They say anything can happen in CONCACAF Champions League. And on Tuesday night, it very nearly did.
Jamaican minnows Montego Bay United, tournament debutantes who’d never won a CCL match or even scored a goal in the tournament, rode a Jermaine Woozencroft opener and Dino Williams brace to a 3-0 lead over D.C. United, who had already cinched up Group H but were looking to secure the top seed for the knockout rounds.
But Montego Bay were unable to weather a late United surge and had to settle for a wild 3-3 draw at Montego Bay Sports Complex after Jairo Arrieta, Kofi Opare and Michael Farfan bagged second-half goals.
United hadn’t given up a single goal in the competition, giving them a decent shot at the top seed for next year’s quarterfinals.
Assistant coach Chad Ashton took the reigns from head coach Ben Olsen, who remained stateside for the encounter and fielded a reserve-heavy lineup, one not entirely dissimilar to those United has used in their previous CCL matches. But their unfamiliarity showed early on Tuesday; Montego Bay were simply the more energetic side from the start, and after a series of half-chances, they got their opener in the 26th minute.
Off a quick restart, attacker Dwayne Ambusley threaded a ball through to Woozencroft, who took two touches before coolly slotting it around United goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra.
Woozencroft turned provider just four minutes later. The Jamaican international collected the ball on the sideline, bodying off a pair of defenders and running toward goal before slotting a pass to Dino Williams 18 yards from goal. Williams’ finish was of the highest order, a one-timed, left-footed attempt that rocketed into the upper 90.
D.C.’s best chance of the half came just before the whistle when rookie midfielder Aguilar – used as an outside back on Tuesday evening – overlapped on the far flank and swung a dangerous ball into the area. Montego ‘keeper Jacomeno Barrett pushed the effort directly into the path of an onrushing Chris Pontius, who one-timed it back toward the open goal mouth. Only a lunging goal-line clearance from defender Cordell Simpson would keep United off the board.
In the 49th minute, Montego could hardly believe it as they extended their lead to three on a penalty kick, one that Williams hammered home to complete his brace.
United began their crawl back into things in the 59th minute when Argentine midfielder Facundo Coria collected a pass at the near edge of the box and fed Arrieta near the PK spot. Arrieta struggled on his initial attempt but did well to make contact with his second try to pull one back for D.C.
Arrieta was involved again on their second in the 77th, flicking on a Collin Martin corner kick to Opare at the top of the six for a diving header to pull United within one.
Just moments from the final whistle, United found the equalizer. Midfielder Jared Jeffrey fired a shot from 30 yards out that made its way to Farfan in the box. Farfan did well to collect the inadvertent service, swiveling and firing a blast past Barrett to secure the draw for D.C.
Finished with group play, United will now await results from other groups in the tournament that will determine their quarterfinal seeding.
