CF Montreal is preparing to return to the Olympic Stadium for its home opener, an amphitheater where it has played the biggest games in its history. He will receive the Philadelphia Union on Saturday and will try to sign a first victory in 2023.
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To mark this return home with dignity, here are some of the best moments of the team at the “Big O” through the years.
– February 25, 2009 c. Santos Laguna
The Impact’s first run in the CONCACAF Champions League took a dramatic turn, as most long-time fans remember. Before letting go of their comfortable lead in the second leg of this quarter-final in Mexico, John Limniatis’ men had taken the lead at the Olympic Stadium. Eduardo Sebrango scored both goals in a 2-0 win. No one suspected that the Bleu-Blanc-Noir would go down 5-4 on aggregate thereafter.
– 17 mars 2012 c. Fire de Chicago
Its first home game in Major League Soccer, Montreal played it at the stadium of the 1976 Games, in front of no less than 58,912 spectators. The Chicago Fire were the visitor for the occasion and chilled the crowd by earning a 1-1 draw. Davy Arnaud hit the target for the local favorites but future organization player Dominic Oduro replied for the visitors from Illinois.
– May 12, 2012 c. Los Angeles Galaxy
What was for a while the highest-attended soccer game in Canadian history was, at first glance, an unremarkable encounter. However, the ferocious Los Angeles Galaxy and the great David Beckham were passing through the Quebec metropolis, which justified the use of the Olympic Stadium. A monster crowd of 60,860 turned out for the occasion and booed the Englishman at every opportunity. It is also this gentleman who scored the goal of the Galaxy from a free kick in a 1-1 draw.
– 3 mars 2015 c. CF Pachuca
This date is when many fans fell in love with the Montreal team. On March 3, 2015, the Olympic Stadium exploded with joy when Cameron Porter scored the most important goal in club history. Back in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the Impact trailed against Pachuca in second half stoppage time. Porter, an illustrious unknown at the time, saved the team by thwarting the goalkeeper between the legs, after a crazy streak. Montreal reached the tournament final that year.
– 29 avril 2015 c. Club America
Precisely, two months later, after defeating Alajuelense in the semi-finals, the Impact was back in front of its supporters at the Stadium. They defended well against Club America, one of Mexico’s top clubs, but lost 4-2 to a full house of 61,004. Andres Romero gave his side the lead in the eighth minute, but four consecutive goals from their opponents knocked them out.
– November 22, 2016 c. Toronto FC
At the end of 2016, the ideal scenario took shape for Canadian soccer, when Montreal and Toronto FC met in the Eastern Conference final. After a series won at Stade Saputo against the New York Red Bulls, the Impact dusted off the Olympic Stadium to face its biggest rival. The 61,004 fans left satisfied with this duel, which ended in a 3-2 win. However, it was a heartbreaking overtime defeat that awaited the Bleu-Blanc-Noir in the return match at BMO Field. The Torontonians then lost the final to the Seattle Sounders, which at least gave Montrealers an ounce of satisfaction.
