Impact gets a 1-1 draw against Club America in first leg of Champions League Final

Ignacio Piatti led the Impact to a 1-0 lead for over 70 minutes only to see Club America come back late to draw the game at 1-1. Even if the result is not perfect for Montreal, getting a 1-1 draw away is huge as it will host the Mexican juggernaut at a sold out Olympic Stadium, next week.

If the Impact had one tool it can use to score on Club America, it would be speedy execution. Whether its on a counter attack or quick breaks, Klopas's formation was reminiscent of the team that drew 2-2 at Pachuca. After a few good looks, Montreal opens the score thanks to a nice combination that ended in Piatti's goal.

Oduro finds space and time for a through ball across Club America's box that finds Duka who lets it go to find a streaking Piatti who does what he does best and buries it. If a final played at Estadio Azteca did not motivate the home team, that goal just did.

A barrage of shots and corner kicks found their way towards Evan Bush who stays calm and makes a few good saves but you feel that America could have and should have scores.

Piatti's insolence continues as he almost scores a second goal when he tries to chip the Mexican goalkeeper but goes wide.

Controversy hit the game when Oduro is taken down right outside the box as he goes on a counter. The foul is called on Osvaldo Martinez who surprisingly only gets a yellow card, even if he was the last man behind. The following free kick , taken by Mallace, is deflected for a corner kick but would not be taken

A more agressive Club America stepped up in the second half but were quickly subdued by a defensive minded Impact team. Getting away from the middle of the pitch, America's wingers were key to solving Montreal after it lost Camara to injury.

A Romero foul gave the home team a dangerous free kick on the edge on the box, left of Bush, and scored on a point blank header. America could have easily scored the winning goal if it wasn't for the post, luck and Bush making impromptu saves on a few plays.

Next game : April 29th at the Olympic Stadium

Lineups

Montreal

Bush; Toia, Ciman, Soumare, Camara; Mallace, Reo-Coker; Duka, Piatti, Romero; Oduro

Subs: Smits, Miller, Tissot, Lefèvre, Bernier, McInerney, Cooper

Club América

Muñoz, Aguilar, Pimentel, Aguilar, Samudio, Martínez, Pellerano, Quintero, Sambueza, Benedetto & Arroyo

Scoring Summary

16' Ignacio Piatti -- Assisted By: Dominic Oduro

89' Oribe Peralta -- Assisted By: Rubens Sambueza

Cautions

17' Ignacio Piatti -- Reason: Excessive celebration

45' Osvaldo Martínez -- Reason: Foul

71' Dilly Duka -- Reason: Time wasting

88' Andrés Romero -- Reason: Foul

89' Paul Aguilar --Reason: Foul