CLEARWATER, Florida – The Montreal Impact played Toronto FC to a 1-1 tie, on Wednesday, in its third preseason game in the Rowdies Suncoast Invitational, at the Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex in Clearwater. Impact forward Dominic Oduro scored in a second consecutive game.
“I thought we played a solid first half,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “We took the lead against a team that played most of their starters, as we did. In the second half, we made 10 changes and lost a bit of rhythm, but overall, I’m satisfied.”
Involved in two goals in the previous game against D.C. United, the Dominic Oduro-Harry Shipp partnership struck again in the 20th minute for the opener. After dribbling in midfield, Shipp lifted the ball to Oduro down the right. Oduro then beat goalkeeper Quillan Roberts to his left with a precise shot.
“We applied what the coach asked us to do and what we’ve worked on this week,” said Impact defender Ambroise Oyongo. “It’s a good result, because we played as we had to. We scored a goal we’d rehearsed in training, so it shows that we’re picking up on those concepts.”
Toronto forward Jordan Hamilton tied the game in the 79th minute. On a chaotic play, Impact players blocked three shots on goal in a row, including goalkeeper Eric Kronberg making a spectacular save.
“We’re satisfied of the first half against most of their starters,” added defender Laurent Ciman. “It’s a great sign of things to come.”
Six minutes into the game, Oduro did his best with an overhead kick, but the ball landed in Roberts’ hands. The play had started when Designated Player Ignacio Piatti, playing his first preseason game, put Ambroise Oyongo through on the left flank for a cross to Oduro.
One minute earlier, the Impact had won a free kick just outside the penalty area after a Piatti foul. But Marco Donadel’s attempt struck the wall.
Goalkeeper Kronberg made a fine save in the 34th minute when TFC forward Herculez Gomez raced through on the left flank. Kronberg dived to his left to block Gomez’s attempt.
Both teams made several changes at halftime. Toronto created a good opportunity to tie the game on a 67th-minute corner kick, but Impact midfielder Kyle Bekker was able to clear.
Kronberg then made the save of the game in the 67th minute, diving to his left to beat away a Molham Babouli curler from the right.
In the 75th minute, Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé tried his luck from distance, but just missed on the right of the frame.
This was Toronto FC’s Toronto FC’s ninth preseason game, following camps in California and Orlando.
The Impact’s last game in Florida is scheduled for this Saturday at 7pm ET, against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
The Montreal Impact plays its 2016 home opener on Saturday, March 12, at 4pm ET (TVA Sports) at the Olympic Stadium against reigning regular season champions New York Red Bulls. On the previous Sunday, March 6, Montreal plays Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place, at 5:30pm ET (RDS, TSN).
LINEUPS
MTL – G-Eric Kronberg; D-Ambroise Oyongo, Laurent Ciman (Wandrille Lefèvre 46’), Victor Cabrera (Kyle Fisher 46’), Donny Toia (Louis Béland-Goyette* 62’); M-Marco Donadel (Calum Mallace 46’), Eric Alexander (Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé 46’), Harry Shipp (Kyle Bekker 46,), Johan Venegas (Michael Salazar 46’), Ignacio Piatti (Romario Williams 67’); F-Dominic Oduro (Cameron Porter 62’)
2016 MLS SuperDraft pick
* FC Montreal player
TOR – G-Quillan Roberts; D-Justin Morrow (Ashtone Morgan 46’), Drew Moor (Eriq Zavaleta 46’), Damien Perquis (Josh Williams 46’), Mark Bloom (Nick Hagglund 46’); M- Benoit Cheyrou (Brian James 69’), Michael Bradley (Jay Chapman 46’), Will Johnson (Chris Mannella 46’); F- Jonathan Osorio (Daniel Lovitz 46’), Herculez Gomez (Molham Babouli 46’), Tsubasa Endoh (Darius Madison 46’, Jordan Hamilton 74’)
GOALS
MTL
– Oduro (Shipp) 20’
TOR –
Hamilton 79’
CAUTIONS
TOR – Johnson 20’
