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CONCACAF Champions League

Montreal Survives Azteca, Secures Impressive Draw

Club America dominated play at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, but the Montreal Impact held on for an impressive 1-1 draw in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final.
BY Brian Sciaretta Posted
April 23, 2015
9:35 AM

AGAINST ALL ODDS the CONCACAF Champions League will return to Montreal's Olympic Stadium with the Impact still in contention thanks to a remarkable 1-1 draw against Club America at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. While Club America had the majority of opportunities, the Impact fought hard and held on for the result.

Montreal was widely considered to be the heavy underdog in the game given its last-place MLS finish in 2014 and its abysmal record of just seven wins in its last 47 MLS games. Despite that, the Quebec-based team managed to qualify for the continental tournament by winning the 2014 Canadian Championship, where it snuck past the NASL side FC Edmonton and a troubled Toronto FC team.

Montreal elected to play counterattacking soccer to start the match, allowing Club America to control the majority of possession. In the 16th minute, however, the Impact's Dominic Oduro made a move down the the right side of field and delivered a cross into the box. The pass was directed to Dilly Duka but the New Jersey native let the ball roll past him where it found an open Ignacio Piatti who beat Club America keeper Moises Munoz and gave Montreal a 1-0 lead.

Following the goal, America began to dominate the game but Montreal still had its moments on the counter. Piatti had an opportunity in the 28th minute to double the lead when he could have sent Oduro in alone on goal but elected to keep the ball. He had an open chip from 19 yards but missed it wide right.

In the 34th minute, Club America had its best opportunity of the first half but it was Ohio native Evan Bush who came up with the diving save to his right side. Shortly afterward, Club America nearly equalized again with a goal that was called back with a very close offside call.

The most controversial moment of the game came in the 45th minute when Montreal had yet another very good counterattacking chance. Oduro got in behind the defense and was pulled down by America defender Paul Aguilar. Every replay showed Aguilar was the last defender and he fouled Oduro from behind. Instead of a red card, which the rules clearly state should be given in that circumstance, Aguilar was only shown a yellow by Honduran referee Hector Rodriguez. To make matters worse, Montreal was not even allowed to take the corner kick following the play with Rodriguez instead electing to blow the halftime whistle.

In the second half, Club America continued to dominate possession. The game appeared to be a battle of wills. Would Montreal run out of gas and collapse like so many opponents do at Azteca or would Club America loses patience and run out of ideas?

Club America stepped up in the final 10 minutes and several of its chances missed by only the narrowest of margins—one hit the crossbar and several other flew just wide.

In the 89th minute, the home team found its equalizer when Oribe Peralta, who entered the game at the half, headed home a Rubens Sambueza free kick from the right side. America continued to push in stoppage time and came close but eventually the whistle blew and the game ended at 1-1.

Despite allowing the late equalizer, the 1-1 result was an amazing achievement for Montreal at a sold out Azteca where many expected a lopsided result. Club America certainly could have won handily thanks to a 10-1 shots on goal advantage and a 16-2 edge in corners. But Montreal’s goal was to survive, and it did.

Club America remains the favorite heading into the second leg in Montreal, but that game should be more competitive. The Impact will have an enormous home field advantage and 59,000 fans supporting the team.

No MLS team has ever won the CONCACAF Champions League in its current format and virtually no one would have expected Montreal to be within 90 minutes of the title. That is the reality, however, and the title will be decided April 29 at the Olympic Stadium.

Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Follow him on Twitter. 

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