Vancouver FC were mere minutes from taking their TELUS Canadian Championship tie back to Stade Saputo this weekend all square with CF Montréal.
But a stoppage-time Prince Owusu winner from the penalty spot saw the MLS side come all the way back for a 2-1 win at the Langley Events Centre.
A well-contested opening 20 minutes of the match saw both clubs get into dangerous areas on the pitch. Vancouver came closest to scoring on a free header for Terran Campbell in the 19th minute, which he directed off target.
The MLS side held more of the ball as the half went on, but Vancouver still looked dangerous in transition. In particular, down the right flank they were able to create some dangerous moments, with Morey Doner and Thierno Bah combining brilliantly, the latter putting the first shot on target of the match in the 31st minute.
CF Montréal had their best chance of the opening half in the 40th minute, when Noah Striet cut down the left flank and flashed a shot across the front of the net and narrowly wide.
The two sides went into the half tied 0-0, with Vancouver FC putting on a strong showing and more than holding their own against the five-time Canadian Champions, CF Montréal.
The visitors made a change at the half, bringing off Olger Escobar for Hennadii Synchuk.
Vancouver had a decent early chance on the second phase of a corner, as Campbell tried an audacious overhead kick, but it was blocked before it could trouble Sebastian Breza in the CF Montréal net.
Just five minutes later, Mohamed Amissi dribbled down the left flank before laying it off to Campbell. He dropped it for Damiano Pecile, whose long strike hit Nicolás Mezquida and deflected past Breza to give Vancouver FC a 1-0 lead.
It was Mezquida's seventh Canadian Championship goal, which is now second all-time behind only Ballou Tabla of Atlético Ottawa and Toronto FC's Jonathan Osorio.
That lead lasted just under 10 minutes, however. In the 63rd minute, a dangerous cross into the box from Dagur Þórhallsson was inadvertently headed into the Vancouver net by Matteo Campagna to tie the score at 1-1.
Vancouver had an outstanding chance to regain the lead in the 85th minute. Damiano Pacile brilliantly played Morey Doner in behind, and he streaked into the six-yard box but saw his shot well denied by Breza. He perhaps could have squared it for a couple of teammates in the middle, but nevertheless, it was another quality play from the Eagles.
The last second of the 90, however, spelled heartbreak for the Eagles. Campagna brought down substitute Owen Graham-Roache in the box, and the visitors were awarded a penalty. Owusu stepped up and calmly placed his spot kick into the bottom corner.
Vancouver FC will now face the difficult task of trying to overcome that deficit on Sunday at Stade Saputo for leg two.
What they do have in their favour is the fact that there are no away goals in this year's competition, and they now know they are more than capable of going toe-to-toe with CF Montréal.
Box Score
Starting XIs
Vancouver FC: Irving; Doner, Campagna, Field, Proctor; Fotsing (Ssewankambo 76') Pecile (Toomey 87'); Bah, Mezquida (Polisi 67'), Amissi; Campbell (Gee 76')
CF Montréal: Breza; Þórhallsson, Neal, Morales, Petrasso; Longstaff (Graham-Roache 88'), Piette (Amaya 72'), Loturi; Escobar (Synchuk 46'), Rios (Owusu 72'), Streit
Goals
54' — Nicolás Mezquida (Vancouver FC)
63' — Matteo Campagna (Vancouver FC) (Own Goal)
90+2' —Prince Owusu (CF Montréal) (Penalty)
Discipline
68' — Yellow: Dagur Þórhallsson (CF Montréal)
87' — Yellow: Marcello Polisi (Vancouver FC)
90+4' — Yellow: Frankie Amaya (CF Montréal)
CPLSoccer.com Player of the Match
Dagur Þórhallsson, CF Montréal
The CF Montréal full-back's cross forced an own goal for their equalizer, and he was excellent throughout, completing 41 of 44 passes, winning possession six times and making a pair of tackles.
What's Next?
The second leg of this quarterfinal tie will be played at Stade Saputo on Sunday, July 12 (4:30 p.m. PT / 7:30 p.m. ET).
