Last night we beat  Monterrey in an exhibition match here in Houston  by a score of 2 to 1.  I hit a left footed pass to Dominic Oduro who then struck the ball into the top corner of the net.

I can proudly say that I had one of the best assists of my career on the game winning goal  in the 85th minute.

Dominic Oduro's strike in the 85th minute won it! (Credit: mlsnet.com)

The real story though is that when you pit an MLS franchise against a Mexican side there is no such thing as “friendly”, “exhibition”, or “charity” involved. Only a fierce battle between two rivaling nations in the soccer world.

Two fights, four red cards, and zero love lost between the teams added up to a very intense and hard fought win.

I cannot say that I am happy to have played the game just two weeks before the playoffs are set to begin, but I can say that it is always important for MLS teams to win these match ups against international opponents. It helps reinforce our belief and reputation as a growing entity in the world of soccer.