Montreal Impact 2, Club América 4: CONCACAF Champions League Match Recap
The Montreal Impact woke up from their CONCACAF Champions League dream about 45 minutes too early.
The Impact led 1-0 at halftime thanks to an Andres Romero goal. But Club América's relentless attack struck three times in a 16-minute span early in the second stanza, as a Dario Benedetto hat trick powered the Mexican giants to the 2014-15 CCL title with a 4-2 win (5-3 on aggregate) in front of a capacity crowd at Olympic Stadium in Montreal on Wednesday night.
The Impact raced out to a dream start as Ignacio Piatti, Montreal's hero of the first leg in Mexico City, produced a moment of brilliance to set up Romero for the game's opening goal.
Turning by the endline, Piatti slalomed through a thicket of defenders along the right side of the America penalty box, then laid off for Romero, who cut left and steered his low finish through a crowd for a sensational 1-0 early lead.
Piatti was dominating the proceedings and he soon saw another good look denied by a fine save from Aguilas goalkeeper Moises Munoz.
But the visitors responded almost immediately and only the woodwork kept Benedetto from leveling.
Oribe Peralta headed a booming free kick across the face of goal and with the Montreal defense slow to react, Benedetto needed only to apply a tap at the far post. But the ball flew just beyond his range and his touch sent the ball clanging off the bottom of the crossbar and back down, allowing Montreal to clear the danger.
The game took on an open, breakneck pace and Bakary Soumaré, José Daniel Guerrero and Pablo Aguilar all earned yellow cards as the tempo flowed back and forth from end to end and both defenses were left dangerously exposed.
The hosts reached the intermission with the lead despite América's waves of pressure. But Benedetto finally broke through with the equalizer five minutes after the restart, latching onto Osvaldo Martínez's lofted pass and smashing an athletic swiveling volley past Kristian Nicht, the Impact's brand-new signing in goal.
Montreal were rocked by the goal and América star Oribe Peralta made them pay for another defensive breakdown 10 minutes later, heading home from close range to push the Mexicans into their first aggregate lead of the series.
Benedetto pushed the Impact to the brink with another finely-taken finish just four minutes later, then completed his hat trick with an authoritative left-footed strike in the 81st minute as Montreal's defense was torn apart again.
Substitute Jack McInerney salvaged some pride for the Canadian side in the dying minutes. But there would be no way back from those disastrous moments after halftime as América secured the title of confederation champions, booking their spot in the Club World Cup in Japan later this year.
Club America Forcefully Control Second Half to Win CONCACAF Champions League Crown Over Montreal Impact
Club America dominated the second half of the match after being down a goal to win the CONCACAF Champions League against the Montreal Impact.
Montreal Impact
Club America
There will be pleny written about the Montreal Impact's run towards CONCACAF glory. Plenty that will be analyzing their run; where their strengths were that allowed them to make this run and where their faults were that led to their collapse. What matters is that we have a winner, and it's Club America who secured their 6th confederation title with a 4 - 2 win in Montreal over the Impact, giving them a 5 - 3 aggregate series win.
The Impact started the game good by scoring a goal in the first half. It was a typical goal for the Montreal side: excellent passing from the wings with clinical finishing in front of goal. What really impressed was the defending, though. Belgian International Laurent Ciman was excellent in the first half, as was his partner Bakarey Soumare. Strangely enough, one of the better defenders was Dom Oduro as the lone striker for the club.
So many times Oduro collected a desperately cleared ball and started the break only to get fouled, repeatedly, by the America defense. This allowed the team to collect their breath and reset their shape. Not a whole lot was asked of newly acquired goalkeeper Nicht as America looked frustrated and stale offensively.
Then half time happened.
Whatever it was that the America players were told during the break, it worked. Benedetto scored a hat trick, including a jaw-dropping scissor kick from close range. Oribe Peralta added another (of course he did) and Montreal had no chance once the Eagles found their finishing touch. Jack Mack added a consolation goal just a hair before stoppage time but it was too little, way too late.
In a different world where the Impact defense didn't collapse, what would a victory have meant for Major League Soccer? Nothing. They would not have earned much of anything. Fans would not all of a sudden be fans of the league or its teams with this victory. No one would wake up and say that it's now a league worth following.
The Impact earned quite a bit by placing second in the tournament. They learned that they can do this and what kind of formula is needed to compete. Montreal also earned a heap of respect from around the region with their grit and never-say-die attitude. They broke in their newly acquired players, specifically Ignacio Piatti and Ciman. The pair were very impressive during this run and are set to take MLS by storm. Caleb Porter, the rookie who scored against Pachuca, looked impressive before a devastating injury.
For now, Montreal fans should rejoice and be proud of their effort. They came up 45 minutes short of the title against one of the most talented teams in regional history.
Perhaps another MLS team will follow the example laid forth by the Impact and find glory next time.
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