The Montreal Impact will be playing the biggest game in their history on Wednesday night in the CONCACAF Champions League Final against Club America. With 2,000 last minute tickets sold, the sellout crowd will be over 61,000 strong at Olympic Stadium as the Impact attempt to become the first Major League Soccer and first Canadian team to lift this trophy. 

The first leg was nothing short of spectacular as the Impact went into Estadio Azteca and pulled off a shocking 1-1 draw. While the draw is a dream result for any team playing in such a tough environment, the draw is actually disappointing to Montreal since the tying goal was conceded just moments before the final whistle. Ignacio Piatti finished off a brilliant quick pass sequence to open the scoring in the 16th minute, and it took Club America until the final minutes to get the equalizer when Oribe Peralta was able to find the back of the net. America must be feeling like they let this one get away since they controlled the game from start to finish and outshot the visitors 7 to 1. 

The result was not all good news for the Canadian side though. Starting goalkeeper Evan Bush was shown a yellow card, his second since the reset at the start of the semifinals, and will miss the final game of the tournament. Rumors began circulating as soon as it was made known the Bush would likely miss the game as the appeal was doomed to fail. Eric Kronberg, Bush's backup, is cup tied to Sporting Kansas City and ineligible to play.  Kristian Nicht has been brought in from Indy Eleven to fill in for the suspended Bush. To read more about Nicht and the goalkeeper situation, you can check out Cammy Anderson's full coverage here.

Montreal Potential Starting Lineup

Frank Klopas has his squad playing excellent team defense and countering like one of the best clubs in the world. Changes in the lineup will be very few. Dominic Oduro got the start up top in game one over Jack McInerney and Andreas Romero filled in on the right wing. While this is a likely formation, putting McInerney back in the starting lineup and shift Oduro to the right wing is the stronger attacking squad. Since goals will be needed, expect this formation.

Bush

Camara - Soumare - Ciman - Toia

Reo-Coker - Mallace

Oduro - Piatti - Duka

McInerney

Club America Potential Starting Lineup

Club America has fun with three, four, and even five in the back line during the tournament already. The last time they faced elimination they ran with four in the back and crushed Herediano 6-0, but that was at home. With the need to stop the counter, a bit more reserved lineup will be needed. Expect something similar to this lineup Wednesday night.

Munos

Aguilar - Alvarado - Aguilar - Samudio

Quintero - Martinez - Pellerano - Sambueza

Benedetto - Arroyo

Match Outlook

The Montreal Impact will be playing in a packed house with a slight advantage heading into the game with an away goal under their belt. A nil-nil draw would see them to victory, but playing for the draw is an easy way to lose it all. Club America needs just two goals to put the pressure on the home side as it would shift the away goals balance in their favor. After the first leg, they should be confident they will create chances and finishing just two or three could insure their victory.

As they have done all tournament, Montreal will need to rely on team defense and quick counters. Their midfield has been clinical on the break and made all the right decisions on when to go and when to play it long and reset the defense. One more performance like they have had all tournament and they will be in a position to come out on top. Another early goal would put them well on their way. Holding Club America to a single goal is crucial. Giving up the away goals advantage will require the Impact to score three or more and win the game outright. While scoring three goals isn't impossible, it is something Montreal has not done yet in 2015.

Club America needs just two goals to really turn the pressure up. If they can do that, they will be in the driver's seat to run the game out. They held nearly 70% possession in the first leg and had an amazing 83% passing accuracy on the game. Although the stats are bit inflated because of Montreal's game plan, they are still impressive and a sign of what America can do in this game. Scoring one early is key as it means extra time in the event of a draw. Scoring first would open the game up as Montreal chase the aggregate and potentially allow the visitors to tack on one or two more.

Nothing brings a team together like being the underdogs, which is what Montreal have been this entire tournament. Although they have a new keeper, their team attitude is contagious and Nicht should fit right in. Montreal can and should play like they still have nothing to lose. If they do that, a win will be within their grasp. Club America will try to spoil the party with two goals and put it away early.

Prediction: If Evan Bush were on the line, this would be a 2-1 victory in favor of Montreal, but with Nicht, the game ends in a 2-2 Draw and Club America raise the trophy on away goals.

This game means so much to Canada, MLS, and Montreal that a defeat would be a crushing blow. Being so close to a title after such a magical run an missing out will be hard to swallow, especially after several highly suspect calls in the first leg that could have completely shifted the tone of the upcoming match.

Every time Montreal has been counted out, they have managed to amaze fans everywhere with something new. Will Wednesday night be the first time this squad scores three goals? Will new goalkeeper Kristian Nicht manage a shutout in his first game with the squad? Fans of Montreal and Major League Soccer can only hope that they haven't seen the best of the Impact yet and there is one more magical game to finish the 2015 CONCACAF Champions League Tournament.

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About the author
Blayne Riffle
I am a KC native, living away from my true home. I do IT for a living. But I have always been an avid soccer fan and follow many other sports. Obviously there is some KC bias.