Both teams had good scoring chances in the first half, but the RailHawks opened the scoring in the 45th minute. After receiving a pass from Matt Watson, midfielder Josh Gardner let a solid shot off from the top of the box to beat Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan to his right.
The RailHawks then doubled their lead in the 83rd minute. After a pass behind the Montreal defense, two players went on a breakaway. Étienne Barbara gave the ball to Cory Elenio, who then scored in an open net.
“The RailHawks were lucky to go into the locker room with a 1-0 lead,” stated Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. “It’s unfair because we did well. In the second half, we had to play catch up and we still had chances. We clearly saw that the second goal was offside.”
“We have to keep are heads up because we played well tonight,” said defender Nevio Pizzolitto. “We were unlucky. It’s too bad to have lost tonight, but we have to continue to work. It’s not over.”
Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan faced 11 shots. In the 22nd minute, Jordan deflected a shot from Floyd Franks by the tips of his fingers that hit the post. Jordan again was put to the test in the 85th minute blocking the powerful free kick by Daniel Paladini.
In the first half, midfielder Antonio Ribeiro let a low shot off that hit the post to the right of goalkeeper Eric Reed, in the 31st minute.
Midfielder David Testo, who made his return after a groin injury, left the game in the 57th minute because of an injury to his left ankle.
Defenders Nevio Pizzolitto and Adam Braz received their 5th yellow card of the season. They will have to serve a one-game suspension.
Midfielder Patrick Leduc made his first start since July 3rd, while forward Eduardo Sebrango was also on the starting lineup for the first time since July 14th.
Two Academy players were in the line-up but did not take part in the game: French defender Bonheur Aubey and midfielder Bastien Bourgault, native of Levis.
Simon Gatti (suspended by the league), Peter Byers (suspended by the team), Marco Terminesi (appendicitis), Stephen deRoux (cheek) and midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo (calf) had not traveled with the team in North Carolina.
« It is far from over. There are still nine games to play and we will fight till the end. It is not the time to be negative. We have to see the good things we did tonight and apply them to our next game on Wednesday,” concluded Dos Santos.
The Montreal squad will play its next home match this Wednesday, August 11th, to face Baltimore (7:30 pm, radio-canada.ca/sports, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990). For a final time this year, fans can benefit from the Lafleur promotion of 1$ hotdogs, from the open of the gates at 6:00pm, until game time. It is still possible to purchase tickets via the Admission Network (514-790-1245 / 1-800-361-4595 / admission.com), and at the Saputo Stadium ticket office.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
3rd minute – Rookie forward Reda Agourram headed the ball near the six meter line, but RailHawk goalkeeper dove to his left to make the save.
15th minute – After receiving a centering cross from Gregory Richardson, defender Mark Schulte let a low shot off, that deflected at the six meter line, and just went wide right of the net.
27th minute – After receiving a long pass from Antonio Ribeiro and beating a RailHawk defender in the 18-yard box, Eduardo Sebrango let a shot go that just missed to the right of the goal.
35th minute – Reda Agourram took a powerful shot from 30 meters out but Reed dove to his right to keep the ball out of the net.
73rd minute – Nevio Pizzolitto headed Phillippe Billy corner kick, but Eric Reed made the diving save.
79th minute – Near the six-meter line, Pizzolitto headed another cross from Billy that came from the right flank, but Reed dove again to stop the shot.
THREE NEXT GAMES
- Wednesday, August 11th – Baltimore @ IMPACT – Saputo Stadium – 7:30pm (radio-canada.ca/sports, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990)
- Saturday, August 14th – IMPACT @ ROCHESTER – Paetec Park – 7pm (rhinossoccer.com)
- Saturday, August 21st – IMPACT @ Baltimore – Maryland Soccer Plex – 7pm (palacebaltimore.com)
GAME SUMMARY
-30-
Source : Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info : 514-328-3668 (Ext. 227)
