Montreal Impact beat Alajuelense to move closer to CCL finals

Updated: May 17, 2023, 01:20 am
Montreal Impact defender Victor Cabrera reacts with teammates after scoring his team's second goal of the night in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal match vs. Costa Rican side Alajuelense.
AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Paul Chiasson

The Montreal Impact are bidding to become the first Canadian club to reach a CONCACAF Champions League final after securing a 2-0 home win vs. Costa Rican club Alajuelense.

Montreal's Olympic Stadium went wild nine minutes into the game when Impact midfielder Ignacio Piatti scored the opener to put his team up 1-0. Dominic Oduro's cross found Piatti, who stepped around his marker, before beating Alajuelense keeper Dexter Lewis.

Four minutes later Victor Cabrera scored from a corner kick to make it 2-0. Marco Donadel assisted on the goal.

Alajuelense rarely threatened in the first half but looked more dangerous after the break. Their best chance to get back in the game came in the 75th minute, but Johan Venegas failed to capitalise.

The Impact, who play their league games in MLS, nearly scored a third in stoppage time, with Lewis doing well to keep out Cameron Porter's goalbound strike.

The return leg is in Alajuela, Costa Rica on April 8.