Forward Eduardo Sebrango (9th and 63rd minute), midfielder Ciaran O’Brien (25th) and Joey Gjertsen (59th) scored for the Impact, while forward Pato Aguilera scored the only goal for the City Stars at the 13th minute of play.
“We wanted to absolutely win by scoring some goals and give a show to our fans,” said head coach Marc Dos Santos. “We demonstrated a lot of mobility in the offensive third, which allowed us to create various scoring occasions. In the preceding matches, we were too static offensively.”
“The only way we can get a win is by playing a good game and I think we did great today,” said Eduardo Sebrango. “We faced a good club, but the whole team worked hard on the field. It’s a relief for the club to finally score a few goals, however it’s only one game. We have to keep on doing the same thing in the upcoming games.”
The Impact opened the scoring at the 9th minute of play. Midfielder Pierre-Rudolph Mayard made a run on the left flank before making a ground pass to forward Eduardo Sebrango in the 6-yard area. Sebrango beat goalkeeper Hunter Gilstrap as he was lying on the ground.
Newcomer Ciaran O’Brien, who started his first career game with the Impact, scored his first goal with the team at the 25th minute of play. After accepting a cross to the ground from midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo, O’Brien controlled the ball before beating Gilstrap to the near side.
Forward Joey Gjertsen scored his third season goal at the 59th minute. After controlling a cross from defender Stephen deRoux with the chest, Gjertsen unleashed a shot to the far post that beat Gilstrap to his right.
Eduardo Sebrango scored his second goal of the game at the 63rd minute. On the goal sequence, Leonardo Di Lorenzo crossed in for O’Brien, who deflected the ball from the top of the box. Then, Sebrango took a left footed shot that beat Gilstrap to his left.
This was Sebrango's 99th and 100th career goal (season and playoffs) in the USL First Division, while Mayard and deRoux each earned their first career point with the Impact.
“This was a great team effort tonight,” noted Mayard. “The result tonight was good for us. I think that the Impact is finally back after a difficult sequence. I’m happy to have helped Eduardo score tonight.”
“We shouldn’t get overexcited with the victory tonight,” added Dos Santos. "We need to acknowledge that when we go back to the basics and work well, we get good results. I hope the match this evening will be a turning point for our season and that it will be the start of a successful period to come.”
Goalkeeper Sdrjan Djekanovic, who played a third consecutive match, signed a second victory this season, after facing 9 shots.
Note that the Impact’s scoreless sequence ended at 468 minutes, which marks a team record.
Midfielder David Testo was issued a fifth caution this season. He will join defender Adam Braz in serving an automatic one-game suspension next week.
The Montreal Impact will play its next game Saturday against the Aztex, in Austin, Texas(8:30 pm, USLlive.com).
The Champions Trophy will also be presented on Saturday (3 pm, Radio-Canada, CKAC, THE TEAM 990). More than 28,000 tickets have been sold up to now for this match. The record audience is 30,529 spectators and it was set in 2006.
OTHER HIGLIGHTS
3rd minute – City Stars defender Kante Ibrahim deflected from the goalmouth a free kick from forward Pato Aguilera, which Djekanovic collected in his hands.
35th minute – After turning, Kante Ibrahim took a high powerful shot more than 30 meters out that went just above the Impact goal.
78th minute – Midfielder Rocco Placentino took a cannon shot from the corner of the penalty box, but the City Stars goalkeeper made the save by diving to his left.
NEXT MATCHES
• Saturday, July 25 – IMPACT @ Austin – Nelson Field – 8:30 pm (USLlive.com)
• Saturday, July 25 – Guingamp @ FC Bordeaux – Stade Saputo – 3 pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990_
• Tuesday, July 28 – FC Bordeaux @ IMPACT – Saputo Stadium – 7:30 pm
• Saturday, August 1 – IMPACT @ Miami – FIU Stadium – 8:00 pm (USLlive.com)
GAME SUMMARY
PHOTOS PÉPÉ AT SAPUTO STADIUM
-30-
Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (Ext. 227)
