Montreal Impact says good bye to Champions League again...

Is it just me or since the Impact was a goal close to Concacaf Champions League semifinals in 2009, with the 55.000 fans in the Olympic Stadium, we now feel  no other Canadian club can honor the competition the same way? Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps know they have to make an exceptional continental campaign in order to be remembered the way Montreal is.

Well, last night we could enjoy how can a team with more than three times Montreal's salary budget could not score a goal, in their magic Empire Field, until minute 113 in the overtime. It was also nice to see Montreal playing as the underdogs and dominating ball possession, in the feet of ex-whitecap David Testo, during the first 30 minutes of the game. I admit I really enjoyed it.

At the end of 1st half, the Whitecaps started to explain why they compete in MLS. Davide Chiumiento, a player who back in 2003 substituted Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero in a UEFA Champions League match against Ajax, pulled Vancouver from all strings and set the attacking pace all over the terrain. Also Russel Teibert, young canadian sensation, helped the Caps bring the attack on the left flank creating all sorts of opportunities and forcing Montreal to the counter attack. On minute 83, after several non conclusive attempts of long balls crosses it was one aimed to Ali Gerba which led to Montreal's penalty kick after a challenge suffered in the zone. This tied the game in aggregate 1-1 and forced the overtime.

Overtime was almost one Vancouver monologue thanks to late substitution in of fresh legs Camilo who led the attack of the Caps. The young Brazilian received a foul very close to Montreal area, which led to Vancouver goal in overtime.

A dramatic finish, for those who always believe in miracles, was set by a fantastic play between Le Gall and Gerba ending with a diving header that hit the post, on minute 120. This would have meant a Montreal direct victory by outscoring the Whitecaps in visitors goals, but history was not on Impact's side that night.

I was very much satisfied with David Testo's performance in the first half. This is the midfield could led the Impact to big wins, but he needs the rest of the team to play more as a group in order to be more effective. I also liked the intensity of Lowery on the midfield, destroying every creation around him. But the best of the night was Nevio Pizzolito, very solid in the back, intimidating and keeping danger away Gaudette's net.

NCC will be another story next year and I hope the MLS fever here in Montreal does not overshadow the beauty of this cup.

Impact draws in BC and gets a valuable point on the road last week

Line-up for the impact had some light changes, and one of them was leave Billy in the bench and use Donatelli from the beginning.

With a dynamic 1st time Whitecaps started with an offensive spirit led by Haber and Toure while the Impact showed a midfield engaged in defense.

The first clear occasion was a tricky header by Placentino from a center pass by Soares. In minute XX' came the play of the game where Donatelli in a heavily disputed midfield receives the ball and, Maradona like, stumbling and almost no looking give a quick release pass to an empty spot where Byers reached it in the area and beat Nolly to score a 5 stars goal. It was a great moment for Montreal in the game.

The Whitecaps brought danger in the feet of Marcus Haber with the most clear opportunity with a header but before finish the first half, Montreal had another chance thanks to Felipe Soares that was inches away of the net.

In the second half Ansu Toure brought chances for Vancouver thanks to his stamina and determination in long run that missed the target by little. Montreal still had more chances in a center pass ball headed by the captain Pizzolito which was stopped by Caps goalie.

Montreal was dominating the game and resisting Caps attack before Adam Braz ruined it with a immature defensive reaction in the area which caused the penalty, taken by Haber, that tied the game 1-1.

Montreal has to behave more professional if they want to achieve big things in the future ahead, especially in the MLS.