“The quarterfinals are four 45-minute halves and we won the first two halves,” analyzed Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. “They defended during the entire game and they closed well the interior of the field, while we used the exterior. This is how we succeeded in creating various scoring opportunities.”
The Impact opened the scoring at the 10th minute. After accepting a pass from Joey Gjertsen from the right flank, midfielder David Testo controlled the ball before unleashing a powerful shot 35 meters out that bounced in front of the net before beating Battery goalkeeper Keith Wiggans to his left.
Midfielder Rocco Placentino scored the second goal of the series at the 88th minute. Following a pass from forward Eduardo Sebrango, Placentino defeated a Battery player before firing a strike that hit the crossbar before entering the goal.
“This is not the first goal that I score this way, so I was confident that I was going to net it,” commented Placentino. “I’m happy that we scored two goals at home, in front of our fans. The other team played defensively and was protecting itself.”
The Impact registered its first win against Charleston in 2009, after three regular season games without a victory. This is the first time that both teams match up in the playoffs.
Battery midfielder Matt Bobo was ejected at the 45th minute after having been booked a second yellow card for illegally tackling forward Peter Byers. Montreal then had possession of the ball for most of the second half.
Goalkeeper Matt Jordan registered the shutout after making two saves on four shots.
“I think we played a very good match. The result was positive. We worked hard," mentioned defender Cédric Joqueviel. "We are heading off to play the second leg fully confident, but we are aware that we have to be very careful because anything is possible in 90 minutes. We are going to build up on this performance to continue our race in the playoffs.”
“I have an intelligent group that knows what it needs to do to advance to the next round," concluded Marc Dos Santos.
Joey Gjersten was replaced at halftime by Mauro Biello after suffering a lower body injury.
Defender Stefano Pesoli missed the match after being suspended for a red card issued in the last season game in Cary.
Elsewhere in the USL playoffs, the Rochester Rhinos defeated the PuertoRico Islanders 2-1, Thursday, at Marina Auto Stadium, in Rochester.
The Montreal Impact will play the second and decisive match of the aggregate goal series Sunday at 7 pm at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina (FSW, radio-canada.ca/sports, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
36th minute – After accepting a short pass from David Testo, Joey Gjertsen fired a low shot from 25 meters out that went just to the left of the Battery goal.
45th minute – Joey Gjertsen executed a free kick 20 meters out, but goalkeeper Keith Wiggans leapt to his left to make the save.
58th minute – Following a poorly cleared ball by the Montreal defense, midfielder Scott Buete fired a low strike that grazed the post to the left of the Impact goal.
64th minute - On a cross from the right flank by Tony Donatelli, forward Roberto Brown volleyed the ball from the six-yard area, above the Charleston net.
GAME SUMMARY
PHOTOS PÉPÉ AT SAPUTO STADIUM
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (Ext. 227)
