"It's extremely disappointing to see that certain players aren't reacting," said head coach Marc Dos Santos. "You have to ask yourself if you really want to win. We'll have to make some changes, maybe by playing some of the younger players.
The Montreal Impact found itself short of a player early in the second half (50th minute), after defender Nevio Pizzolitto was ejected from the match following a dispute with the official.
"Two unlucky goals in the first 30 minutes put us in a difficult situation," added Dos Santos. "It became an even tougher hill to climb after Nevio's ejection. They obviously got some opportunities under those circumstances and deserve the three points."
Montreal has failed to post a victory in its last eight games versus the Thunder (0-5-3).
Minnesota opened the score at the 8th minute on a free kick situation. Positioned 25 yards out, Thunder midfielder Ricardo Sanchez hit a curled ball that beat goalkeeper Matt Jordan to his left.
The Thunder doubled their lead in the 34th minute. After taking a pass from midfielder Lawrence Olum, forward Brian Cvilikas took a high shot from just outside the box, before Matt Jordan, who had come out of his net to intercept the ball, was able to get to it. The imprecise shot sailed over Jordan and found its way into the top corner of the net.
Minnesota scored a third goal in the 72nd minute. After a centre from Ricardo Sanchez from the left flank, midfielder Joseph Tarley took a powerful shot from inside the box that gave Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan no chance.
This is the third consecutive loss by shutout for the Montreal Impact in regular season.
Goalkeeper Matt Jordan, who faced 12 shots, has reached the 5,000 minutes played mark in his career with the Impact.
Young defender Alex Surprenant entered the game in the second half.
Defenders Adam Braz and Simon Gatti, midfielder David Testo and forward Roberto Brown, are one card away from a one-match suspension.
The Impact will play its next regular season match versus the Rhinos in Rochester on Wednesday (7pm, USLlive.com), before returning home next Sunday for a game against the Puerto Rico Islanders (3:30pm, Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com) at Saputo Stadium.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
22nd minute - From the left flank, Thunder forward Rod Dyachenko passed the ball to Sanchez in the box, whose shot was stopped on the goal line by Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan.
30th minute - Off a Minnesota corner kick, Thunder forward Brian Cvilikas headed the ball to the near post, but the ball missed just left.
40th minute – Captain Mauro Biello fired a low right footed shot to the far post inside the box that went just to the left of the goal
76th minute - Forward Roberto Brown took a hard shot to the far post from about 20 metres, but an outstretched Nicolas Platter was able to deflect it to the right of the net with his hand.
89th minute - Sanchez sprinted in alone on the Montreal goal, but his low shot from six metres missed left of the net.
NEXT MATCHES
• Wednesday, July 15 – IMPACT @ Rochester – Marina Auto Stadium – 7 pm (USLlive.com)
• Sunday, July 19 – Puerto Rico @ IMPACT –Saputo Stadium– 3:30 pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com)
• Wednesday, July 22 – Cleveland @ IMPACT –Saputo Stadium – 7:30 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com)
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Source: Claudia Gervais, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 234)
GAME SUMMARY
