Odds Against Montreal Impact in CONCACAF Champions League Match

The Montreal Impact are just one solid performance away from making history in Champions League play, but they’ll head into tonight’s game against Alajuelense in Costa Rica as significant underdogs.

Right now though, that +437 underdog tag at Sports Interaction won`t bother them much.

Montreal is trying to become the first Canadian and second MLS team to ever advance to the CONCACAF Champions League final. The Impact handed Alajuelense a 2-0 loss in Montreal last month, meaning the Impact just needs to stay within three goals of their opponents tonight to go through.

“It’s the biggest game in our history,” assistant coach Mauro Biello told the Canadian Press. “That’s our mindset: this is a moment that may not come back and we have to seize it. That’s without putting too much pressure on. It’s the reality.”

And the reality is, while the two-goal lead is nice, Montreal hasn`t exactly been known for locking down leads lately. The Impact went up 2-0 on Orlando FC in their last MLS game only to see the expansion squad strike back and tie the game in the span of two minutes, keeping IMFC winless in MLS play.

It`s those kind of lapses that have to worry IMFC supporters tonight.

“It helps that the other semifinal’s the day after us, so it’s not like we know an opponent or anything like that, yet,” Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush told ImpactMontreal.com. “We know that it’s only halftime, for sure. We’re up 2-0, and we feel it in our grasps, but by no means are we looking past [Tuesday].”

If nothing else, the Impact should be well rested and prepared. The MLS moved their match with the New York Red Bulls from April 4 to October, allowing the squad to travel to Costa Rica early.

“It’d be great for the club, for the city and also for the league, for the players and our great fans,” head coach Frank Klopas said. “I know that we have a lot of experienced players that have been in big moments, but it’s a great opportunity that we put ourselves into. It’s just about getting those moments and seizing the moments and the opportunity without any regrets.

L.D. Alajuelense is currently listed as a -177 favorite at Sports Interaction when the Draw is pegged at +262.