Oribe Peralte and Darwin Quintero celebrate America’s goal
Photo: CONCACAF
Montreal were ‘a bit lucky’ – Club America reacts to first leg disappointment
by Hugo Barroso
Club America was able to tie the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League at home in the final minutes of the game against Montreal Impact, but its players left with the feeling that they should have won.
The offensive engine of Las Aguilas, Rubens Sambueza, assisted Oribe Peralta’s goal and was close to scoring a long range shot which smashed into the post.
“Like it should be in a final, I think that the team gave it all. We weren’t accurate when finishing [on goal]. They were a bit lucky, some [shots]hit the post, others were saved by the keeper,” said Sambueza on his general perspective of the game played on Wednesday night.
Sambueza believes that the 89th minute tying goal “was a price to the effort made by the team during the 90 minutes”, but nevertheless he feels Montreal left more satisfied than they did.
“We will have liked to win, but we left with a draw that obviously is going to leave them [Montreal] more happy than us but the second leg is still to be played.
“There’s a reason they are in the final and why they beat the other teams, it’s a complicated rival that defends well, that manages the ball well from midfield to the top. I think they hurt us well with that counterattack,” the Argentine admitted.
Rubens left no room for speculation on what America’s plans are for the second leg.
“In Canada we are going to go out to win the game.”
Goalkeeper Moises Muñoz was back on the starting eleven after being forced to miss some games due to injury and felt that the result was unfair but is looking forward to a similar performance by his team in Montreal minus the missed chances.
“I believe the final score is unfair, however we leave confident because of the performance and the way we played today. I think a game like this one isn’t going to repeat itself, I mean so many misses from us and so much luck from our rival; this won’t be repeated. If we are capable of doing this in Canada, I firmly believe that we will bring back the Cup,” said Muñoz.
Peralta – “It wasn’t fair”
Photo: CONCACAF
America’s hero came from the bench to score the goal that almost 100 thousand fans were ready to shout after they had spent the night at the Azteca Stadium lamenting all the clear chances that the Liga MX side wasn’t able to finish.
“A bit relaxed because of the plays that were generated, but uneasy because of the lack of finishing [on goal], because we had plenty of opportunities and we didn’t finish them,” said Oribe Peralta who scored America’s goal.
Just like his teammate Muñoz, Peralta didn’t perceive fairness in the result.
“No, it isn’t fair. We could have taken a very good lead from here but we didn’t achieve it.”
America took 28 shots and had over a dozen corner kicks, which will explain why the Mexican club footballers talked about deserving more and why Oribe celebrated euphorically when he finally managed to score.
“The frustration of not being able to score, and I think that my teammates and the fans deserved it,” said Peralta regarding his goal celebration.
On the controversial call that could have changed the destiny of the game when Dominic Oduro had a one on one with the keeper and was fouled from behind by Paraguayan Osvaldo Martinez, America’s midfielder confessed that he gambled his chances on getting a red card.
“Yes, I had to do that [foul Oduro], because I think the 2-0 will have been more complicated.”
More CCL Final:
Impact provide identikit first leg road show
Tous pour l’Impact. Montreal don’t represent the US but they do represent US
