Montreal’s historic Champions League run falls short of glory
Just 45 minutes from realizing an improbable dream, Montreal Impact couldn’t hold off Mexico’s Club America in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday night.
Canada’s entry, Montreal, to the region’s top club football competition conceded four goals in the second half, losing 4-2 (5-3 on aggregate) in the two leg final.
Montreal Impact fans watch as the CONCACAF Champions League title slips away against Club America on April 29, 2015.
Montreal reported a record 61,004 tickets sold at Olympic Stadium two days before kickoff. The mostly pro-Montreal crowd were treated to a first half 1-0 lead from Andres Romero after fellow Argentine Ignacio Piatti artfully dribbled into the America box untouched and found his teammate. Romero slotted the goal from the top of the box past a bewildered backline and goalkeeper for the eighth minute strike.
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The teams tied 1-1 in the first leg of the final in Mexico City and Romero’s goal had put Montreal up 2-1 on aggregate, with the visitors becoming increasingly frustrated, committing cheap fouls and engaging the Impact players to react. Montreal didn’t take the bait, however, the climate of the match changed drastically in the second half.
Dario Benedetto of Club America scored three goals in the second half against Montreal on April 29, 2015.
Dario Benedetto scored the first of his three goals in the 50th minute to make it 1-1. Oribe Peralta followed up at the 64th minute by putting America ahead for the first time over the two legs, 2-1 in the match and 3-2 on aggregate. Benedetto would find goal two minutes later and in another quarter of an hour he completed his hattrick making it a 4-1 on the night.
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Jack McInerney got one back for Montreal one minute from regulation to make it 4-2. By this time the few thousand Mexican fans in the crowd had been celebrating for nearly a half hour, and McInerney’s finish was just a minor inconvenience to their jovial bash.
Club America’s win marks the 10th straight year that a Mexican side has triumphed in this regional club competition, dating back to its days as the Champions’ Cup.
Laurent Ciman of Montreal consoled by team owner Joey Saputo after Champions League final loss on April 29, 2015.
Montreal – despite playing in Major League Soccer – made it to the tournament by winning the Voyageurs Cup, the annual competition between Canadian professional teams. Only U.S.-based clubs are allowed to win CCL qualification spots through MLS.
Despite the loss, Montreal has made national club football history, becoming the first side to ever reach the final of the Champions League.
Club America, lifting the title, will advance to the FIFA Club World Cup for a chance to be crowned the world’s top team for 2015.
