Evan Bush sets club record with 10 saves on the road
CARSON, California – The Montreal Impact was defeated 2-1 by the LA Galaxy, Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. After Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened the scoring in the first half, Lassi Lappalaienen tied the game for the visitors right after the break, but Uriel Antuna was able to score the winning goal two minutes later, in the 50th minute.
“It was a good game, but we continue making the same mistakes,” said Impact head coach Wilmer Cabrera. “We’ve been working on it, but we need to change our mentality if we want to be successful. Right now, we have to focus on the final in Toronto. After that, we have two games, against two very good rivals at home, and no matter what we have to go for it.”
Impact has chances, can’t convert
The visitors thought they had broken through in the third minute, when Saphir Taïder found Lassi Lappalainen, unmarked to the right of keeper David Bingham. The Finn fired a shot that was deflected by Orji Okwonkwo, but the Nigerian was offside.
Two minutes later, Zlatan Ibrahimović made an impact, playing a quick pass to Joe Corona, who immediately played it back to the Swede into the box, but his shot was stopped by goalkeeper Evan Bush.
In the ninth minute, Taïder, on the right flank, passed to Bacary Sagna in space, who immediately crossed it into the box towards Okwonkwo, but his header missed inches over the bar.
Okwonkwo got in on goal again in the 20th minute, using his speed to get on the end of a long ball from Lappalainen, but the forward’s shot missed just over the bar.
The hosts took the lead in the 31st minute, when Cristian Pavon ran the ball towards the touchline before finding Jonathan Dos Santos at the top of the box. The Mexican international’s shot was deflected and fell for Ibrahimovic, who put it past Bush to give the hosts the lead.
Although Pavon seemed offside when receiving the ball, referee Kevin Stott allowed the goal after consulting video review.
Impact breaks through, but Galaxy answers
The Impact tied the game immediately after the break, in the 48th minute, when Taïder played a perfect ball for Lappalainen, who headed into the top corner past Bingham.
But two minutes later, the hosts regained their lead. Pavon, on the right, was able to cross into the box for Ibrahimović, who quickly shuffled it to Uriel Antuna. The forward was able to take a touch and unleash shot, beating Bush to his right.
Pavon had an opportunity to make it 3-1 in the 60th minute, when Ibrahimović ran in towards the box from the left side and found the Argentine alone in front of Bush, but the American goalkeeper was able to dive to his right and make a timely save.
Bush kept the Impact in the game with a pair of saves near the 71st minute-mark on Ibrahimović, stopping him first from in close after a nicely worked one-two with Antuna, then again a minute later, when Pavon found the Swede in alone in behind the defense.
“Right now, our number one priority is Wednesday night,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “It’s a big game for us, and a big game for the club. Hopefully we’re ready for that and we’re excited for it.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will head to Toronto to try and protect its 1-0 lead in the Canadian Championship final on Wednesday, September 25, at 7:30pm, at BMO Field (985sports.ca). Montreal will then host Atlanta United at Stade Saputo on Sunday, September 29, at 5pm, for the penultimate game of the 2019 MLS regular season (TICKETS – TVA Sports, TSN, 98.5, TSN 690).
LINE-UPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Bacary Sagna, Rod Fanni, Rudy Camacho, Daniel Lovitz; M-Samuel Piette, Shamit Shome (Clément Bayiha 78’), Saphir Taïder, Amar Sejdic (Mathieu Choinière 68’); F-Lassi Lappalainen, Orji Okwonkwo
Subs not used – Clément Diop, Karifa Yao, Victor Cabrera, Jorge Corrales, Zachary Brault-Guillard
LAG – GK-Daniel Bingham; D-Julian Araujo, Daniel Steres, Diego Polenta, Dave Romney; M-Sebastian Lletget, Jonathan Dos Santos, Joe Corona (Servando Carrasco 90+1’); F-Uriel Antuna (Efrain Álvarez 83’), Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristian Pavón
Subs not used – Matt Lampson, Jorgen Skjelvik, Giancarlo González, Emil Cuello, Chris Pontius
GOALS
LAG – Ibrahimovic (Antuna) 31’
MTL – Lappalainen (Taïder) 48’
LAG – Antuna (Ibrahimovic, Pavón) 50’
CAUTION
LAG – Dos Santos 29’
