Very few people would have guessed that Montréal Impact, who finished in last place in the MLS 2014 season, would be able to defeat so many teams and enter the final round of the CONCACAF Champions’ League. We did it! For the first time, a Canadian team will compete in the final stage of the North American and Caribean clubs championship and eventually might be able to compete at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Since the inception of the current format of the Champions League in 2008, the further that a MLS club went was when Real Salt Like finished 2nd in 2010-2011. After a home win of 2-0 during the first leg of the semi-final, IMFC managed to progress in the tournament on the away goals rule, despite a 4-2 loss yesterday against Costa Rican club Liga de Alajuelense.
Front Commun Montréal around 40 members and sympathizers gathered at the Yer’mad pub, a local hangout for revolutionary activists. While we were loud with chants in the bar, the crowd in Alajuela’s stadium has been very vocal throughout the game and displayed a stadium-wide tifo at the beginning of the game.
The game however was dirtied by monkey chants targeting Montreal’s Ghanaian footballer Dominic Oduro. It is very sad that the Costa Rican supporters lowered themselves to that form of racism.
Montreal will face Club America from Mexico City, one of the giants of Mexican football. It is worth noting that this will be the first encounter in the Americas of two clubs with another Rebel Ultras blog supporters groups.
Hopefully, some of us will make the 4600 km trip between Montreal and the Estadio Azteca for April 22nd. The return and final match will be held in Montréal on April 29nd.
Let’s hope for the best!
