Action from the CONCACAF Champions League between the visiting Impact de Montreal and the New York Red Bulls (white jersey) on October 22, 2014, in Harrison, New Jersey, USA. (Photo courtesy of the New York Red Bulls)
HARRISON, New Jersey -- The New York Red Bulls struck late to register a 1-1 draw with the Impact de Montreal in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday, denying the Canadian champion a perfect Group 3 record.
Connor Lade struck with six minutes left in normal time for the Red Bulls (1-2-1, 5 points) to offset a 71st minute goal by Montreal's Jack McInerney in a meeting between two Major League Soccer teams.
The Impact, which already qualified for the quarterfinals, finished atop the group with a 3-1-0 record. New York had been eliminated after a scoreless draw at El Salvador’s FAS last month.
The first half was mostly a midfield battle as both sides played conservatively.
Forward Saer Sene proved to be the Red Bulls’ most significant offensive threat. In the 28th minute, he played a give-and-go with Ruben Bover, but was stuffed by goalkeeper Evan Bush.
Five minutes before the break, Sene combined with Marius Obekop on a quick one-two only for Bush to thwart an eight-yard attempt.
Bover’s right-sided effort from distance in the 34th minute was also saved by Bush.
McInerney fired over the crossbar to minutes later, but he was on target in the second half. Andres Romero found space on the left side in the 71st minute and played a low ball across the goalmouth that pulled goalkeeper Ryan Meara out of the net. Without hesitation, McInerney slotted the ball into an empty net from the right side.
Lade, who had been recalled on loan from the New York Cosmos a day earlier, equalized 13 minutes later. Bover floated a free kick from the right to center back Armando, who flicked the ball to Lade. The central midfielder tapped the ball into the net from close range to level the score at 1-1.
The goal snapped a 284-minute CCL scoreless drought for the Red Bulls, who last found the net in the 70th minute of their 2-0 opening win over El Salvador’s FAS.
