“I'm very proud of the team. We put in a great effort against an excellent club,” declared Impact head coach John Limniatis. “We defended well and kept them off the scoresheet. We showed that we could have won that game, but we just needed to believe in ourselves a little more when we were presented with our scoring chances.”
After two games in the group stage, the Impact has collected four points and is in first place in Group C, sitting ahead of Atlante as a result of more goals scored.
“The results from our first two games have been really important,” said midfielder Sandro Grande. “We weren't playing against just anybody, it was the Mexican champion team, and we did great. We knew that we would have some chances, but we just couldn't find the back of the net. I hope that people across Canada realize what we're in the process of doing here.”
The match was hotly contested with the Impact dominating 9-5 in the shot column. Montreal goalkeeper Matt Jordan registered his fourth clean sheet in as many games in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Forward Peter Byers picked up his second yellow card of the tournament and will have to serve a one-game suspension.
In another Group C match, CD Olimipa defeated Joe Public 3-1 in Macoya, Trinidad & Tobago.
Montreal will play its next CONCACAF Champions League game on Wednesday, October 1 against CD Olimipia in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Meanwhile, the Impact will play in the USL First Division quarterfinal series against the Seattle Sounders. The first game will take place this Friday at the Starfire Complex, at 10 pm ET (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com). The second match of the aggregate goal home-and-away series will be played on Sunday at Saputo Stadium at 5 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com).
HIGHLIGHTS
31st minute – Impact midfielder Sandro Grande took a free kick from about 40 metres out which defender Stefano Pesoli deflected with a header while colliding with an Atlante FC defender and the goalkeeper.
37th minute – Impact midfielder Joey Gjertsen unleashed a powerful shot from about 20 metres, but goalkeeper Federico Villar deflected the ball over the crossbar while diving to his left.
54th minute – After another free kick from Grande, defender Nevio Pizzolitto, who was positioned onside behind the Atlante defense, made a lateral pass to forward Peter Byers who took a point-blank shot that sailed just over the net.
GAME SUMMARY
PHOTOS PÉPÉ AT SAPUTO STADIUM
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Source : Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info : 514-328-3668 (ext. 227)
