The Pumas UNAM threaded the needle twice at the end of the second half, but CF Montreal still triumphed in the shootout on Saturday night at Stade Saputo as the curtain raiser for the Coupe des Ligues.
The Bleu-blanc-noir seemed to be heading for a great victory when everything fell apart in the space of three minutes. However, he won the penalty shootout 4-2, in a 2-2 tie after regulation time.
At the 88e minute, Gabriel Fernandez made a superb scissor shot following a cross from Adrian Aldrete and he reduced the deficit to 2-1. In stoppage time, Emanuel Montejano jumped on a loose ball to silence the already tense Montreal fans.
During the shootout, Rudy Camacho, Mathieu Choinière, Gabriele Corbo and Lassi Lappalainen scored for CF Montreal, which saw two Pumas players miss their attempt, including one on a save by goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The Montreal troupe propelled themselves to the top of Group 2 of the East section with a collection of two points by virtue of this victory. The Pumas are currently second with one point.
The top two teams from each of the tournament’s 15 groups advance to the knockout stage. Los Angeles FC and Pachuca have already earned a bye as their respective league champions.
Bryce Duke and Mathieu Choinière found the back of the net in the first half to fuel the party at home in Montreal. The defense held on in the second half until this late-game collapse.
CF Montreal will play its last duel of the group stage by hosting DC United on Wednesday evening.
Lots of twists
Head coach Hernan Losada expected open play and he was right.
At the 12e minute, Choinière made a long run and he handed the ball to Duke, who saw his shot go over the net. Five minutes later, Kwadwo Opoku came out on top and saved the ball rather than passing it to his left to Ariel Lassiter, but his shot just missed the target.
CF Montreal opened the scoring after a few wild minutes.
After Choinière was stopped by goalkeeper Gil Alcala and Nathan Silva deflected the ball a few feet from the post to the left of Sirois, Duke hit the target on the 23rd.e minute.
The 22-year-old midfielder thought he had drawn a foul in front of the penalty area, but the referee let the streak continue. Choinière passed the ball to Lassiter, who passed it to the then-forgotten Duke at approximately the same spot where it had fallen. His curled shot found the back of the net to Alcala’s left.
The attacks were then more timid, but the Montrealers managed to double their lead before the end of the first half.
On a free kick placed about ten meters from the penalty area, Lassiter pretended to shoot and it was finally Choinière who fired a long shot. Corbo nearly deflected the ball with a header and it seemed to freeze Alcala, who was left helpless.
Trailing 2-0, the Pumas increased the pressure in the second half and orchestrated a few threatening attacks. The Bleu-blanc-noir defense was able to remain tight and Sirois slowed down the opposing momentum as much as possible by recovering the loose balls.
Technical skills and finesse gave way to tough play and several skirmishes in the last 30 minutes. Frustrated, the Mexican club even decided to give a little more in wrestling than in soccer at a certain point, but CF Montreal did not let it impose itself.
When they decided to return to using their feet, the Mexicans managed to tie the game and force the shootout, which turned to the advantage of the Montreal troops.