Club América left it mighty late, considering they were the nailed-on favorites heading into the CONCACAF Champions League final vs. the Montreal Impact.
But according to their manager, it was only a matter of time.
Three goals in a devastating 16-minute span of razor-sharp attacking play in the second half of the championship series second leg were enough to separate the wealthy Mexican outfit from their upstart Canadian adversaries, and claim the region's top club honor with a 4-2 win in Montreal on Wednesday night.
“We had said [at halftime] that we had to stay calm, that the team was in good position and was moving well into the attack,” América boss Gustavo Matosas said in his postgame press conference. “We had to be calm when it came to the final pass in order to do the most damage.
“I'm thankful for the great level that the players showed today. They're lions. And they had the patience and the wisdom to wait for the right moments to make their move, and I'm really happy with their performance.”
The hopes of the loud, standing-room-only crowd – Matosas called the home faithful “impressive” and “fantastic” – that urged the Impact on at Olympic Stadium soared when Andres Romero gave the hosts an early lead.
But the incisive passing and movement of hat-trick hero Dario Benedetto and his strike partner Oribe Peralta carved open an uncharacteristically disorganized Montreal defense time and time again after halftime to secure victory down the stretch.
“Where we were better [in the second half] was in the final pass, which was missing,” explained Matosas. “The pass before the goal. The squad was better and had more of a chance, and that's where the opportunities came from.
“The quality and level of the players of América ensured the victory was ours,” added the former Uruguay international. “But congratulations to the Impact, who have a great team and a great coach and are building something good here.”
Even as they celebrated thousands of miles to the northeast of their Mexico City home, Las Aguilas did not forget about the historical context of the triumph. With their sixth CONCACAF championship in CCL and its predecessor, the Champions Cup, they have now drawn level with their crosstown rivals, 2014 CCL winners Cruz Azul.
“It's our sixth cup and we tied Cruz Azul when it comes to international titles,” noted Matosas. “When you have a final, you have to win it. That's glory. It's like taking a sip from a cup of glory.”
