The Montreal Impact were moments away from a famous victory in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Final at the Estadio Azteca, but Oribe Peralta’s 89th minute header salvaged a 1-1 draw for Club America ahead of the return leg in a weeks time.
The Major League Soccer outfit conducted the first half to the letter of the law on how an away team should play. The Impact were compact, conservative on the break, took their opportunities when presented to them and had some luck as well.
Club America began the game attacking down the middle with Carlos Darwin Quintero and Dario Bendetto looking to cut right through Montreal’s main artery. Michael Arroyo was probably the most dangerous player for America, cutting in to combine with his forwards. The Ecuadorian is a master at creating space for himself, but his shooting let him down with one effort hitting the side netting and Evan Bush pushing the other around the near post.
Those two efforts aside Laurent Ciman and Bakary Sourmare were titans at the back. Ciman seemed especially calm in the tackle with well timed efforts.
At the other end, America were just as narrow, but Montreal looked weary of taking the space down the flanks as the away side never wants to be the one caught on the counter.
The shocking moment of the first half came in the 16th minute. It was a gorgeous sweeping move, as with each pass, Montreal brought an extra player into America’s half. The ball eventually reached Andres Romero on the right who slid it inside for Dominic Oduro. He helped it on to Ignacio Piatti. The former Copa Libertadores winner left Club America keeper Moises Munoz stranded with a calm finish.
The goal only made Club America fans sing louder and their charges almost responded instantly with three corners. Each one led to a scoring opportunity.
Evan Bush preserved the lead with a terrific save in the 23 minute. Quintero played in Rubens Sambueza. The midfielder’s shot looked destined for the top left-corner but Bush was able to push it aside at full stretch.
That should have opened the way for Montreal to steal a second just before the half hour. Piatti set off on a counter attack. The former San Lorenzo man could have played in Oduro into the left channel, but with the defense backing off and Munos in no man’s land, Piatti took the space and looked to chip the keeper, but put his effort harmlessly wide.
America continued to create chances, as Arroyo looked more dangerous with each touch. The Ecuadorian’s industry down the right led to shouts for a handball in the box on Sourmare, but went unnoticed by the Honduran referee, Hector Rodriguez.
The Referee was back in the conversation right at the end of the half as Piatti played Oduro in on goal. Osvaldo Martinez pulled Oduro down with just Munoz to beat and yet Rodriguez only showed a yellow, when a red is what the rule book demands.
Peralta came on for Martinez to start the second half and a bit of foreshadowing was cast over the Azteca as the fourth official held his number up in lights.
The second half was all America as Montreal not only seemed happy to sit back, but also became sloppy in possession.
One of America’s 16 corners came in the 53rd minute and it led to another close call. Just three minutes later and Quintero was played in with a beautiful one touch pass, but Bush made perhaps the save of the match.
Bendetto put a free header right into the arms of Bush on the hour mark and two near misses at the back post followed in quick succession.
America continued to attack in wave after wave and an errant clearance fell to Sambueza who saw his long range effort cannon off the cross bar.
Perhaps America had gotten away from the combination game that made them look so dangerous early on. Las Aguilas started pumping the ball into the box when there was time to move it around. Montreal seemed content, however, to play the dangerous game of letting America cross the ball into the danger zone where they had already encountered numerous close calls.
While Montreal defended valiantly on tired legs, Romero conceded a foul just outside the penalty area and Peralta finally put away one of Club America’s multiple set-piece opportunities.
The aftermath to the goal was shrouded in controversy as Bush would not give the ball back to the home side. A mele ensued and the Montreal shot-stopper ended up on the ground, but was also shown a yellow card for time wasting, meaning he will miss the next leg.
Montreal have the slight advantage on the away goals rule, but without Bush, the Liga MX side still have to be considered the favorites as the tie shifts from Mexico to Canada.
