SANDY, Utah – Facing a team that has yet to lose at home this season, the Montreal Impact got a good result with a 1-1 tie at Real Salt Lake on Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Harry Shipp scored his first Montreal goal, while Yura Movsisyan replied on a penalty kick for the home team. The Impact is unbeaten in its last five MLS outings and sits third in the Eastern Conference, five points behind leaders New York City FC with two games in hand.
“We took a good point on the road,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “We had opportunities to increase our lead, but this is a difficult place to play. The guys fought for 90 minutes. They gave everything. Conceding the equalizer is disappointing, but we keep going.”
Impact in control throughout first half
Despite a taxing journey out West, the Impact put together a near-perfect first half. An enterprising Bleu-blanc-noir hogged the ball in the early going and went on the search for space.
Montreal hit the target in the eighth minute. Back in central defence alongside Víctor Cabrera – who was crucial on several plays – for the first time since Euro 2016, Laurent Ciman took a free kick from 25 metres out, forcing goalkeeper Nick Rimando into a fine save. But the rebound fell at the far post for Shipp who slammed it home.
Composed in defence, the Bleu-blanc-noir then attempted to exploit acres of space behind RSL’s backline. Mauro Biello’s men put five shots on target before the break, building plays neatly. Their last offensive play of the half was a good show of that efficiency, as Calum Mallace stepped in front of Javier Morales to pick up a Juan Manuel Martínez pass. Mallace then sprayed the ball wide to Nacho Piatti, alone on the left side, but Rimando made another save.
“It was nice to get a goal,” said Harry Shipp. “We played well enough in the first half to get two or three goals. It would have been nice. We worked hard, with the heat and the altitude. Everyone out there today put in a great effort.”
Back from halftime, the Impact held strong as RSL bombed forward in a bid to get back into the game early. But the equalizer came in the 79th minute, as referee Ricardo Salazar blew the whistle for a foul on Joao Plata in the penalty area. Yura Movsisyan’s fierce shot to Evan Bush’s left on the ensuing penalty kick gave the Montreal ‘keeper no chance.
“We could have been up 2-0 or 3-0 and killed the game,” said Dominic Oduro. “We played against a very good team. RSL put a lot of pressure on us in the second half. Away from home, a point is good.”
The Impact could also have had a chance from the spot a minute later, as Justen Glad dragged Piatti down in the opposing penalty box, but Glad dodged that bullet.
While Bush was powerless on the PK, he was brilliant in the dying seconds, beating away a long Kyle Beckerman shot to deny him a goal.
Upcoming games
The Impact will finish its trip out West with a game at the Portland Timbers on Wednesday, July 13, at 10:30pm (TVA Sports & TSN Radio 690). The team will return to Stade Saputo on Sunday, July 17, at 5pm EDT to take on David Villa, Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and New York City FC (RDS, TSN, ESPN, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). Excellent individual tickets are still available for this game on impactmontreal.com.
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Ambroise Oyongo, Víctor Cabrera, Laurent Ciman, Hassoun Camara; M-Eric Alexander, Calum Mallace, Ignacio Piatti, Harry Shipp (Patrice Bernier 87’), Michael Salazar (Lucas Ontivero 81’); F-Dominic Oduro (Donny Toia 68’)
Subs not used – GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Wandrille Lefèvre; M-Kyle Bekker; F-Johan Venegas
RSL – GK-Nick Rimando; D-Aaron Maund, Chris Wingert (Olmes Garcia 81’), Demar Phillips, Justen Glad; M-Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman, Omar Holness (Luke Mulholland 46’); F-Joao Plata, Juan Manuel Martínez (Jordan Allen 68’), Yura Movsisyan
Subs not used – GK-Jeff Attinella; M-John Stertzer; F-Devon Sandoval
GOALS
MTL – Shipp 8’
RSL – Movsisyan (PEN) 79’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Cabrera 16’
RSL – Wingert 62’
RSL – Glad 70’
RSL – Beckerman 76’
