MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact earned its second win in as many Reserve League games, defeating FC Dallas 5-1 at Stade Saputo, on Tuesday afternoon. Midfielders Blake Smith (2) and Paolo DelPiccolo along with forwards Andrew Wenger and Academy striker Victor Ndiaye scored in the win.
The Impact opened the scoring in the 40th minute when midfielder Zakaria Messoudi, dribbling down the left flank, played a short back pass to defender Amine Meftouh down the left flank. The Academy defender then sent a short lateral cross to midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo, who one timed a left-footer that curled just inside the short post.
An early goal in the second half doubled the Impact’s lead. A poor back pass by FC Dallas defender Stephen Keel was intercepted by Victor Ndiaye. The young Academy striker’s first attempt was blocked by the Dallas keeper, but he managed to get his own rebound and score in an open net in the 49th minute.
FC Dallas cut the lead to one in the 63rd minute when forward Bradlee Baladez blasted one from near the edge of the six-yard box that beat Bush as he dove to his right following a short cross.
Second half substitute Andrew Wenger didn’t take much time to make an impact on the game. With just two minutes on the pitch, the Impact striker was played on behind the Dallas defenders by Karl W. Ouimette down the right flank. Breaking in alone on goal, Wenger placed the ball towards the far post as the keeper came off of his line to challenge the shooter in the 67th minute, scoring his second goal in two Reserve League games this season.
Midfielder Blake Smith, after stealing the ball from a Dallas defender, dribbled past two others, before placing a low shot to the far post from in tight near the right post in the 81st minute.
Then in the 91st minute, a nice dummy by Wenger following a pass by Sinisa Ubiparipovic found Smith making a run into the box. The first year pro scored with a low shot to the keeper’s right for his second of the game and third in two Reserve League matches this season.
Post-game comments
“Today was a really pleasant game for us,” said Impact assistant coach Philippe Eullaffroy, who runs the bench during Reserve League games. “We have always said that these games are very important for us, not just in winning, but to maintain the rhythm for those players who might not have played that much. They need to get back into that reality of playing games. But today, we scored some nice goals and we were every creative with a lot of intensity. I would say mission accomplished for us today.”
“I was fortunate to get two goals today and anything I can do to help the team win games, I’ll do,” said Blake Smith. “Our mentality is that we want to win this league, so we have to take these games just as serious as MLS games. It gives us a chance to showcase our skills. It was a good win for us.”
Notes
DelPiccolo, the Impact’s third pick of the 2013 SuperDraft (second round, 27th overall), who is currently training with the team following his stint with Entracht Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga, earned the start alongside recent pro signing Zakaria Messoudi in the midfield.
Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush wore the captain’s armband for the matchup and is still undefeated in Reserve League action, with eight wins and one tie in nine matches played over two seasons.
Next game
The Impact plays against the Rochester Rhinos in Reserve League action this Friday, at 7:30 pm, at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, New York. The game will be streamed live on uslnation.com.
Lineups
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Karl W. Ouimette, Wandrille Lefèvre, Calum Mallace, Amine Meftouh; M-Paolo Delpiccolo* (Dominique Morin* 76’), Zakaria Messoudi, Blake Smith, Maximiliamo Rodriguez (Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé* 68’), Sinisa Ubiparipovic; F-Victor Ndiaye (Andrew Wenger 65’)
Unused subs: G-Maxime Crépeau
Academy players
Trialist
DAL – GK- Kyle Zobeck; D- London Woodberry, Stephen Keel, Victor Ulloa, Fernando Laverde (Alejandro Dominguez* 84’); M-Bobby Warshaw, Marco Carriizalez, Marco Ortiz (Bobby Edet* 76’), Ramon Nunez; F-Jonathan Top, Bradlee Baladez
Unused subs: GK-Chris Seitz
*Academy players
Goals
MTL – DelPiccolo (Meftouh) 40'
MTL – Ndiaye (unassisted) 49'
DAL – Baladez (Warshaw) 63'
MTL – Wenger (Ouimette) 67'
MTL – Smith (unassisted) 81'
MTL – Smith (Ubiparipovic) 90+'
Cautions
MTL – Ndiaye 61'
MTL – Lefèvre 82'
