MONTREAL – A brace by forward Mircea Ilcu lifted the Montreal Impact U21 team to a 2-0 win against Toronto FC Academy on Sunday, at Stade Saputo, in its quarterfinal match. The team will play its semi-final match next weekend in Montreal.
Ilcu opened the scoring in the 9th minute, from inside the right side of the 18-yard box. His low shot, to the far post, beat TFC goalkeeper Adam Street to his right, just inside the post, after receiving a short pass from midfielder Zakaria Messoudi.
Then, in the 63rd minute, Ilcu scored his second of the game from inside the six-yard box. He redirected a cross which originated from the left flank by midfielder Dominique Morin, that the TFC keeper could not handle.
A few seconds earlier, Jason Beaulieu made a key save to preserve the shutout. A cross from the left flank found midfielder Nicolas Lindsay posted at the top of the six-yard box, but his one-timer was blocked by the Impact keeper.
Impact U21 head coach Philippe Eullaffroy was delighted with his team’s first win in the CSL post-season played under heavy rain.
“It was a nice win, but made even nicer by defeating TFC,” said Philippe Eullaffroy. “We continued this good streak we’ve been on recently, and despite being only our first ever playoff win, it is a 10th consecutive victory for us and we hope to make it 12 in a row. The level of play was not extraordinary, but we played the way we are capable of playing.”
Other highlights
The Impact came close to scoring in the 16th minute when a blast from midfielder Maxim Tissot outside the box was redirected on its way to goal, but Street dove to his left to make the quick stop.
In the 37th minute, midfielder Wandrille Lefevre hammered one from long range that just sailed over the crossbar.
A nice give and go in the 67th minute between Dominique Morin and Anthony Jackson-Hamel played the forward in alone on goal, but his sharp angle shot from in close was blocked by the TFC keeper.
Upcoming match
The Impact U21 squad will play its semi-final matchup next weekend in Montreal. Date and time, as well as the opponent are yet to be determined.
Lineups
MTL: GK - Jason Beaulieu; D - Amine Meftouh, Kai Morton, Karl W. Ouimette, Hugo Lapointe-Senécal; M - Zakaria Messoudi (Philippe Lincourt-Joseph 80’), Wandrille Lefevre (Jeremy Gagnon-Laparé 87’), Dominique Morin, Maxim Tissot; F - Yacine Ait-Slimane (Anthony Jackson-Hamel 55’), Mircea Ilcu (Charles Joly 74’)
Subs not used: GK - Hicham Kettani; M - Felix Cardin; F - Victor Ndiaye
TOR: GK - Adam Street; D - Roberto Galle, Eli Roubos, Alain Sargeant, Tyler Pasher (Christian Campanella 70’) ; M - Joshua Janniere, Sergio Camargo, Mario Orestano, Michael Wagenknecht, Nicholas Lindsay (Adrain Avila 67’); F - Mario Kovacevic
Subs not used: GK - Alexander Pothemount; D - Deon Rose, Adam Bradshaw; M - Francisco Montoya
Goals
MTL – Ilcu (Messoudi) 9’
MTL – Ilcu (Morin) 63’
