Impact faced just three shots on target in two games
As far as successful weeks go in MLS, you don’t get much better than what the Montreal Impact achieved in Week 9. Travelling to Boston for a game against New England last Wednesday, Rémi Garde’s men came back home with three points following a dominant 3-0 win. On Saturday, at home against the Chicago Fire, the Impact conceded no goals once again, edging out the visitors 1-0 with a late winner.
It prompted the league to award goalkeeper Evan Bush the Player of the Week award, having recorded two clean sheets in two games. Defender Zakaria Diallo, on the bench, and head coach Rémi Garde were also included on the Team of the Week, both for the second time this season.
“I think they just awarded it to the goalie with the team that had two clean sheets,” laughed Evan Bush. “If anything, it reflects the work done by our defensive unit. It’s truly a team award, and I don’t say that as a cliché. It’s absolutely true. That award could have easily gone to anyone on the backline.”
The American wasn’t the busiest ‘keeper this week, facing no shots on target against New England, and making three saves – one of those game-changing – against the Chicago Fire on Saturday. In the first half against the Revs, the Impact gave their opponent no looks on goal whatsoever, the first time it’s ever done so in a road game in MLS.
“For him as a goalkeeper and for us as defenders, it’s nice,” said full-back Bacary Sagna. “It confirms the job we’re doing a little more. When we stay solid defensively, we keep our chances of winning higher and that’s what happened Saturday. It’s gratifying for him, because he’s made vital saves since the beginning of the season that have kept us in games.”
Honouring the coach
It wasn’t the easiest week for Rémi Garde and his coaching staff either. In the team’s eighth road game out of nine games to start the season, last Wednesday in Boston, travel issues forced the team to arrive to Gillette Stadium a mere four hours before kick-off.
That didn’t stop them from putting on a show, dominating their opponent en route to a decisive win, their first in Massachusetts since 2015.
“Of course, it’s nice, but it especially credits the work done by those around me,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “We’re a group. We’re happy to be rewarded, but it’s the collective rewards that interest us.”
