Montreal target Impact in the Champions League

More than 30,000 fans are expected to pack into the Olympic Stadium as Montreal Impact welcome Costa Rica’s L.D. Alajuelense in the CONCACAF Champions League.

The Canadian side are bidding to become only the fifth MLS team to progress to the Champions League final over the two-legged affair.

Impact are unbeaten at home in the Champions League this season

The Impact are undefeated at home in the CONCACAF-wide tournament this campaign, picking up seven wins out of a possible ten. 

But perhaps more impressively that record includes eight clean sheets and that could prove pivotal in the tie, such is the importance of away goals.

Montreal qualified for the semi-finals in dramatic fashion, Cameron Porter’s added-time equaliser was enough to see off Mexican side Pachuca on away goals.

While Porter will be hoping to inspire his side again, he will not be assisted by the creative talents of Justin Mapp who misses out due to an elbow injury.

The winger has been one of Impact’s most dangerous players’ en-route to becoming only the second Canadian side to reach the last four of the Champions League.

Dominic Oduro is his most likely replacement, having been preferred to the likes of Maxim Tissot and Blake Smith in recent weeks.

Midfielder Eric Alexander and goalkeeper Eric Kronberg are cup-tied having played for New York Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City respectively, but stopper Krsitian Nicht returns.

Nicht is likely to be understudy to Evan Bush and the 29-year-old will need to be in top form to stop Alajuelense who lost out in the semi-finals last season.

Montreal are aiming to become the first Canadian finalists

The Costa Rican side looked in fine form when they dispatched MLS top seeds D.C. United 6-4 on aggregate in the last round.

The two-time North American champions recorded a 5-2 win in the home leg, so Montreal will surely need to claim victory tonight to stand any chance of progressing.

There is certainly hope for the Impact however, as Alajuelense have not won any of their four games since that demolishing of United.

The American side won the second leg 2-1 and the Costa Rican outfit have followed that up with three straight draws in the league.

Images courtesy of Mila Araujo and abdallahh, with thanks.