Montreal vs. Club America: Score, Reaction to CONCACAF Champions League Final

Club America were the favorites. If you didn't know that, their public comments made it very clear how they felt about the Montreal Impact as competition. In a sports movie, it probably would have set the stage for Montreal pulling off an upset—and for a while, it looked like they would.

Then reality struck.

America scored four second-half goals, including three from Dario Benedetto, as they came back from a halftime deficit to earn a 4-2 win over Montreal and take the 2015 CONCACAF Champions League. America won the overall match 5-3 on aggregate following their 1-1 draw in the first leg. 

The win is America's first of the Champions League era. They had not made a final since their 2006 triumph, which came near the end of the Champion Cup era. Combining the two trophies, America have won six times overall. 

The two sides entered Wednesday night with a bit of bad blood atypical of the CONCACAF stage. After the first leg, Club America goalkeeper Moises Munoz stoked the ill feelings by saying the Impact did not deserve to share the stage. 

“That team does not deserve to be champions,” Munoz told reporters.

Montreal's response was typical of a David facing a Goliath: show respect but be defiant in your self-belief. 

“What I would say to Muñoz is the game is decided on the field,” Montreal head coach Frank Klopas told MLSsoccer.com's Andrew Wiebe. “That’s why I give my players confidence. I say, ‘You guys have quality, play with confidence, you’re just as good.’ Just as good, why not? What is the difference? I don’t see it.”

The result early on was a highly competitive contest that in some ways mirrored the first matchup. Andres Romero got Olympic Stadium rocking early, taking a Ignacio Piatti pass and weaving his way to the center of the box before firing a shot past Munoz to give Montreal a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute.

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Buoyed by the momentum of that goal, the Impact appeared ready to write their own Rocky story. With America patiently holding possession and waiting for their moment to attack, Montreal locked down defensively with a combination of smartly timed fouls and solid back-line play. America were held without a shot on goal for the entire first half, sending everyone into the locker room in a state of shock.

It did not take long for America to take control. 

Aggressive from the opening whistle, America got deep into the Montreal zone and looked to strike fast. Benedetto knotted the match up at 1-1 just five minutes into the second half, moments after his initial attempt was blocked. 

After a number of close calls went unfinished, Oribe Peralta put America ahead for good following an excellent header from Darwin Quintero in the 64th minute. Benedetto added his second goal two minutes later and a third in the 81st minute to drive through the final nails. Jack McInerney scored for Montreal in the 89th minute, but it was to little avail. 

Overall, the stat sheet reads like a domination. America held possession for 65 percent of the match, earned six corner kicks and had more tackles despite being the less aggressive defensive team. 

Benedetto's three-goal outing was the proper successor to his record-setting four goals in the second leg against Herediano to make the finals. The Argentine, who turns 25 next month, has been a godsend since coming over from Tijuana earlier this year. He's been able to come into his own as an elite goal-scorer and scintillating talent.

It'll be interesting to see whether his Champions League breakout will be a sign of things to come.

As for America, this victory should be expected. They came into the tournament as by far the most talented team, the best CONCACAF has to offer in a mix of smart management and financial wherewithal. That Munoz stuck his chest out and made those comments about Montreal raised some eyebrows, but it's hard to argue when America goes out and gets the results.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter