Mar 05 CONCACAF - Montreal Impact Implode, Lose Game and Quarterfinal Series in 5-2 Loss to Club Santos Laguna

The Montreal Impact played the away game of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series against Mexican club Santos Laguna, at Corona Stadium, at 10 pm tonight and knew they would have to be at their best in order to advance to the semi finals against Atlante FC, a team they had already played in the group phase. Montreal was up 2-0 on aggregate goals and the task at hand was to not allow Santos Laguna to score 2 goals, or get a goal themselves to potentially put the game out of Mexico's reach. Well, this game had its share of goals, right up to a few scored in extra time to allow Santos Laguna to overcome a seemingly impossible deficit and eliminate the Montreal Impact by a score of 5-2.

After an initial 15 minutes of back and forth between the 2 teams, Christian B enitez, who had many great opportunities in Montreal, but unable to finish them, brought the Mexican fans to their feet with a well headed ball that was crossed into the box. Nevio Pizzolito, who also attempted to make contact with it, missed it by centimetres, allowing Benitez to put the ball out of Matt Jordan's reach, just inside the right post.

Montreal showed good composure and did not waver. They were quick to bring the play back to Mexico, rather than tighten up defensively, knowing that an away goal could completely eliminate the effects of Club Santos' goal. At the 24th minute, Matt Jordan kicked the ball all the way into Mexico's box where a blunder from the Mexican defender allowed Roberto Brown to split the defenders just inside the penalty area and chipped the ball past a diving Oswaldo Sanchez, consequently quieting the previously boisterous stadium. Benitez would zig-zag his way into the Impact box and attempt a shot at Jordan at the 31 minute mark, but was calmly stuffed by Pizzolito who kicked the ball out of danger's way. Santos Laguna, led by Benitez would really pour it on in the ensuing minutes, but Montreal's defence would be up to par.

In a surprising move, possibly due to an injury, Santos Laguna's star goalkeeper was forced out of action and replaced by back-up Miguel Becerra at the 34th minute. At the 38th minute his first shot on goal would end up putting the Impact ahead by a score of 2-1, yet 4-1 on aggregate goals, all but securing the Impact's berth at the semi-finals. Or one would think. Joey Gjertsen was able to manoeuvre inside the box to Becerra's left, deked out his defender and centred ot to Eduardo Sebrango who mangaed to kick the ball while spinning around and beating Becerra who remained standing for the goal. Club Santos Laguna would go off the field at the half to a braying of scattered boo's and with the knowledge that they had a tall order to fill in the next 45 minutes if they were to advance.

Just after Roberto Brown was tripped up by Becerra that went uncalled, Santos Laguna regained ball possession and worked their way up the field at the 54th minute. Matt Jordan made the initial save but gave up a rebound right in front of the net that no Montreal defender was able to clear out and Matias Vuoso was able to pound it into the empty goal. Moments later, they would rush again and hit the goalpost on the first try and consequently force Matt Jordan to make another good save to keep the game tied. Mexico had, however tied the game, but were still down by 2 goals in order to stay alive.

For conspiracy theorists such as myself, I would have gladly turned a blind eye to the Roberto Brown non-call, but at the 62nd minute, Sandro Grande and Daniel Ludena were having some heated words after Ludena raised his spikes in an attempt to injure Grande on a battle for the ball. This resulted in Ludena raising his hand to Grande's face and pushing him. Now regularly, this is supposed to be an automatic red card, however, Ludena was only given a yellow. Go figure. Good on Grande, however for maintaining his composure throughout the whole ordeal.

The play would remain in the Impact's zone for most of the 2nd half with Mexico really applying pressure on Jordan and his defenders. Santos Laguna thought they had their third goal of the night at the 70th minute, however it was clearly offside, and called so, much to the disappointment of the home crowd. But credit to Mexico who never let up and would, in fact get their  third goal on a beautifully passed ball to Matias Vuoso who made no mistake, one-timing the ball past Matt Jordan for his second of the night. Nevio Pizzolito, playing an extraordinary game on defence managed to save a fourth Santos Laguna goal from being registered as he headed a ball that had cleanly beat Matt Jordan just over the cross bar resulting in Mexico's 11th corner kick of the game, but were unable to capitalise. Vuoso would gat a golden opportunity in the 88th minute, inside the Impact Box, but caromed his shot off his own player behind the goal line. Carlos Darwin Quintero would really get the Impact's attention with his goal in extra time. with only a few minutes left, in a similar goal to Vuoso's second, Quintero one timed another well crossed ball past Jordan who may have gotten a finger on it, but not enough to make the save. If any fans were walking out of the stadium, they most certainly may have turned right around as this game, it would seem was not quite over.

In a moment that I must say, basically left me awestruck and dumbfounded, in the subsequent ball possession, Qunitero would score yet again and crush the Montreal Impact's dream run and literally steal this win and the series from them.

For the major part of the seond  half,and up a few goals on aggregate scoring, Montreal seemed content to sit back and go into a defensive mode but Mexico would not let up and controlled the play for the entire half which resulted in the more aggressive team winning this contest. Unfortunately, this will be a hard lesson learned and although it was surely not done intentionally, There must havebeen a point where Montreal, like all the fans watching at home, must have already been looking ahead to the semi-finals without having taken care of the business at hand. Something they will surely keep in mind if they make it this far in next year's CONCACAF Championship.  

Club Santos Laguna will now move on to face Atlante FC in the semifinals on the 17th of March and the winner of this series will meet the winner of the other series between the Puerto Rico Islanders, another USL team and Cruz Azul.

Tags: Atlante FC \ Christian Benitez \ Club Santos Laguna \ concacaf \ Matias Vuoso \ Montreal Impact \ quarterfinal \ Roberto Brown \ semifinal \ soccer \ USL