CF Montreal is lucky to leave Mexico with such a slight handicap. The Montrealers limited the damage at the legendary Azteca stadium, losing 1-0 to Cruz Azul in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Posted at 12:01 a.m.
This tells you the dominance of the locals in this match. Had it not been for an almost non-existent finish by the Mexicans, and a few good saves by Sebastian Breza, the story would have been quite different.
The lively attacking midfielder Uriel Antuna opened the scoring in the 20thand minute for the Mexicans. He took advantage of a defensive mess committed by Joel Waterman and Zorhan Bassong in their area. Antuna took up the leather on the right, came late alone and quickly into the box, then executed with the right foot, beating Breza.
PHOTO EDUARDO VERDUGO, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Uriel Antuna celebrates the only goal scored of the match.
Besides, we don’t really know if we should credit a commendable defensive effort from CF Montreal, or a flagrant lack of opportunism from Cruz Azul in the final third. The locals attempted no less than 18 shots against only 1 for the visitors. Only two of them were framed for the Mexicans.
Under the circumstances, you will understand that CF Montreal is getting off very lightly.
Altitude, hostile terrain, mysticism. The Montrealers looked for their bearings throughout the game at the Azteca, like the castaways of Oceanic Flight 815 on the island of the series Lost. And just like Jack Shepard and his gang, Wilfried Nancy’s men have never been able to decipher all the mysteries of the place.
It must be said that Wilfried Nancy had his hands tied offensively, Wednesday as since the start of the season. Four of his attackers were absent: Romell Quioto was suspended, Mason Toye, Sunusi Ibrahim were still injured, while Bjørn Johnsen is still recovering from COVID-19.
Kei Kamara entered at 67and minute, replacing Joaquín Torres.
Djordje Mihailovic was positioned as a leading striker, who usually plays as an attacking midfielder and playmaker. But he was completely isolated for most of the game.
Despite their disastrous start to the game, CF Montreal regained their momentum in the second half. We felt him finding a common goal of keeping the gap as low as possible and maybe — maybe — succeeding in getting an equalizer in extremis.
Spectators despite everything
CF Montreal and Cruz Azul almost played this quarter-final match behind closed doors at the Azteca.
Querétaro FC’s Corregidora stadium was the scene of serious violence between supporters during a match against Atlas de Guadalajara last weekend in the Mexican league. According to several local media, there would have been several deaths, but the official authorities refuse for the moment to confirm it. There are nevertheless a dozen arrests and 26 injured, according to AFP. The images that circulated on social networks were incredibly violent.
Sanctions fell on Tuesday: Querétaro will play for a year without spectators at home, its bars (violent supporters) will be banned from the stadium for three years, the club will have to pay a fine of 1.5 million pesos (C$92,000) and the club’s management will be suspended for five years. Atlas supporters will not be able to travel outside for six months.
The other Mexican clubs, including Cruz Azul, therefore escaped these sanctions.
Remember that Mexico must co-organize the 2026 World Cup with the United States and Canada.
— With Agence France-Presse