginning. A late penalty sealed the deal, meaning LAFC will meet another Mexican team, Tigres, at Orlando’s Exploria Stadium, with the trophy at stake. The best part is that the revenge related directly to the underhanded tactics employed by Ochoa were intended to help his own team, but insted served only to fire up LAFC and provide the catalyst for a remarkable comeback. “LAFC rightfully felt aggrieved by the ridiculous call but I don’t think they felt surprised – it was classic CONCACAF gamesmanship,” FOX Sports analyst and former national team captain Alexi Lalas told me. “What was impressive was their mature response. Sometimes a red card can motivate and focus a team. It focused them on being more efficient, ruthless and direct.” [STORY IMAGE 3] Bradley, who was unfairly criticized at times during his USA reign and whose legacy now looks distinctly shinier after the doomed Jurgen Klinsmann era, was bombarded by text messages from friends about the Ochoa incident and was most proud of his players’ response. “The attempt to use that as a way of trying to get the edge and the win, you’ve got to be smart enough,” Bradley said. “I think our guys handled things well. You remember these nights, what it was like in a game where it seemed like you had no chance, but everybody kept going and you didn’t give up.” And now, finally, we get to the history-making part. Since CONCACAF adopted the current Champions League format for its regional club competition, no MLS team has ever won it, with Real Salt Lake (2011), Montreal Impact (2015) and Toronto FC (2018) losing in the final. Mexico’s Liga MX is still considered a stronger and deeper competition than MLS, but not by much, with the gap having drastically narrowed in recent years. Tigres will be a favorite having beaten New York City FC 4-0 in the semifinal, but LAFC will be buoyed by having defeated three previous Mexican opponents. [STORY IMAGE 4] “Winning CCL matters because it is seen by many as a litmus to be used when judging the quality and hierarchy of teams and leagues,” Lalas added. “The battle for American soccer hearts and minds continues. “It is a checked box but a necessary one. Having an MLS team as CCL champions for the first time isn’t a silver bullet and doesn’t automatically make MLS better than Liga MX. But it is one more hurdle cleared in the quest for credibility and relevance, home and abroad.” The idea of having a regional champion after so long is a pleasant thought for American soccer fans and an LAFC victory would be further indisputable proof that the league is moving in the right direction. And for the club, Bradley, and even just for those who don’t have much time for gamesmanship, the fact that the opportunity was created by a revenge mission might just make it even sweeter. [STORY IMAGE 5] Here’s what others have said ... Jonathan Sigel, MLSSoccer.com: “LAFC could have crumbled under mounting pressure, smothered by the odds against their Mexican opponents. Bradley’s team instead navigated #CCLFever, leaving the 62-year-old to draw parallels to his time as US men’s national team head coach at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.” Bob Bradley, LAFC coach: “I'm certain that Eduard will not be allowed to play. The discussion is at a higher level than I'm involved with, so my experience in these situations is to still try to make sure the players understand what's going on. We wouldn't be in the final if it wasn't for Eduard. Man, he's an important player for us, a really talented young guy. You really are sad when a young player is so important and then misses out on a final.” Charles Boehm, MLSSoccer.com: “If you like your soccer spiked with a dash of travelogue, reality television, pantomime villainy and the occasional sprinkle of slapstick, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football is the place to be. And the CONCACAF Champions League is the one tournament you can’t miss. And even by CCL standards, the nightcap of Saturday’s semifinal doubleheader at Exploria Stadium between LAFC and Club America was a wild one.” [IN OTHER WORDS] - Florida gave Alabama a run for its money in the SEC title game, but it takes a special kind of matchup to exploit the Tide. [Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger]( asks – can anyone beat Alabama? - Just how meaningful was the Jets’ Week 15 win over the Rams? [The Ringer’s Danny Heifetz]( explains how and why the ripple effect of the Jets’ upset victory could be felt for years to come. - Tom Thibodeau’s dream job features a mercurial owner, a roster in need of development and a city longing for a winner. [ESPN senior writer Ian O’Connor]( questions if Thibodeau is too tough for the toughest job in sports? [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED] [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED]( The old saying of “like father, like son” has never been so fitting as this past weekend when Charlie Woods and his father, Tiger Woods, took the course together at the 2020 PNC Championship. There were several must-see moments from this weekend, which our team at FOX Sports highlighted[in this piece](. However, there was one moment that really stole the show. After sinking a putt on the 10th hole for birdie, Charlie delivered a must-see, iconic first-pump, just like his father. Check it out in this video! [VIEWER'S GUIDE] Southern Illinois at Butler (FS1, 7:30 p.m. ET) Aaron Thompson and the Butler Bulldogs go up against the Southern Illinois Salukis. WWE Monday Night Raw (USA, 8 p.m. ET) Catch up on all the fallout from WWE TLC 2020. Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals (ESPN, 8:15 p.m. ET) Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. [BET OF THE DAY] [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals: STEELERS -14 The Pittsburgh Steelers have not looked good the past two weekends. But a matchup with the 2-10-1 Cincinnati Bengals could be just what the doctor ordered for Ben Roethlisberger and co. The last time these two teams met, back in Week 10, Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ offense lit up the Bengals, 36-10. That was with the Bengals' standout rookie QB Joe Burrow under center. Now, the Steelers and their No. 1-ranked defense will get a chance to feast against second-year QB Ryan Finley. He has come off the bench in four games this season and has completed 10 of 19 passes for 75 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Go ahead and lock in the Steelers at -14. 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