Top 25 Montreal Sports Moments Of 2014: 20-16

Jun 4, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Montreal Impact players hold a trophy as they won the Canadian Championship as they won against Toronto FC at the Stade Saputo. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

19. Montreal Impact’s Canadian Championship and CONCACAF Champions League Performance

I think the Ultras summed up what the Amway Canadian Championship meant to the Impact in 2014. Ahead of the competition’s final match, the supporters group held up a sign that read ‘One Game to Save the Season.’

Montreal ended up beating rivals Toronto FC to win the game and the championship. While the game didn’t necessarily save the season, it did give fans of the Bleu, Blanc, Noir something to cheer about and feel optimistic.

In winning the Canadian Championship, the club qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League, which puts the best clubs from North and Central America up against one another. Montreal was drawn into a group with Salvadorian side C.D. FAS and a familiar foe – the New York Red Bulls.

The Impact won the group, going undefeated, and qualified for the knockout round. Their quarterfinal opponent will be Mexican club Pachuca. The two clubs will play a home and home series, with the leg being played in Montreal taking place on March 3 at the Olympic Stadium. This will undoubtedly be one of the most exciting matches of the 2015 season and who knows how far the squad can go!

The last time the Impact were in the quarterfinals of the Champions League was back in 2009. They played Mexican club Santos Laguna and surprised them by winning 2-0 in front of a 55,000 club record crowd at the Big O. They were eventually eliminated by Santos, but as someone who was at the game as a youngster, the atmosphere was unforgettable and Montreal can only hope to replicate it come March.

-Graham Neysmith

Next: No. 18: A Holiday Tradition Returns To La Metropole