Overtime has therefore proven costly to the Montreal squad for thesecond time in less than 24 hours. Head coach Nick DeSantis’ squad lost in the same circumstances, by the same 2-1 score, the night before in Virginia Beach against the Mariners.
This time, the game-winning goal was the result of a lapse by the Montreal defence. With the ball coming towards the Montreal net, goalkeeper Greg Sutton and his defender Mauricio Vincello miscommunicated on the play. The ball went on through and Cephas pounced on it to score in an open net.
Eduardo Sebrango had tied it up at one goal apiece at the 69th minute of play, on a low shot from a tough angle. Matt Delicate gave the Kickers the lead at the 50th, heading in a cross by Michael Burke.
"We showed a lot of character to come back, especially when you consider that it was our second game in two nights," noted Sebrango, who started his first game since May 28 after nursing a hamstring injury. "It’s very
disappointing. It’s hard to lose again in overtime."
After seeing its undefeated streak stopped at 12 games the night before in Virginia Beach, the Impact suddenly finds itself in a two-game losing streak, a scenario that hadn’t happened to the club during the regular season since the month of July 2002.
"We’re going through a rough spot, but we have to come out of it," said DeSantis. "I’m optimistic we can do it because we keep creating scoring chances. We dominated the game and I’m very satisfied with the players’ effort. It’s just that once again, luck wasn’t on our side."
In spite of the two losses in Virginia, the Impact now finds itself at the halfway point with a 8-2-4 record. Never in its history has the Montreal squad reached the mid-season with so few losses. Until now, the club record had been of three losses, and it was reached four times — in
1996, 1997 and 1998 (11-3 record), as well as in 2003 (8-3-3).
Montreal remains three points away from the Rochester Rhinos and first place in Eastern Conference standings. The Impact and the Rhinos will be facing off twice this week, first on Wednesday at Claude Robillard Stadium (7:30 pm, CJAD, CKAC), and then Friday in Rochester (8:00 pm,
live on FSW, tape-delayed on RDS).
"Now we have to regroup and show what kind of team we are," added Sebrango. "We have a big test coming up this Wednesday against Rochester."
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SOURCE: bcomm
