Impact makes five changes to the starting line-up but draws blanks offensively
You can’t win them all. It most certainly isn’t the mentality in the Impact’s locker room, but sometimes, reality must be faced. New York City FC is almost perfect at Yankee Stadium and has always caused the Bleu-blanc-noir problems since its arrival in Garber’s league in 2015. If a 3-0 loss seems harsh and probably deserved, it isn’t something to hit the panic button over.
Rémi Garde took advantage of this matchup in the Bronx to give minutes and starts to young Canadians Michael Petrasso, Raheem Edwards and Shamit Shome – who started his first ever game in MLS – while also giving Anthony Jackson-Hamel a start, and allowing Víctor Cabrera to make his return to the starting lineup after missing almost two months due to injury. With five games left to play in the next 16 days, the entire team will have to chip in and the benefits from yesterday’s game, if not obvious right away, could possibly be felt in the Canadian Championship. Here are your advanced stats.
Impact shots: no shots on target, three directed towards Sean Johnson’s net, including two blocked by the defense. Through 20 games in MLS, the Impact has shot 165 times, an average of 8.25 times per game.
Jukka Raitala: 21 successful passes, including 3 in the final third, for a 68% success rate, 5 duels won out of 5, 5 tackles won, 2 interceptions, 4 recoveries, 47 touches.
Evan Bush: 17 successful passes for a 45% success rate, 50 touches, 5 saves, 1 successful ‘keeper sweeping.
No goals allowed in the first half in five games, fourth in MLS this season with six clean sheets, first in MLS this season with 82 saves, only Impact player to have played every minute this year, first game with three goals allowed or more since April 28.
