When Calum Mallace (Marquette) came off the bench with 25 minutes left in Montreal Impact's match against Mexican side Pachuca on Tuesday night, it looked like the fourth-year midfielder's main job would be to help the home side hold on for a scoreless draw in the second leg of a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal.
But after Pachuca's German Cano converted a penalty kick in the 80th minute, Mallace – and his teammates – had to adjust his mind-set, because Montreal needed a goal to remain alive in the competition and advance to the semifinals.
Mallace certainly did his part. Deep into stoppage time with the ball at his feet, the 25-year-old spotted Cameron Porter on the left side and launched a pinpoint long ball that found the rookie forward in stride. Porter chested the ball down, beat two defenders and nutmegged goalkeeper Oscar Perez in the final seconds to give the Impact a 1-1 tie – Montreal advanced 2-1 on away goals after the series was tied 3-3.
"That was a Beckham-type pass," Impact general manager Adam Braz told the Montreal Gazette of the ball Mallace played. "It was brilliant."
The Impact, who open the Major League Soccer season Saturday at D.C. United, will play Alajuelense in the semifinals – the Costa Rican side eliminated D.C. United 6-3 on aggregate. The first leg is scheduled for March 18 and the second will be between April 7 and 9.
On Twitter: @CMallace10