Montréal completes comeback with 3-0 win at Olympic Stadium
It was another great Champions League night in Montreal.
In its first game in Montreal of the year, the Club was able to defeat Santos Laguna 3-0 at Olympic Stadium and 3-1 on aggregate, booking their ticket for the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals.
Montreal will face either Mexican side Cruz Azul or Forge FC in the quarterfinals.
Despite a solid performance in the first leg in Mexico last week, Wilfried Nancy’s men were defeated 1-0 due to a late goal, and came back to Montreal with a difficult, yet not impossible, task on their hands.
If they showed any rust during their first game of the season, that was all taken care of when both teams stepped onto the pitch at the Big-O.
“This time, it wasn’t our first game of the year,” explained Djordje Mihailovic. “We went into that first game a little overanxious, because it was our first game. Despite giving up a goal in the last few minutes, we left pretty optimistic. When we came back to Montreal, a lot of the guys were very confident that we can do something special here tonight.”
That something special came quickly, in the ninth minute, when Mathieu Choinière played the perfect pass to Romell Quioto, who managed to get on the ball first and squeeze it in from an almost impossible angle.
That got the ball rolling for what was to come.
“I felt that my players were on a mission,” explained head coach Wilfried Nancy. “I felt that they didn’t care against whom we were playing against. After the game in Mexico, we spoke with the players and with my staff, we decided to make a few adjustments and just go for it. I’m proud because the players are really starting to believe in what we’re trying to put in place.”
That goal was followed by another from Mihailovic in the 22nd minute, who pierced the defense with one touch before firing a rocket with his left foot off the bar and into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
It was as perfect of a start as you can get for Montreal, who had flipped this deficit on its head to take the lead on aggregate. But Montreal knew what an away goal could do to their hopes of qualifying to the next round, and scoring that third goal would ensure they kept the lead on aggregate even if Santos Laguna scored.
An unlikely hero
That’s where Ismaël Koné comes into the fold. Making his first professional start, the 19-year-old impressed with his play in the first half, getting lots of time on the ball. Early in the second half. Koné would find himself one on one against the goalkeeper, but his attempt would be blocked.
Then, in the 61st minute, he got another chance.
It was a dream start for the young Montrealer, scoring in front of the home fans in the Champions League, on his debut, with friends and family in attendance. But beyond the goal, it was his overall performance that impressed fans and pundits alike.
“I like having tactical flexibility, and that’s what Ismaël gave me tonight,” said Nancy. “I spoke with my staff, and I felt he was ready. He had a really good preseason. He learned a lot last year. We built, with him, an environment that would allow him to improve, and that’s what he did. He grew as a person. That’s the Ismaël we all know. Yes, he made mistakes like everyone, but what you saw on the field is him. After, it’s about consistency. I know he’s capable of doing good things. Now, he needs to continue working hard and progressing, and continue having fun on the field.”
Revenge acquired
The setting was reminiscent of the last time these two teams met at Olympic Stadium, back in 2009. Montreal won that game 2-0, a game that will forever live in the memories of this Club’s supporters, thanks to a brace from Eduardo Sebrango.
The team would end up losing the second leg, just missing out on qualifying to the next round. 13 years later, with none other than Eduardo Sebrango manning the North Star bell, Montreal was able to avenge that loss.
Journalist Jérémy Filosa, who’s been covering the Club since its very beginnings, asked what it meant to some of the players who were around back in 2009.
“I haven’t checked my phone yet, we’ll see,” added Nancy. “But I know they’re happy. That’s what’s most important. I know the Club is happy. We’re proud. I was an assistant coach last time we were in the Champions League two years ago and in the stands the years before that, feeling that emotion. At the end of the day, we need to continue building this Club’s history. That’s what we did tonight, and that’s why I’m happy. Today, we can remember that we defeated Mexican side Santos Laguna, who had gotten the better of us in the past.”
Montreal now takes this momentum into its MLS season, set to begin this Sunday, February 27, at 1pm, against Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium. That game will be followed by their home opener the following Saturday, March 5, at 4pm at Olympic Stadium. Tickets for that game are available here.
“We have a good idea of what we want to accomplish this year,” said Mihailovic. “We’re a confident young team and last year was a huge growing opportunity for a lot of guys, as well as an opportunity for us to twist some heads. We ended the year with a championship, and we brought that momentum into this competition. We played a fantastic game tonight against a team that broke this Club’s heart awhile back. Now we’re looking forward to the MLS season.”
