Ignacio Piatti was once very close to joining Club América, while Moisés Muñoz actually spent much of his childhood in the United States and his parents live in San Jose, California.
Now, however, the Montreal Impact's star Argentine is the biggest thorn in the Mexican giants' side – even teasing Las Aguilas' outspoken goalkeeper for his pregame boasting ahead of Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions League final second leg at a sold-out Olympic Stadium (8 pm ET, Fox Sports 2, UniMás in US; Sportsnet World, TVA Sports 2 in Canada).
Piatti beat Muñoz to score Montreal's shocking opening goal in last week's 1-1 first-leg draw at Estadio Azteca. But the América 'keeper (pictured at right) has since branded the Impact as “lucky” and undeserving of the title of CONCACAF champions, further claiming that his side will only be satisfied with a thumping victory of five goals or so in Montreal.
“Let’s see. It surprises me that he said that and we’re waiting for them to score those five goals – and for him to have a good game,” Piatti told reporters at the Impact's Monday training session. “[Let's see] that he’s not the one getting those five scored on him.”
The duo might well have been teammates, with América one of a few Mexican clubs who wooed Piatti as his star rose during a standout tenure with San Lorenzo in his home country. Piatti chose the Impact instead, making his move north just in time to miss out on San Lorenzo's capture of the Copa Libertadores title last year – an honor which earned them a place in the Club World Cup, the same tournament awaiting Wednesday's winner.
“I could have gone to Mexico. They always look for players in Argentina,” said Piatti. “Now it's a decisive game in a final. I am doing very well in Montreal, I feel very good and my only thought is to win this final.
“When I came here, I knew that we are in CONCACAF and to win [CCL] would be very difficult, but the dream was there,” he added. “As the games went on it became more of a reality and now I’m one game away from reaching that dream.”
Piatti epitomizes Montreal's measured confidence as the home side prepare to reach for the biggest achievement in their club's history in front of a crowd expected to break Canadian soccer's all-time attendance record.
“We don’t fear anything about them,” said Impact skipperNigel Reo-Coker. “[Muñoz] can say what he wants. We don’t put too much into it. It’s about what you do on the pitch.”
