FOXBORO, Massachusetts – The Montreal Impact shut out the New England Revolution 1-0, Sunday night at Gillette Stadium, in Foxboro Massachusetts, to earn a third win in a row for the first time this season and its second road victory of the year.
Second half substitute Sanna Nyassi, who came on to replace Justin Mapp, opened the scoring in the 61st minute when he stole the ball near his own 18 and made a fast break down field. Making a move to his right to beat defender A.J. Soares, Nyassi fired a right-footed blast from just outside the 18 -yard box that went top corner, left of Revs’ goalkeeper Matt Reis, to score his fifth of the year, second against the Revs and second on the road this season.
With the win, the Impact move to within three points of D.C. United and the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Post-game comments
“It was a workman like performance,” said Impact head coach Jesse Marsch. “We stayed disciplined. We bent a little, but we did not break. We made our breaks this game and stuck it out until the end.”
"You go on the road and shoot for a 1-0 result," said Impact captain Davy Arnaud. "Defensively, as a group I thought we worked really hard and we are happy with the result.”
“It’s all about defending,” said Impact midfielder Sanna Nyassi. “If you’re in a good shape, you win the ball back and then have a chance to counter attack, which I did. I just had to take make sure it was good shot on goal.”
Other highlights
After a fairly defensive start to the first half, Revolution defender Chris Tierney hit the post to the left of Perkins in the 36th minute when he was trying to find a teammate in the box with his left-footed attempt.
Then, five minutes later, following a giveaway in midfield, Revs’ midfielder Lee Nguyen played a ball towards forward Saer Sene down the right flank. His attempt from just inside the box hit the crossbar.
Impact starting goalkeeper, Troy Perkins, made a couple of key saves in the 71st minute to earn a shutout in his very first game since joining the Impact in his first appearance since being acquired from the Portland Timbers early last week. He jumped to push the ball over the bar off of a header by Sene who was left all alone following a chip that found him six yards out. Then off of the ensuing corner kick, Perkins pounced on a low, one-timer from Kelyn Rowe.
Elsewhere, the Impact U21 team, playing its second game in as many nights, tied London City 1-1 on Friday night before falling 1-0 to the Windsor Stars on Saturday.
Next games
Both teams will also meet in an MLS Reserve League game, Monday at 10am at Gillette Stadium. The Impact has a record of 3-2-1.
They will face each other for the third and last time of the season at Stade Saputo next October 27, in the Impact last regular-season game of the year.
The club will return home on Saturday, August 18, to take on the Western Conference leading San Jose Earthquakes at 7:30pm (ET) at Stade Saputo. Individual tickets for games at Stade Saputo are available via the Admission Network. Three-game partial plan at Stade Saputo are now available, starting at $53, by calling 514-328-3668, via impactmontreal.com. Special family and friend packages, as well as new student rates are also available.
Lineups
MTL: GK– Troy Perkins; D – Jeb Brovsky, Hassoun Camara, Matteo Ferrari, Dennis Iapichino; M – Collen Warner, Patrice Bernier, Justin Mapp (Sanna Nyassi 45’), Davy Arnaud (Lamar Neagle 87’), Felipe; F – Marco Di Vaio (Andrew Wenger 76’)
Subs not used: GK – Evan Bush; D – Shavar Thomas, Karl Ouimette; M – Sinisa Ubiparipovic
NE: GK – Matt Reis; D - A.J. Soares, Chris Tierney, Kevin Alston, M - Clyde Simms (Diego Fagundez 80’), Ryan Guy, Lee Nguyen, Benny Feilhaber (Kelyn Rowe 66’), Stephen McCarthy; F - Jerry Bengtson (Fernando Cardenas 62’), Saer Sene
Subs not used: GK – Tim Murray; D – Darius Barnes, Flo Lechner; F - Dimitry Imbongo Boele
GOAL:
MTL – Sanna Nyassi (unnasisted) 61’
CAUTIONS:
MTL – Bernier 7’
NE – Soares 77’
MTL – Nyassi 86’
MTL – Iapichino 89’
