Impact make Canadian soccer history by reaching CONCACAF Champions League final

For the first time in the 53-year history of the CONCACAF's top club-level tournament, a Canadian team will compete in the final. The Montreal Impact had to survive a contentious contest to make it happen, and in the end they did enough to make Canadian soccer history.

Montreal advanced to CONCACAF Champions League final after holding on for a 4-4 away goals aggregate victory over Alajuelense in the semifinals despite losing the tie's second leg 4-2 on Tuesday.

Going into the game at Alajuelense's home in Alajuela, Costa Rica with a 2-0 aggregate advantage following a win at Olympic Stadium two weeks ago, the Impact would put themselves in great position to get through if they could manage to tack on at least one away goal.

They got two, one from striker Jack McInerney and another from winger Andres Romero, and it's why they're moving on.

McInerney put the Impact up 1-0 in the 42nd minute, cooly finishing a cross from Dominic Oduro right in front of goal. Alajuelense scored the next two, both courtesy of Pablo Gabas, the first in the 47th minute and the second in the 60th.

It was Romero's goal in the 72nd minute that was the difference. After receiving a pass on the left side of the 18-yard box, Romero drifted toward the middle, outwaited the defence, and smashed the ball into the net for Montreal's crucial second away marker.

Alajuelense made it interesting by scoring two more, Allen Guevara in the 79th minute and Jonathan McDonald late in stoppage time, but they ultimately came up one goal short of completing the comeback.

The Impact will meet either Herediano, another Costa Rican side, or Club America, one of Mexico's most successful teams, in the final. Herediano beat America 3-0 at home in the first leg of their semifinal and the second leg is set for Wednesday at the famous Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

On top of becoming the first Canadian team to reach the final, Montreal is just the second MLS team to get there since the CONCACAF tournament changed to its current Champions League format in 2008-09. Real Salt Lake made it all the way in 2011 but lost to Mexican club Monterrey.

The 2015 final is a two-legged affair that will be held Apr. 22 and 29, with the Impact hosting the second game.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr