“It was a great performance collectively and individually, and every player brought something positive to the game,” said Impact head coach and sporting director Nick De Santis. “We came on the field with the mentality of not giving anything to the opposing team. We put a lot of pressure, and we created a lot of space to build and to create several scoring opportunities. We managed the game well tonight.”
“Now, everyone must continue to believe in the locker room and we will continue to work and win to allow us to be part of the playoffs,” added De Santis.
“We did everything we could to win tonight,” said Impact midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic, named the Setanta Sports Player of the Match after registering one goal and one assist. “Even though it's a tough season, we knew that with hard work, results were going to come and that is what happened tonight. It was a great performance for the team.”
The Impact opened the scoring at the 3rd minute, when forward Mircea Ilcu, a product of the club’s U21 team, scored his first career goal in his first career start with the pro team in NASL. After receiving a long pass from midfielder Ryan Pore, Ilcu ran on a few meters, dribbled past defender Patrick Robertson and beat Silverbacks goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer with a low shot to his right.
“I am very happy to have scored a goal tonight and hopefully there is more to come,” said Ilcu. “I am also happy to have played with Eduardo Sebrango. He helped me tremendously in the last few years while I was playing with the Impact Academy. We talked a lot on the field tonight and it paid off. I am happy to have helped the team win tonight.”
Less than five minutes later, defender Hassoun Camara doubled Montreal’s lead. Following a corner from Pore, barely kicked out by the Silverbacks defence, Camara scored his second goal of the season on a bicycle kick.
At the 35th minute, Sinisa Ubiparipovic added to the lead, scoring his first goal with the Impact in his third game with the team. After receiving a pass from Sebrango, Ubiparipovic took a 20-meter shot that beat the opposing goalkeeper to his left in the top corner of the net.
Forward Mignane Diouf, who entered the game at the 67th minute in replacement of Ilcu, scored the fourth goal of the game at the 80th minute. After accepting a pass from Ubiparipovic, Diouf came on a breakaway and beat Maurer with a low shot.
At the 29th minute, the Impact had another scoring opportunity when midfielder Ian Westlake’s shot hit the crossbar after he had received the ball from Amir Lowery near the six-meter box.
After a foul on Sebrango, at the 39th minute, Westlake took a 20-meter free kick, but Maurer made the save with his hand while diving to his right.
At the 70th minute, Diouf sent a long ball on the right side to Ryan Pore, but his low shot to the far post went a few inches to the left of the Atlanta goal.
Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush registered his fourth shutout of the season after facing eight shots.
Veteran Eduardo Sebrango became the 12th player in team history to reach the 10,000 career minutes mark with the Impact.
Quebec native forward Reda Agourram returned to the pitch, after missing nine games due to a groin injury. He replaced Sebrango at the 83rd minute.
It was a third game in nine days for the Impact and a fourth game in 15 days.
Goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, midfielders David Testo and Antonio Ribeiro, as well as forwards Marco Terminesi and Ali Gerba missed the game due to injuries.
The Impact will begin the fourth quarter of its regular season at Saputo Stadium on Aug. 20, against the Minnesota Stars, at 2:30pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, radio-canada.ca/sports). Tickets for this game are still available through Admission Network (admission.com / 514-790-1245) or at Saputo Stadium’s ticketing office.
THREE NEXT GAMES
• Saturday, Aug. 20 – Minnesota Stars @ IMPACT – Saputo Stadium – 2:30pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, radio-canada.ca/sports)
• Saturday, Aug. 27 – IMPACT @ Minnesota Stars – National Sports Center – 8pm (nscminnesota.com)
• Saturday, Sept. 3 – IMPACT @ Fort Lauderdale Strikers – Lockhart Stadium – 2:30pm (strikers.com)
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