After being fouled in the box, Roberto Brown took the penalty kick and scored the game-winning goal in the 72nd minute. On the play, goalkeeper Noel Valladares dived to the left side, touched the ball with his right hand but it was not enough to stop Brown’s shot.
The Impact had opened the score in the 2nd minute. Brown deflected with his head a corner kick from midfielder Joey Gjertsen. Brown jumped and beat in the air CD Olimpia goalkeeper Noel Valladares.
CD Olimpia scored their only goal of the game in the 33rd minute. Midfielder Elvis Danilo Turcios shot with precision a free kick just outside the 18-yard box, beating Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan in the top left hand corner. It was the first goal conceded by the Impact in five games in the CONCACAF Champions League.
“Tonight’s result is amazing after having played so many games in the last few weeks,” said Impact head coach John Limniatis. “We knew that it would be difficult to get a positive result here but when you work hard and you believe, you can achieve great things. We were efficient tonight both defensively and offensively.”
“It’s huge,” said veteran defender Nevio Pizzolitto. “We did what we had to do, which was to get the three points. Nobody thought we could do this. It’s unbelievable! We stayed concentrated for 90 minutes. They had a few chances but nothing that Matt (Jordan) could not handle.”
The Impact ended the game with a player advantage after CD Olimpia midfielder Elvis Danilo Turcios was ejected for tackling Leonardo Di Lorenzo.
After three games in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage, the Impact is still in first place in Group C, sitting ahead of Atlante FC, which was facing tonight Joe Public FC.
Midfielder Sandro Grande and forward Peter Byers missed Wednesday’s game due to a one-game suspension for accumulating two yellow cards. Midfielder Félix Brillant also stayed in Montreal to recover from a virus.
The Impact will play its next game in the CONCACAF Champions League this Wednesday October 8 against Joe Public at Marvin Lee Stadium, in Trinidad and Tobago.
Meanwhile, the Impact will play its USL First Division semi-final series against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The first game will take place this Friday at Saputo Stadium (8 pm, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com), then the return game will be played Sunday at Swangard Stadium, in Vancouver (6:30 pm, FSW, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
8th minute – CD Olimpia midfielder Elvis Danilo Turcios took a hard low shot from 30 meters out that went just wide to the left of the Impact net.
30th minute – CD Olimpia forward Ramiro Bruschi took advantage of a lone ball and took a hard 20-meter shot just to the right of Matt Jordan.
85th minute – Forward Neal Velasquez deflected with a header a pass that came from the left side but Jordan dove to his right to make the save.
PHOTOS PÉPÉ
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Source : Patrick Vallée, Impact de Montréal
Info : 514-328-3668 (poste 227)
