Okwonkwo brace gives Montreal second consecutive win
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact defeated the Portland Timbers 2-1, Wednesday night at Stade Saputo. A brace from Orji Okwonkwo, his third and fourth goals of the season, including a spectacular game-winning goal in the second half, was enough to propel the Impact to a second consecutive win for the first time this season.
“We suffered a little due to the fact that we haven’t played in a game-type scenario in three weeks, which is a very long time,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “The field is a lot larger than in training. I knew a few of us would suffer. But you need to learn how to suffer on a football field and today, we wanted to suffer together, for one another, and we made it through.”
The Impact sits second in the Eastern Conference with 30 points, sitting just two points behind the Philadelphia Union, in first.
Impact dominant in first half
Despite a 7:30pm kick off time, weather issues in the area forced a 45-minute delay, pushing the start time to 8:15pm.
The Impact found itself using the right flank in the first few minutes, with full-back Bacary Sagna getting behind his defender and managing a few good crosses, including one in the seventh minute for Maxi Urruti, but the Argentine was unable to get a good head on it.
In the 11th minute, Saphir Taïder made his way into the box from the left with speed before crossing for Urruti at the near post, but his effort missed wide.
In the 21st minute, midfielder Orji Okwonkwo was able to take advantage of a defensive mistake from the Timbers to make his way in on goal, cutting into the box from the right side, but goalkeeper Jeff Attinella was able to get his fingers on the Nigerian’s effort, forcing the ball off the post and out.
However, in the 28th minute, Attinella couldn’t save his team again. This time, it was Sagna who sent the midfielder in behind the defense, and Okwonkwo was able to pick the top corner and give the home squad the lead.
In the 39th minute, the hosts almost doubled their lead when Urruti received a ball in the box, turned, and shot, but his effort missed just wide of the right post. Three minutes later, after a good bout of possession in the Timbers’ final third, Sagna was able to cross it low for Taïder in the box, but his effort from close was stopped.
“We had a good game,” said midfielder Ken Krolicki. “We had a lot of the ball in the first half and we created a lot of chances. The reaction from the team after they scored was fantastic. All in all, it was a great game on our end.”
Visitors strike after the break
It didn’t take long for the visitors to tie things up after the break. In the 53rd minute, midfielder Marvin Loria swung a ball into the box from a set piece, finding Julio Cascante, who immediately headed it across goal into the danger area. Tomas Conechny was on it first, beating Evan Bush from close range to bring the Timbers level.
Montreal almost answered two minutes later, when Taïder swiftly made his way past his man on the touchline before finding midfielder Ken Krolicki in the 18-yard box, but his ensuing shot trickled wide of the post.
Rémi Garde’s men finally found their answer in the 66th minute, and in spectacular fashion as well. A deep cross into the Timbers box was neatly flicked by Taïder towards Okwonkwo, at the top of the box. The Nigerian midfielder let it bounce once before shooting with his back to goal, finding the top corner for a second time and giving his team the lead again.
“I think it was one of the best goals of my career,” said midfielder Orji Okwonkwo. “I wasn’t expecting it at all. I’m very happy to have scored a goal like that. Coming from Italy into MLS is difficult, and there’s a certain adaptation period needed. I feel like I’ve adapted well so far."
Upcoming games
The Impact will play a second game in four days on Saturday, June 29 at 6pm, against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (TVA Sports, 98.5, TSN 690). Montreal will be back at Stade Saputo on Saturday, July 6 to take on Minnesota United FC (TICKETS- TVA Sports, 98.5, TSN 690), before playing the first leg of the quarterfinal of the 2019 Canadian Championship against York 9 FC on Wednesday, July 10, at 7:30pm at York Lions Stadium.
LINE-UPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Bacary Sagna, Víctor Cabrera, Zakaria Diallo, Rudy Camacho, Jukka Raitala; M-Shamit Shome (Harry Novillo 86’), Ken Krolicki; F- Saphir Taïder, Maximiliano Urruti, Orji Okwonkwo (Mathieu Choinière 70’)
Subs not used – Clément Diop, Daniel Kinumbe, Anthony Jackson-Hamel
POR – GK-Jeff Attinella; D-Claude Dielna, Julio Cascante, Marco Farfan, Modou Jadama; M-Cristhian Paredes, Eryk Williamson (Jeremy Ebobisse 76,), Marvin Loría, Renzo Zambrano, Tomás Conechny (Lucas Melano 71’); F-Dairon Asprilla (Foster Langsdorf 90+1’)
Subs not used – Aljaz Ivacic, Jorge Villafaña
GOALS
MTL – Okwonkwo (Sagna) 28’
POR – Conechny (Cascante, Loría) 53’
MTL – Okwonkwo (Taïder) 66’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Shome 32’
POR – Conechny 57’
POR – Farfan 77’
MTL – Victor Cabrera 90+3’
