An unlucky goal conceded in the 89th minute sinks the Bleu-blanc-noir
BRIDGEVIEW, Illinois – The Montreal Impact was unlucky, Wednesday night at Toyota Park, suffering a 1-0 loss to the Chicago Fire. Kevin Ellis scored the game’s lone goal in the 89th minute on a shot that deflected off a Montreal player.
“We played well during a large portion of this game,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “Unfortunately, we conceded right at the end. I would’ve liked for us to score a goal, and we had opportunities to do so, especially in the first half. They weren’t particularly dangerous. I’m disappointed for the players, because the effort was there, and they followed the game plan. We need to keep moving forward.”
Opportunities in the first half hour
Montreal started the game on the right foot, as much defensively as mentally. The desire to keep Saturday’s momentum alive was there, and the effort in pressing forward was generous, like in the 12th minute, when Anthony Jackson-Hamel saw his shot blocked by the defender. Nacho Piatti recovered the ball in the box and Richard Sánchez dove to the Argentine’s feet without touching the ball, but the referee judged there was no foul.
In the 24th minute, Raheem Edwards found Jackson-Hamel. He turned and passed to Piatti on the left side, but the Designated Player’s first touch unusually let him down.
“The game was within our reach and we had the opportunity to win it on numerous occasions,” said defender Rod Fanni. “At the end, we’re leaving with a loss. We’re frustrated, me especially, because we know we didn’t give them many chances and we worked hard. At the end of the game, we gave the ball away and it cost us. We’re disappointed, everyone gave a big effort today.”
Lack of finishing in front of goal
The Bleu-blanc-noir was dangerous in the Fire’s final third regularly, without however creating quality shooting chances, like in the 71st minute, when Piatti, Jackson-Hamel and Saphir Taïder had their shot attempts blocked.
The Fire turned up the heat in the final quarter-hour. In the 84th minute, Diego Campos took a pass from Elliot Collier and unleashed a low shot, but Bush’s reflexes were on point.
The American finished the night with five saves. In the 83rd minute, he became the leader in minutes played by a goalkeeper in the club’s entire history.
“I think it was a pretty even game,” said Evan Bush. “We deserved to get something out of it. I think that we were unlucky at the end. A guy that comes in on his left foot and shoots directly at me and it gets deflected. We’re not in a position where we can be unlucky. Sometimes we have to make our own luck.”
One minute from stoppage time, Kevin Ellis, from the right flank, cut towards the middle of the field and shot with his left. The ball deflected on an Impact defender and caught Evan Bush wrong-footed, procuring the three points for Veljko Paunović’s team.
“It’s unfortunate. The shot was going directly into Evan’s hands and it deflected on my shoulder,” said midfielder Samuel Piette. “A little step further and maybe it doesn’t touch me. It’s the little details that made the difference at the end. Despite everything, I think it was a good team performance today. If we apply the same effort and intensity, with a little more success in the final third, we’ll get a better result.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will play its next two games at Stade Saputo. On Saturday, May 12 at 3pm, the Philadelphia Union will be the visitors during Mother’s Day weekend (TICKETS – TVA Sports, CTV, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690). Then, the Bleu-blanc-noir will celebrate its silver jubilee with the 25th anniversary commemorative game against the LA Galaxy, on Monday, May 21, at 3pm, 25 years to the day after the club’s first game in Montreal (TICKETS – TVA Sports, TSN, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690).
LINEUPS
MTL – G-Evan Bush; D-Michael Petrasso, Rod Fanni, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz; M-Samuel Piette, Alejandro Silva (Louis Béland-Goyette 73’), Saphir Taider (Matteo Mancosu 90’); A-Ignacio Piatti, Anthony Jackson-Hamel (Dominic Oduro 78’), Raheem Edwards
Unused subs – Clément Diop, Chris Duvall, Víctor Cabrera, Ken Krolicki
CHI – G-Richard Sánchez; D-Brandon Vincent, Grant Lillard, Johan Kappelhof, Kevin Ellis; M-Aleksandar Katai, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Dax McCarty, Mohammed Adams (Daniel Johnson 82’); A-Alan Gordon (Elliot Collier 61’), Nemanja Nikolic (Diego Campos 72’)
Unused subs – Patrick McLain, Jonathan Campbell, Brandt Bronico, Tony Tchani
GOAL
CHI – Ellis (Kappelhof) 89’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Petrasso 65’
CHI – Vincent 66’
CHI – Adams 70’
