Hosts scored a goal at the beginning of each half
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Montreal Impact suffered a 2-1 loss to the Columbus Crew SC, Saturday night at MAPFRE Stadium. Josh Williams and David Accam scored the goals for the hosts, while Zakaria Diallo provided the answer for the Impact, heading in a corner.
“Losing is never fun,” said head coach Rémi Garde. “I think that applies to everyone. Everyone needs to look at themselves in the mirror tonight. I’ve also made mistakes, without a doubt. I’m taking responsibility.”
Crew takes a quick lead
In the sixth minute of play, Josh Williams, unmarked at the near post, headed in a cross from Wil Trapp, beating Evan Bush and giving his team the lead.
In the 14th minute, the Impact almost tied things up, also from set-piece. Maxi Urruti, crossing it in, sent the ball to the far post, where Shamit Shome was able to unleash a right-footed shot off the bar. On the rebound, Rudy Camacho was there first, but his header also touched the bar.
Four minutes later, Daniel Lovitz was able to take advantage of a free kick won by Urruti to curl one in on Eloy Room’s goal, but he was able to parry it away.
Due to extremely warm weather in Columbus, the players were able to take a hydration beak at the game’s half-hour mark.
Montreal then scored the equalizing goal right at the end of the half. In stoppage time, a corner delivered by Saphir Taïder found Diallo in the box, who scored to bring the score level.
“It’s not easy right now,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “Tonight was a game in which points were available for us. We switched off in a couple of key moments and we did not have enough to climb back into it. We gave a lot of balls away. I think we regained ourselves pretty well in the last 15 minutes of the first half and we got our goal. It was too easy for them to get behind us one time and that was the game.”
Tied score does not last long
Returning from the locker rooms, the hosts attacked and regained the lead quickly. Pedro Santos sent a ball in behind for David Accam and the Ghanaian was able to beat Bush with a well-placed shot.
Ten minutes later, Accam found himself again behind the Impact’s defense. Bacary Sagna tried to intervene but was awarded a red card by referee Robert Sibiga for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity.
In the 85th minute, the Impact created one last scoring chance, when Orji Okwonkwo found Omar Browne alone in midfield. The Panamanian tried a shot from way out, but it flew just over Room’s net.
“Every team goes through slumps like this, and it’s all about how you come out,” said full-back Daniel Lovitz. “In no way are we content with this, but there’s no reason to throw everything out the window. We’re in the driver’s seat and we can change everything. We just need to stop making the same mistakes.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will play two games at home in four days, staring on July 24 with the return leg of the Canadian Championship quarterfinal (TICKETS – 98,5, TSN 690). The leaders in the East, the Philadelphia Union, will then visit Stade Saputo on Saturday, July 27, at 8pm (TICKETS – TVA Sports, 98,5, TSN 690).
LINE-UPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Bacary Sagna, Zakaria Diallo, Rudy Camacho, Jukka Raitala (Omar Browne 80’), Daniel Lovitz; M-Micheal Azira, Shamit Shome (Clément Bayiha 64’); F-Saphir Taïder (Ken Krolicki 84’), Maximiliano Urruti, Orji Okwonkwo
Subs not used – Clément Diop, Víctor Cabrera, Mathieu Choinière, Anthony Jackson-Hamel
CLB – GK-Eloy Room; D-Aboubacar Keita, Harrison Afful, Josh Williams (Alex Crognale 56’), Waylon Francis (Héctor Jiménez 45’); M-Artur, David Accam (Luis Díaz 74’), Luis Argudo, Pedro Santos, Wil Trapp; F-Gyasi Zardes
Subs not used – Jon Kempin, Eduardo Sosa, Ricardo Clark, Romario Williams
GOALS
CLB – Williams (Trapp) 6’
MTL – Diallo (Taïder) 45’+2’
CLB – Accam (Santos, Jiménez) 46’
CAUTIONS
CLB – Artur 17’
CLB – Williams 53’
MTL – Browne 90’+6’
EJECTION
MTL – Sagna 55’
