CF Montreal is preparing to return to the Olympic Stadium for its home game, an amphitheater where it has played the biggest games in its history. He hosts the Philadelphia Union there on Saturday and will be looking to sign a first win there in 2023.
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To celebrate that return home with dignity, here are some of the team’s best moments at the Big O over the years.
– February 25, 2009 c. Santos Lagoon
Impact’s first run in the CONCACAF Champions League took a dramatic turn, as most long-time fans will remember. Before giving up 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 the 2-0 win. Nobody suspected that the Bleu-Blanc-Noir would then go down 4:5 overall.
– March 17, 2012 c. Chicago fire
Montreal played its first home game in Major League Soccer at the Stadium of the 1976 Games in front of no fewer than 58,912 spectators. The Chicago Fire were the guests for the occasion and caused a good mood with a 1-1 draw.
– May 12, 2012 c. Los Angeles galaxy
What was at times the highest-attended football game in Canadian history was, at first glance, just a chance encounter. However, the wild Los Angeles Galaxy and the great David Beckham roamed metropolitan Quebec, which justified the use of the Olympic Stadium. A monster crowd of 60,860 attended the occasion and booed the Englishman at every opportunity. It is also this gentleman who scored the Galaxy goal from a free kick in the 1-1 draw.
– March 3, 2015 c. CF Pachuca
That day, many fans fell in love with the Montreal team. On 3 March 2015, the Olympic Stadium exploded with joy when Cameron Porter scored the club’s most important goal. Back in the Champions League quarter-finals, the Impact were trailing in second-half injury time against Pachuca. Porter, then a famous unknown, saved the team by slowing the keeper out between the legs after a crazy run. Montreal reached the tournament finals that year.
– April 29, 2015 c. Club America
Exactly two months later, after defeating Alajuelense in the semifinals, the Impact was back in front of their fans in the stadium. They defended well against Club America, one of Mexico’s best clubs, but lost 4-2 in front of a full house of 61,004 players. Andres Romero gave his side the lead in the eighth minute, but four consecutive goals from their opponent ended them.
– November 22, 2016 c. Toronto F.C
In late 2016, the ideal scenario for Canadian football took shape when Montreal and Toronto FC met in the Eastern Conference Finals. After a series-winning run against the New York Red Bulls at the Stade Saputo, the Impact dusted off the Olympic Stadium to face their biggest rival. The 61,004 fans were content with the duel, which ended in a 3-2 win, but a heartbreaking overtime loss awaited the Bleu-Blanc-Noir in the second leg at BMO Field. The Torontonians then lost the Finals to the Seattle Sounders, giving the Montrealers at least some satisfaction.