MONTREAL – In an international friendly matchup, the Montreal Impact U21 fell to the Haitian national team 2-0 on Saturday night in front of an electric crowd of 11,041 spectators at Stade Saputo.
Haiti opened the scoring late in the game when a cross from deep down the left flank back towards the top of the box by defender Jean Jacques Bitielo found striker Maurice Jean Eudes in the 81st minute. His one-time shot from 16 yards out deflected off of an Impact defender before hitting the top of the mesh.
An aerial cross from deep down the right flank by Constant Monuma Junior found Jean Philippe Peguero at the second post and his point blank header sailed just under the bar in the 88th minute to double Haiti’s lead.
Haiti managed to put a lot of pressure in the first half, but the Impact was able to hold the back line, making a number of solid defensive stops, most notably on a through ball that found Haiti’s Maurice Jean Eudes down the right flank. However, his shot from just inside the box was stopped by Impact U21 goalkeeper Jason Beaulieu in the 8th minute, using his feet to knock the ball away as he came sliding out of his crease.
U21 midfielder Jeremy Gagnon-Laparé had the best chance for the home side in the 73rd minute, but his shot from about 25 yards out missed just right of goal.
The Impact U21 played the last 30 minutes of the game with eight players from the club’s U18 team.
Post-game comments
“We played a team at a higher level, but for the most part, the game was very positive and it was an excellent experience for the group,” said Impact academy director Philippe Eullaffroy, who was running the bench for the match. “Over the past two weeks, we worked on defending as a block and we applied those principles fairly well tonight. However, if you put a lot of focus on the defensive side of the game and you play against a side with such experience, you are less effective offensively. We made adjustments at half-time in order to try some different things.”
"I've never experienced such a large and loud crowd at a game before," said team captain Dominique Morin. "We started the game off a little nervous with the large crowd and the good results that Haiti has had recently against Spain and Italy, but we settled down and for the most part, played a good game defensively while still managing to push up the field on occasion."
“We are in preparation for the World Cup, so it’s important for us to play a number of quality games,” said Haiti national team assistant coach Pierre Roland Saint-Jean. “I’d like to congratulate the Impact U21 team, the organizers of this game and all the supporters for making this night a success.”
Next MLS Game
The club’s first team will play its next MLS game at home on Saturday, June 29 against the Colorado Rapids at 7pm (ET).
Starting lineups
Impact U21: GK - Jason Beaulieu; D - Amine Meftouh, Janouk Charbonneau, Ernest M’Ba* (Jems Geffrard 45’), ©Dominique Morin; M - Paolo Del Piccolo, Jeremy Gagnon-Laparé, Michael Bilak, Philippe Lincourt-Joseph (Louis Béland-Goyette 70’) , Frédéric Lajoie-Gravel (Yacine Ait-Slimane 45’) ; F – Mircea Ilcu (Charles Joly 66’)
Invitee
Substitutes not used: GK – Samuel Dufort; D - Mélé Temguia, Zachary Sukunda; M - Emad Houache; F - Charles Haguette
Haiti: GK – ©Frandy Montrevil; D – Saurel Olrish, Widd Donald Guerrier, Jean Jacques Bitielo; M - Pierre Jean Jacques, Adé Ricardo, Constant Monuma Junior (Rubin Jean Garry 90’), Luckner Horat, Charles Herold Junior, F - Millien Pascal (Jean Philippe Peguero 82’), F - Maurice Jean Eudes
Substitutes not used: GK - Joseph Jospy; M – Max Hilaire, Frantzly Zephirin, Julin’s Rancy; F - Belfort Kervin Fils
Goals
HAI – Maurice Jean Eudes (Jean Jacques Bitielo) 81’
HAI – Jean Philippe Peguero (Constant Monuma) 88’
Cautions
MTL – Dominique Morin 83’
MTL – Charles Joly 90’
