The Bleu-blanc-noir earns third straight clean sheet, has wins in four of last five games
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact earned a clean sheet against the best team in the Western Conference on Saturday night at Stade Saputo, beating Sporting Kansas City 2-0 for the first since 2013, thanks to second-half goals from Nacho Piatti and Alejandro Silva. The win also puts an end to Kansas’ nine-game unbeaten streak, its last loss coming on April 28 against the New England Revolution.
With the win, the Impact also cements itself as one of the better sides in MLS defensively as of late; the team hasn’t conceded a goal in 342 minutes, a club record, and has earned clean sheets in four of its last five games, all wins. It’s also the first time in club history that the team has earned three consecutive clean sheets.
“It’s a big first step, but I think we could’ve reached this level of play even earlier,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “A lot of work was put in once again on behalf of the players tonight. I won’t hide the fact that there was a lot of happiness in the locker room after this one.”
Testing the waters
Montreal was the first to break the deadlock and earned itself the game’s first chance in ninth minute. Alejandro Silva crossed from the left flank to the opposite side, where Nacho Piatti was waiting. The Argentine took a step to the right and tried a curled shot on net, but it was parried away comfortably by goalkeeper Tim Melia.
Despite facing the best team in the Western conference, the Bleu-blanc-noir was on the front foot as of the quarter-hour mark, dictating play and keeping possession, but struggling to breakthrough cleanly in the final third. Defensively, the Impact’s players continued in their stride, giving up no shots on goal in the first half for the second straight game, and a fourth time in its last six outings.
Sporting got its best chance of the half off a corner in the 29th minute, but centre-back Ike Opara’s header trailed just wide of Evan Bush’s post to the right.
The Impact was forced to make a premature substitution in the 38th minute, with Shamit Shome coming in for Samuel Piette, after the midfielder suffered a blow earlier in the half. The young Canadian had played every minute of the 2018 season up to that moment.
Fearless in the second
Back from the locker rooms, the Bleu-blanc-noir wasted no time imposing itself in SKC territory.
In the 51st minute, the Impact came close to opening the scoring when Daniel Lovitz was unleashed on the left side. He ran to the opponent’s touchline and gave a one-time pass towards Shamit Shome in the six-yard box, but the midfielder was unable to get a strong foot behind it and it trickled just wide of Melia’s left post.
A few minutes later, Montreal’s pressure finally paid off.
In the 54th minute, with the ball still in the opponent’s territory, a struggle for possession broke out near the top of the box. Silva managed to get there first and tip it in the direction of Nacho Piatti, who ran into it and bent a one-timer that beat Melia in the top right corner, despite the ‘keeper getting a hand on it.
With his third goal against Sporting Kansas City in his career, the MLS All-Star now has four goals in his last three games, and nine on the season.
“It’s a very good win for us and our confidence, and for the work we put in during the week,” said midfielder Nacho Piatti. “Kansas is a very good team, but we didn’t give them any space. The first goal was very important to open the game up a little, and we’re very happy with this win.”
Keeping the relentless pressure on, the Bleu-blanc-noir created an opportunity to go up by two when Daniel Lovitz was fouled in the box by Opara. Referee Ted Unkel wasted no time pointing directly to the spot, and Silva stepped up to coolly put it past Melia for his first goal as an Impact player.
Graham Zusi came close to getting one back for the visitors off a set-piece in the 77th minute, but Evan Bush made one his three saves on the night, diving spectacularly to get a strong hand on the ball and push it over the bar. The American goalkeeper now has six clean sheets on the season.
“I think the last couple of games we’ve been very good with the lead,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. Getting the second goal was very important, especially against a team like Kansas, who was down last week and came back to win it. We really finished the game out the right way.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will be back home on Saturday, July 7, when the Colorado Rapids visit Stade Saputo (TICKETS – TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690). The Bleu-blanc-noir will then make the short trip towards the Big Apple, to the Bronx, for a game against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, July 11 at 7pm (TVA Sports, TSN, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690).
LINE-UPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Chris Duvall, Rod Fanni, Rudy Camacho, Daniel Lovitz; M-Samuel Piette (Shamit Shome 38’), Ken Krolicki, Saphir Taider; F-Ignacio Piatti, Matteo Mancosu (Jukka Raitala 60’), Alejandro Silva (Raheem Edwards 90’)
Subs not used – Clément Diop, Victor Cabrera, Michael Salazar, Anthony Jackson-Hamel
KC – GK-Tim Melia; D-Graham Zusi, Ike Opara, Matt Besler, Jaylin Lindsey (Diego Rubio 74’); M-Roger Espinoza, Ilie Sánchez, Yohan Croizet (Wan Kuzain 83’); F-Johnny Russell, Dániel Sallói, Gerso Fernandes (Khiry Shelton 57’)
Subs not used – Adrián Zendejas, Seth Sinovic, Emiliano Amor, Kharlton Belmar
GOALS
MTL – Piatti 54’
MTL – Silva (PEN) 70’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Krolicki 19’
MTL – Duvall 46’
KC – Croizet 68’
KC – Opara 69’
