The focus this week has been on the club’s 25th anniversary, which will be celebrated on Monday in a commemorative game against the LA Galaxy. But another important milestone has almost passed under the radar – this Saturday, May 19, marks exactly 10 years since the Montreal Impact played its first ever game at Stade Saputo.
Stade Saputo changed the landscape of the beautiful game in our province. With its construction, Quebec’s team officially had a home dedicated to the beautiful game. Over the years, through victory and defeat, our supporters have filed in to watch the Bleu-blanc-noir and take in a good game of soccer.
Let’s take a look at Impact Media’s top 5 games ever played at Stade Saputo.
June 13, 2008
Montreal Impact v Charleston Battery
First goal and victory
We could have put the first ever game played at Stade Saputo in this list, but that would be too easy. Instead, we’ll jump three weeks ahead, to the game against the Charleston Battery, where our stadium experienced a few milestones.
After a difficult start to the season in 2008 under newly-appointed head coach John Limniatis, the Impact quickly fell to the bottom of the standings. The game against Charleston was therefore of vital importance for the Bleu-blanc-noir. The game was scoreless after the half, but in the 69th minute, Rocco Placentino etched his name in the club’s history books by giving his team the lead – and the eventual victory – over the Battery, for the Impact’s first goal and win in its new stadium.
June 16, 2012
Montreal Impact v Seattle Sounders FC
First MLS game
When it was officially announced that the Montreal Impact was going to be the 19th team to join Major League Soccer, it was clear that certain improvements were needed to Stade Saputo before making the jump to the big leagues. The stadium at the time could fit about 13,000 people and consisted of four separate stands.
After the Impact played its first five home games in MLS at Olympic Stadium, it was finally time to come home on June 16 for a game against the Seattle Sounders FC. And the Bleu-blanc-noir did not disappoint. Goals from Felipe, Mapp, and Wenger made it 3-0, with the Impact eventually taking it 4-1, earning a victory in its first ever MLS game at Stade Saputo.
October 17, 2009
Montreal Impact v Vancouver Whitecaps
USL First Division final
Perhaps the most important game ever played on Stade Saputo’s soil. After starting the year with five straight losses, Marc Dos Santos took over and turned things around, finishing the season with an eight-game unbeaten streak. Needless to say, the Bleu-blanc-noir was going into the playoffs with the wind fully behind its back.
The first leg of the final took place Swangard Stadium, with the Impact coming away with a 3-2 win. A close game, which meant that it was anyone’s to take as both teams made their way back to Montreal for the second leg on October 17.
Montreal scored the all important first goal in the second leg, off a penalty thanks to midfielder Tony Donatelli. Vancouver’s Shaun Pejic was ejected just beforehand for a tackle in the box on striker Roberto Brown. The rest was business as usual, as the Impact would take the second leg 3-1, winning on aggregate by a score of 6-3, and earning the team’s third playoff championship, and the first celebrated at Stade Saputo.
October 29, 2015
Montreal Impact v Toronto FC
First MLS playoff win
Beating Toronto FC. There may be no better feeling for the Impact supporter…except beating them in the playoffs, of course, which is exactly what they did in 2015. With the Impact finishing third in the Eastern Conference, and Toronto in sixth, that set up an all Canadian matchup in the first round of the playoffs.
And what a game it was.
Let’s not forget that this was Toronto’s first ever playoff appearance since joining the league in 2007 – and what a rude awakening it received. Patrice Bernier opened the scoring with one his best goals in an Impact uniform. Piatti added one of his own just a few minutes later. Finally, who else but Didier Drogba to put the icing on the cake, taking a Bernier cross one time to make it 3-0 before the half. It was a truly magical night at the Impact’s house.
August 3, 2016
Montreal Impact v AS Roma
International friendly
It isn’t often that we get to host a European power house in Montreal, but it makes for an amazing evening at Stade Saputo whenever we do. In the summer of 2016, the Bleu-blanc-noir played a friendly game against AS Roma in the Quebec metropolis. Despite the Impact falling 2-0 to the Italian giants, the Impact’s supporters were treated to a world class festival. It was the first time a team from Europe faced the Impact at Stade Saputo since Olympique Lyonnais came to Montreal in 2012.
Roma won the game thanks to goals from Edin Džeko and Radja Nainggolan, and all present had the opportunity to see world class players like Mohamed Salah, Stephan El Shaarawy, Daniele De Rossi, and Kostas Manolas.
