The CONCACAF Champions League final provided plenty of Argentine interest as Montreal Impact’s Ignacio Piatti sought to add to his Copa Libertadores medal that he won with San Lorenzo last year against Club América’s Argentine duo of Rubens Sambueza and Dario Benedetto. All three men had a profound impact on the match but it was former Arsenal striker Benedetto that stole the headlines with a stunning second half hat-trick.
Piatti was outstanding with San Lorenzo during 2014 and was the key man for Montreal, scoring last week in the Azteca and weaving through the América defence last night to create the opener last night for Andrés Romero.
Guilty of wasting a very good chance to double the lead, Piatti appeared to be let off the hook when Benedetto managed to miss from just two yards out at the other end but after the break it was a very different Club América.
Five minutes after half time, Benedetto acrobatically volleyed the Liga MX champions level and when Oribe Peralta headed them in front, Montreal collapsed. Benedetto added his second of the game and then completed his hat-trick with a wonderful turn and shot.
Piatti provided one more moment of magic to create a goal for Jack McInerney but it was a mere consolation as Gustavo Matosas’ side lifted the Champions League trophy for the sixth time. It will be Las Aguilas travelling to Japan in December for the Club World Cup and captain Sambueza and Benedetto should still be central to their plans.
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