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If the Montreal Impact needed a positive result for the first leg of the Champions League semifinal, the AlbiCeleste nationals of the club made sure to get one. Ignacio Piatti electrical's goal and Victor Cabrera's bouncy shot gave Montreal a 2-0 win over Costa Rican club LD Alajuelense.
Justin Mapp's absence , due to injury, was not felt as Dominic Oduro took his place to provide pace on the right side, feeding off the surprise starter of the game, Cameron Porter. The MLS rookie, who was the hero of the quarter-final second leg against Pachuca, is cementing his place in a squad that did not have much in striking power.
The Montreal back-line showed poised and aggressiveness that was matched by the 6 players in front of them. Alajuense seemed off their game and were shell shocked after conceding 2 goals within the first 14 minutes of the game.
Whatever game plan the visitors had, the Bleu-Blanc-Noir made sure they forgot about it. One might say that hte Costa Rican club did not properly scout the Impact.
Keeping that frantic pace during the first half was exceptional. But being able to create a few scoring opportunities on the counter , during the second half, was a sign of a team fully prepared and ready for almost anything.
The second leg will be played in Costa Rica on Tuesday, April 7th at 10pm ET. This series is far from over but history is writing itself.
Post-Game Videos
Laurent Ciman Post Match Press Conference | AFROKANLIFE
Cameron Porter Post Match Press Conference | AFROKANLIFE
Lineups
MTL - GK-Evan Bush; D-Victor Cabrera, Bakary Soumare, Laurent Ciman, Donny Toia; M-Nigel Reo-Coker, Marco Donadel (Calum Mallace 62'), Dominic Oduro, Ignacio Piatti (Patrice Bernier 76'), Dilly Duka (Maxim Tissot 46'); F-Cameron Porter
Subs not used: GK-Kristian Nicht; D-Hassoun Camara; M-Blake Smith; F-Jack McInerney
LDA - GK-Dexter Lewis, D-Jose Salvatierra, Johnny Acosta, Porfirio Lopez, Ariel Soto; M-Kenner Gutierrez, Johan Venegas, Ariel Rodriguez, Ronald Matarrita (Pablo Gabas 65'); F-Jonathan McDonald (Diego Calvo 54'), Jose Ortiz (Alvaro Sanchez 74')
Subs not used: Alfonso Quesada, Elias Palma, Alejandro Aguilar, Yvanilton de Almeida Costa
GOALS
MTL - Piatti (Oduro) 9'
MTL - Cabrera (Donadel) 14'
CAUTIONS
LDA - Gutierrez 32'
LDA - Lopez 36'
MTL - Soumare 59'
LDA - Soto 68'