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Cruz Azul advance to semifinals after draw with CF Montreal

ByAngelo Zarra|
MONTREAL, ON - MARCH 16: Uriel Antuna #7 of Cruz Azul (R) celebrates his goal with teammates in the first half against CF Montréal during the quarterfinals match at Olympic Stadium on March 16, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, ON - MARCH 16: Uriel Antuna #7 of Cruz Azul (R) celebrates his goal with teammates in the first half against CF Montréal during the quarterfinals match at Olympic Stadium on March 16, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Cruz Azul’s Angel Romero controls the ball against pressure from CF Montreal’s Lassi Lappanainen during the Concacaf Champions League match at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium on Wednesday. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Cruz Azul’s Angel Romero controls the ball against pressure from CF Montreal’s Lassi Lappanainen during the Concacaf Champions League match at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium on Wednesday. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

CF Montreal fall to Cruz Azul in the Concacaf Champions League

Hosts CF Montreal entered the second leg of its ConcaChampions quarterfinal match down 1-0 to Cruz Azul, hoping the Concacaf magic at the Olympic Stadium would repeat itself.

In the Round of 16, Montreal came home down 1-0 to Liga MX side Santos Laguna and cruised to a 3-0 win in the second leg at home.

It was a positive start for CF Montreal, they managed to get a shot on target in the first minute, something they struggled to do in their away fixture where they registered one shot in the full 90 minutes.

All jokes aside, CF Montreal keeper Sebastian Breza made a few solid saves to keep the game scoreless in the opening 20 minutes. Cruz Azul looked dangerous on set pieces but couldn’t find the back of the net.

Honduras international Romell Quioto was burning up the left side of the pitch all first half long but could not capitalize on his chances. The game was going according to plan for Montreal but all of a sudden Cruz Azul found the back of the net in the 44th minute.

Just like in the first leg at Estadio Azteca, Uriel Antuna registered a goal just before the half, giving the away side a comfortable 2-0 lead on aggregate with the all important away goal.

CF Montreal led in possession in the first half with 65 percent, but Cruz Azul had the more important stat with a goal to their name.

In the second half, CF Montreal were showing signs of life with three chances produced by forward Kei Kamara in the opening 10 minutes of the second frame. But like the first half, Montreal couldn’t capitalize on their created chances.

In the 78th minute, Cruz Azul were caught standing around and CF Montreal got one back with a close range header finding the back of the net, courtesy of Rudy Camacho. With the goal, the home side still had a mountain to climb, needing two more goals in the final 10 minutes to advance to the semifinals.

In the end Cruz Azul advanced to the semifinals with a 1-1 scoreline, 2-1 on aggregate. They will face Mexico City rivals UNAM. With CF Montreal’s exit from the Concacaf Champions League, they can now focus their attention on the MLS campaign as they search for their first victory of the season in league play.

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