Club America maintained the honor of Liga MX by claiming the CONCACAF Champions League title against the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.
It seemed dark at the half for America, down by an early Andres Romero goal and seemingly unable to get into gear. The improbable Impact upset that had started in Estadio Azteca needed only 45 more minutes to reach completion.
However, it wasn't to be. Like a freight train that finally picked up steam, then became impossible to stop, Club America chugged out goal after goal in the second half, finally winning 4-2 (5-3 on aggregate), thanks in large part to a Dario Benedetto hat trick.
Here are three takeaways from the match.
1. Matosas produces magic again
Coaches the world over will want to know what Gustavo Matosas said to his squad at the halftime break. They had been out of sorts all through the first half, looking upset with each other, the artificial turf field and, most of all, their scrappy rivals.
Yet somehow, Matosas got the Aguilas players to turn it all around. That's not an easy trick when one's own seat is uncomfortably hot due to some poor Liga MX results, but this trophy will go a long way to assuaging fears that Matosas is the wrong man to handle the talent on this team. Whether against Herediano or Montreal, it seems that Matosas can get his men going when it's most needed.
"It was a difficult game," Matosas noted after the match. "It's been a long time since I enjoyed a half like I enjoyed this second half."
2. Benedetto hits his stride
Dario Benedetto is a streaky striker. When he's off, he can seem like a sullen player, especially because he doesn't work open space like Oribe Peralta and find ways to contribute with passes or other offensive energy.
But when he's on, Benedetto is a fearless force in the air. His first goal was exactly what it needed to be, an impressive scissor strike that rocketed past newly signed Montreal goalkeeper Kristian Nicht. It was the sort of goal that came with the stamp of Club America's quality. It seemed to wake up the entire team as to who they really were and what they needed to do. From that point on, America executed on another level and the goals flowed freely, including two more from Benedetto, who claimed the CCL Golden Boot and Ball for his efforts.
"With the things that have been said about our team, this championship means so much," Benedetto said.
3. Peralta still leads the way
Matosas' decision to hold Peralta out of the clasico versus Chivas might have been questioned by some, but it was justified when the veteran scored the winning goal that really put the knife to Montreal's hopes. Until that goal, the Impact still had some hope of holding out for extra time.
Peralta's goal wasn't scored with the force that Benedetto generated, but it was typical of his savvy play. He exploited a defensive error, got himself into good position and adroitly headed Darwin Quintero's pass into the goal.
It seems clear that if the Club America stays in playoff position, they will go as far as Peralta can lead them. Given his excellent abilities and the team's talent, that could be all the way to a defense of their Liga MX trophy.
However, in the meantime, Club America has the CONCACAF Champions League trophy to enjoy.