One could almost do two sets of player ratings so different was the performance of the first half for the Montreal Impact from the second.

In their defense, this was more to do with a technically superior opponent upping their game considerably from a dire and lazy first half. 61,004 people watched the CONCACAF Champions League second leg and saw a breath-taking first half performance from the home side. Things changed after the break and they watched as three goals rained past them in 16 minutes.

It is hard to praise Ignacio Piatti’s excellent first half enough and had he kept it going, his mark would be up there in the 9 or 9.5 territory. Similarly, how can you praise Nigel Reo-Coker for his leadership which may have kept quite a few of his colleagues out of the referee’s book, but also take into account his part in the goals conceded?

Kristian Nicht 5: The last gasp newcomer from the Indy Eleven replaced the suspended Evan Bush. The German stopper had little to do early but snatched his first catch cleanly. Late on in the first, he palmed away a cross from his right with authority showing  a good strong left hand. He held onto the first America on target attempt in the 48th easily.

If he was to blame for any of the goals, it was the first. He was far from helpless when Benedetto beautifully volleyed in the equaliser which was almost straight at him. He did better to dive on the ball in front of a forward shortly after as the CA blitz threatened to blow the Impact away. He was poorly served by his defenders on the next two goals. Reo-Coker allowed a floated pass to beat him on the second and Ciman and Toia were both too slow tracking back for the third. Soumare was nowhere to be seen on either but the captain Reo-Coker will be the first to hold up his hands and admit he wasn’t good enough.

Bakary Soumare 4.5: Deservedly gained a yellow for a high boot to stop a breakaway, but he managed to stay disciplined thereafter. He shepherded Arroyo out of play at the end after a tired Reo-Coker was beaten again. Generally, the pace and accuracy of the counters left him reeling and out of position.

Laurent Ciman 6.5: The Belgian made a fantastic tackle very early to deny Dario Benedetto a clear shot. He wasted a free kick by firing wide before helping out with a great defensive header, followed by a great interception seconds later. His yellow came in 63′ for a tough challenge. He was one of two defenders that Peralta sneaked in between for the second and was well off the pace seconds later for the third. On the fourth goal, Benedetto was just too clever for him.

Danny Toia 5.5: (off in 67′) The 22-year-old left back had a quiet start as his side dominated the opening. Even when America woke up a little, much of the threat came on the other flank, even enabling him to get forward on one occasion. A good block just after the equaliser was timely. He was one of two defenders that Oribe Peralta sneaked in between for the second.

Nigel Reo-Coker 4.5: He reverted to right back to allow Marco Donadel into the line up, replacing the injured Camara. He lost his man on an early free kick and the underside of the bar saved his side. A natural leader, he diplomatically managed to keep the peace as tempers rose, and made a key interception to protect his out-of-position defense, an interception which set up Piatti’s chance for 2-0 which was sadly missed.

He did well to calm the situation as America tried to disrupt a game they were struggling to get into. He battled well just after half time to deny an attack. He and Soumare both lost the goalscorer at the America first. He lost Quintero at the back post for the 2nd and was too slow for the third seconds later. In the end, leading this side, organizing this formation and playing out of position against a quality opponent was too much for him.

Calum Mallace 4: (off in 79′) Another Impact player who drew an early free kick when Guerrero barged him over. His distribution fared well in the hothouse first half but he was invisible after the interval and removing him was an easy decision for Frank Klopas.

Marco Donadel 5.5:  (off in 67′) He replaced Hassoun Camara, who was injured. Donadel made his first appearance in over a month which showed. He conceded a dangerous free kick when he impeded Benedetto, giving Nicht his first heart stopping moment when the ball hit the underside of the bar. Intervened well running back to break up CA as they began to regain confidence. His tackling was not all perfectly timed and a yellow for persistent fouling seemed inevitable from 20 minutes on though he escaped.  He disappointingly hit the wall from a free kick but it was not a bad showing from a man who has been out of the team for so long.

Andrés Romero 5: He took full advantage of Piatti’s genius in the 8th minute and kept his composure to open the scoring. He received a yellow in a spat with Osvaldo Martínez. Romero was barely visible after the interval but no-one can take away from him that he scored in the CONCACAF Cup final.

Ignacio Piatti 7.5: His early partnership with Oduro looked threatening. The Argentinian looked even more so in the 8th when he weaved his way through the right of the penalty area to create Impact’s opener. But he missed a chance for 2-0 when Moisés Muñoz foiled him after he had done the hard part. Did that prove crucial? Probably not. In the first half he forced a yellow from Pablo Aguilar who had no answer to his skills. His pass to McInerney for the consolation was excellent. Although he was hard to find as the blitz fell on the Impact goal, he marks high for providing the quality that forced the visitors to up their game. If he can do this to Major League Soccer opponents on a regular basis, this may not be Montreal’s last final.

Dilly Duka 5: Duka fed Piatti superbly from the left to set up what should have been a second goal for Montreal. Duka also made a great interception to relieve a an America attack just before the whistle for half time. He fired straight at Munoz in the closing minutes as Impact sought a consolation.

Domini Oduro 5.5: Oduro was brought down while on an early fiery run which should have led to an opponent playing on a yellow for most of the match.  The second time he was flattened Guerrero was not so lucky. His pace troubled America at those times when it wasn’t Piatti’s skill unnerving them but they did not get the ball to him enough. He saw yellow for an off the ball incident at 1-3 in an act of petulance, or at best frustration. He fired straight at Munoz in a rare second half break for the home side.

Jack McInerney 6.5: (on in 67′) He scored a late goal restoring some richly deserved pride to the Impact.

Maxim Tissot n/a: (on in 79′) Made a decent block  within four minutes of entering but the game was really over by the time Tissot arrived.

Patrice Bernier n/a: (on in 79′) Bernier did not impact the game sufficiently to be marked.