With this victory, the Impact remains sixth in the USL First Division standings with 29 points, two points ahead of the Vancouver Whitecaps, which played to a 1-1 draw against the Carolina RailHawks.
“Tonight’s result made us feel good,” declared Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. “The match was tough because it’s a team that plays well at home. We suffered to earn this win. The three points are therefore well deserved.”
Team captain and assistant coach Mauro Biello scored the game-winning goal at the 75th minute. After accepting a short pass from midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo, Biello took a strike 30 meters out that beat Evan Bush to his right, in the upper left corner, netting his 80th USL career goal.
“This is a very important goal and win,” noted Biello, who turned 37 on August 8. “Following Leo’s pass, I saw that I had space, so I took a chance. I hit the ball well. Maybe I surprised the goalkeeper with the power and precision of my shot.”
“Our only objective here was to win and it’s safe to say that we did the job,” added Biello. “What’s most positive about this is that we showed character by looking for that second goal after they equalized 1-1.”
The Impact opened the score at the 59th minute of play. After accepting a pass from midfielder Tony Donatelli from behind the defense, forward Peter Byers, who was starting his first game since April 18 in Charleston, took a point blank shot to the far post, from the entrance of the 6-yard area that beat goalkeeper Evan Bush to his right.
The City Stars equalized at the 69th minute. On the sequence, midfielder Jason Hotchkin accepted the ball on the left flank before taking a shot from 20 meters out to the far post that beat Matt Jordan to his left.
Peter Byers also obtained two back-to-back chances at the 16th minute of play. His first strike was stopped by a diving save from goalkeeper Evan Bush and less than two minutes later, Byers’ shot went to the left of the goal.
Goalkeeper Matt Jordan played a second consecutive match, earning his 25th career win with the Impact.
“In the first half, we got excellent opportunities, but we were unable to score, while in the second half, we didn’t stop attacking and capitalized on our chances,” concluded Dos Santos.
Both Nevio Pizzolitto and Roberto Brown, who received a fifth caution in against Minnesota Thunder, served an automatic one-game suspension tonight.
The Montreal Impact will play its next three matches at home. The Impact will face the Austin Aztex Sunday at Saputo Stadium at 3:30 pm (Radio-Canada, FSW, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990), before playing a double header in Montreal against the Carolina Railhawks, August 30 and September 2.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
25th minute - Following a back pass from midfielder Alioune Gueye, midfielder Pato Aguilera took a strike that went to the left of the Impact goal.
26th minute – From the edge of the box, midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo fired a right footed shot that the City Stars goalkeeper stopped by leaping to his right.
43rd minute – A bicycle kick from Cleveland forward Teteh Bangura attempted inside the box was stopped by goalkeeper Matt Jordan as he jumped in the air just to the right of the goal.
72nd minute - Following a backheel pass from forward Eduardo Sebrango, midfielder Joey Gjertsen took a high shot from the entrance of the box that nearly grazed the crossbar.
NEXT GAMES
• Sunday, August 23 – Austin @ IMPACT – Saputo Stadium – 3:30 pm (Radio-Canada, FSW, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990)
• Sunday, August 30 – Carolina @ IMPACT – Saputo Stadium – 3:30 pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com)
• Wednesday, September 2 - Carolina @ IMPACT – Saputo Stadium – 7:30 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com)
GAME SUMMARY
-30-
Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (Ext. 227)
