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Midfielder Tony Donatelli struck for two goals and set up another as the Montreal Impact won 4-1 over Joe Public of Trinidad in Port of Spain Wednesday night in CONCACAF Champions League action.
"I think from the beginning of this tournament nobody really expected too much from us, but the guys in the lockeroom had faith in each other and we have showed through the first four games what we are really capable of," Donatelli said after the game.
"This team is a confident group and now we really know we can win no matter who we play," he said. "We are capable of getting wins against any team, anywhere at any time."
The goals came fast and furiously during a 13-minute span in the first half at Hasely Crawford Stadium as the Impact remained undefeated and improved their record to three wins and a tie with two games remaining in Group Stage play.
Montreal striker Rocco Placentino opened the scoring in the fourth minute when he first timed a left-footed blast past Joe Public goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa converting a low, hard cross from Donatelli just moments after kickoff.
While the early Montreal goal caught the Joe Public defenders flat footed and off-guard, four minutes later they responded to their miscue with an equalizer.
During a goalmouth scramble in the Impact penalty area, Joe Public striker Kerry Noray collected the bouncing ball, dribbled right of Montreal midfielder Leonardo DiLorenzo and buried a hard shot past Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan from point-blank range.
The Impact then rallied and went ahead 2-1 in the 13th minute when Di Lorenzo atoned for his mistake and sent a beautiful cross to Donatelli who thumped a hard left-footed shot past Figueroa.
"We came out very strong and got a goal very early in the game, then they bounced back but we didn't get our heads down and produced a great win with a total team effort tonight," Donatelli said.
Montreal made the score 3-1 in the 43rd minute after a brilliant through ball from midfielder Sandro Grande split the Joe Public defence and found the foot of Impact midfielder Joey Gjertsen.
Gjertsen alluded Figueroa at the top of the Joe Public penalty area and then played a square ball in front of goal to striker Peter Byers for the tap in to give the Impact a two goal half-time lead.
Donatelli struck for his second goal of the match in the 78th minute after second half substitute Felix Brillant set up Gjertsen on the left wing who crossed the ball to Donatelli who then stroked the ball past Figueroa to give Montreal a 4-1 lead.
Joe Public coach Keith Griffith had guaranteed his side would defeat the Impact by four goals in the return match after the Impact defeated Griffith's side 2-0 in the opening game of the Group Stage in Montreal on September 17, when Donatelli struck for a goal and assist.
Play tightened up drastically in the second half after a wide-open first 45 minutes which included a four goal feeding frenzy and numerous scoring chances for both teams.
The win moved the Impact into first place in Group C Champions League standing with three wins, a tie and 10 points while the second Atlante of Mexico played later in Tegucigalpa, Honduras against the Lions of CD Olimpia.
The Impact advanced to the continental club championship tournament after they won the Canadian Nutrilite Championship last July, topping Toronto FC and their United Soccer Leagues rivals the Vancouver Whitecaps in round robin play.
Montreal then defeated Nicaraguan side Real Esteli by a 1-0 aggregate score line during Preliminary Round play in September, advancing to the Group Stage of the tournament.
Montreal's success in the CONCACAF club championship has served as a rewarding consolation for the team who came up just short of a berth in the United Soccer League championship game last weekend.
During the second leg of their semi-final aggregate series against the Whitecaps on Sunday, Vancouver prevailed by a 2-1 aggregate score line.
The win moved the Whitecaps into the league championship game on Sunday in Burnaby B.C. against the Puerto Rico Islanders while the Impact now hope to represent CONCACAF against other continental champions in the FIFA World Club Championships in 2009.
"It [the World Club Championship] is a realistic goal for us right now," Donatelli said. "We only have two games left in the group stage and if we continue to keep the pace we will advance to the quarter-finals and be ready for it."
Fatigue hasn't appeared to have really taken its toll on the Impact who now look assured of taking one of the two top spots in the group and advancing to quarter-final play in February.
Wednesday's match was the 10th match in 22 days for the Impact including USL and Champions League play, with road trips to Seattle, Vancouver, and Tegucigalpa, Honduras included in an exhausting soccer marathon.
