SUMMARY
In the 10th minute of play, the Impact was awarded a penalty kick after Impact forward Charles Gbeke was brought down in the box by Rhinos defender Scott Schweitzer. Patrick Leduc’s low shot was saved by goalkeeper Scott Vallow, diving to his left.
The Rhinos opened the score in the 19th minute on a free kick from 30 yards out. On a quick three-way play, Stoian Mladenov served a low pass to Kirk Wilson, who immediately passed it back to forward Greg Howes. His low shot grazed the inside of the left post, beating Impact goalkeeper Greg Sutton to his right.
In the 33rd minute, Howes nearly doubled his team’s lead. On a clear breakaway on the left wing from midfield, Howes’ shot hit the post to the left of Sutton and was then cleared by defender Mauricio Vincello.
After a 35-minute delay because of a lightning storm, the Impact tied the game up in the 58th minute with Nevio Pizzolitto’s first goal of the season. Taking advantage of some confusion in front of the net following an Impact corner kick, the veteran defender jumped on a loose ball and beat goalkeeper Scott Vallow with a high, curving shot to his left.
The Rhinos regained the lead in the 64th minute on a corner kick, taken by Stoian Mladenov. Goalkeeper Greg Sutton charged the ball and cleared it away. The high ball sailed to forward Greg Howes who one-timed it with a crisp shot from 20 yards out that took Sutton by surprise.
But the Impact tied the game again at the 86th minute. On a free kick from 40 yards out, defender Mauricio Vincello crossed the ball to forward Charles Gbeke (86e) at the penalty mark. Gbeke beat two defenders and Vallow with a header, to register his second goal of the season with the Impact. The 27-year-old forward received a red card at the 89th minute and was ejected from the match. He will not be available for the Impact’s next game.
The Impact plays its next game at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex on Friday, August 26, against the Virginia Beach Mariners (8 pm, RDS, FSW, CKAC). It will be the first of a four-game homestand.
POST-GAME COMMENTS
Head Coach Nick De Santis: "There was a playoff atmosphere tonight. We showed a lot of character by coming back twice into the game. We didn't play well in the first half, but we came back strong in the second half. This is a very good result for us."
Charles Gbeke : "I battled for the ball because I knew it was mine. It's very difficult to keep your concentration in these conditions. I don't remember playing in conditions like this before."
Nevio Pizzolitto : "After a difficult first half, we absolutely wanted to bounce back. Even if the field conditions were very poor, we never gave up. We're happy because this allows us to stay in first place."
IMPACT LINE-UP
Greg Sutton, Lars Lyssand (Carlos Garcia 81), Nevio Pizzolitto, Mauricio Vincello, David Fronimadis (Jason DiTullio 45), Adrian Cann (David DiPlacido 45), Patrick Leduc, Masahiro Fukasawa (Darko Kolic 70), Antonio Ribeiro, Mauro Biello, Charles Gbeke
ROCHESTER LINE-UP
Scott Vallow, Frankie Sanfilippo, Tenywa Bonseu (Jonathan Bolanos 59), Scott Schweitzer, Scott Palguta (Bill Sedgewick 75), Stoian Mladenov, Kirk Wilson, John Ball, Rey Martinez (Jason Perry 45, Lenin Steenkamp 82), Rene Rivas, Greg Howes
GOALS
ROC: Greg Howes (Kirk Wilson) 19
MTL: Nevio Pizzolitto (Antonio Ribeiro) 57
ROC: Greg Howes 63
MTL: Charles Gbeke (Mauricio Vincello) 86
SHOTS
MTL 11 ROC 13
SAVES
MTL 4 ROC 4
FOULS
MTL 8 ROC 16
OFFSIDES
MTL 2 ROC 2
CORNERS
MTL 5 ROC 7
CAUTIONS
ROC: Scott Schweitzer 8
MTL: Adrian Cann 12
MTL: Lars Lyssand 21
MTL: Charles Gbeke 23
ROC: John Ball 75
EXPULSION
MTL: Charles Gbeke 89
REFEREES
Erich Simmons, Anthony Perdue, David Calitree, Niko Bratsis
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Source: Patrick Vallée
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 27)
