Both of those goals were remarkable in many ways. Mexican clubs are characterized by their short, one-touch, passing game, which relies on quick movements and reactions of players. But neither of the finishes by Lozano and Sabah were related to that style of play. The Morelia attackers simply anticipated clearances and were agile and flexible enough to contort their bodies into position to volley the ball with their left foot.

After the game, Sabah minimized the feat, noting he was just hoping to put the shot on goal, and was not planning for it to dip just under the crossbar, almost impossible for goalkeeper Matt Reis to stop.

Those plays help illustrate differences between Mexican and MLS teams. The emphasis in the LMF is on savvy, skill, and speed; in the MLS, it is more stamina and strength.

Mexican clubs are not volleying in spectacular, game-deciding, shots every five days, but it is not surprising when they do. Morelia’s most acrobatic goal-scorer, for example, is actually Luis Gabriel Rey, who earned the penalty kick which gave Morelia the lead against the Revolution.

MLS players are also athletic and skillful, capable of producing highlight goals. And Kevin Alston’s score for the Revolution, following an intricate sequence involving three teammates, was a goal suited to the LMF or any high level league.

But the type of player developed in the LMF and MLS are quite different, and the methods of integrating players into the team’s system are also different. Morelia has 12 players age 22 or younger on its roster, according to coach Tomas Boy. Nine Monarcas players started in the club’s [itals] fuerzas basicas [end itals] system. The Revolution only recently started a development program. “The MLS clubs play a very tactical game, sometimes a rigid tactical game,’’ Boy said. “But they know how to take advantage of opportunities and it’s not easy to play against them. I think they’re not far away from reaching an even more competitive level.’’

Mexican clubs have won three of the four SuperLiga events, the Revolution the lone exception when they won in 2008. The outcome of the SuperLiga does not prove the superiority of one league over the other, but it has been an exercise in comparing and contrasting styles.

The Revolution have been able to utilize the home-field advantage in SuperLiga. But Los Monarcas countered that edge because they played at Gillette Stadium twice in a five-week span, and were able to adapt their game to the artificial turf, producing a hybrid of their possession game with some direct play.

“I think with playing a Mexican team, they teach us about organization, they teach us how to defend well as a team,’’ Revolution captain Shalrie Joseph said. “They keep the ball so well and possess it. We did our best in SuperLiga, and we’ve just got to look forward to the MLS.’’

NOTES: The Revolution, who have a four-game losing streak in all competitions, host the Seattle Sounders tomorrow. ... Boston’s Ryan Johnson, a San Jose Earthquakes forward, is training with the Jamaican national team for games against Costa Rica in Kingston Sunday and Peru in Fort Lauderdale Tuesday.###