Bleu-blanc-noir defenders continue to produce offensively
Who would’ve believed it? Saturday night at Stade Saputo, not only did the Impact resist the best team in MLS, it grabbed the Red Bulls by the horns and had its way with them. If the game’s first half-hour was to the Red Bulls’ advantage, we can say the Bleu-blanc-noir handled one of the best offenses in the league, without bothering Evan Bush too much.
Three goals and a clean sheet, what else can you ask for? But this time, the luring thought that this victory could have been even more decisive, considering the chances Montreal missed, remains; as the saying goes, never look a gift bull in the mouth. In the Impact’s last three positive results, the defense contributed by scoring four goals: the cannon strikes from Jukka Raitala in Utah and Daniel Lovitz in stoppage time against the Chicago Fire, as well Rod Fanni and Bacary Sagna’s headers against the Red Bulls. Here are your advanced stats.
Samuel Piette: 30 successful passes, including 3 in the final third, for a 79% success rate, 2 duels won, 2 tackles won, 6 interceptions, 2 clearances, 14 recoveries, 56 touches.
Bacary Sagna: 1 goal, 1 shot, 35 successful passes, including 12 in the final third, for a 78% success rate, 6 duels won, 6 aerial duels won, 1 interception, 5 clearances, 4 headed clearances, 2 recoveries, 69 touches.
Impact shots: 15 total, 7 on target, 8 off-target, 7 from outside the box, 8 from inside the box, 2 headers.
Rod Fanni: 1 goal, 1 shot, 31 successful passes, including 4 in the final third, for a 78% success rate, 5 duels won, 3 aerial duels won, 1 tackle won, 4 interceptions, 9 clearances, 5 headed clearances, 6 recoveries, 59 touches.
