TORONTO, Ontario – The Montreal Impact picked up a historic win on Saturday night at BMO Field, shutting out Toronto FC by a score of 1-0. Despite being down to 10 men after Calum Mallace was sent off 43 minutes in, the Bleu-blanc-noir won for the very first time at the home of its rivals from Ontario, the current Eastern Conference leaders.
Even down a man, Nacho Piatti scored yet another wonder goal – his MLS-best ninth of the season on the road – in the 73rd minute to clinch three points. The Impact is now only six points back from the top of the East.
“This was an exceptional performance,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “Even after the sending off, the players wanted to win this even more. With how we came back and fought even harder, down a man, to get that goal and close the game off after three games this week, this was our greatest win this season.”
Remarkable Bleu-blanc-noir defensive effort
The Impact, playing its third game in eight days, put in an admirable defensive performance, blocking spaces down the middle, where the opposition’s big guns Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley, pull the strings for Toronto.
TFC struggled against the Bleu-blanc-noir’s compact block, also coming up against some fine full back play and showing vulnerability to the Montreal transitions. Two Didier Drogba long balls in the 9th and 13th minutes, for examples, kickstarted good plays that ended up with shots by Kyle Bekker – over the bar – and Piatti – wide right – respectively.
“The most important thing is to remain strong during games,” said Ambroise Oyongo. “We all played a great game. We won a derby, and three points. The group was fantastic all week long, and we proved that tonight.”
But the Impact went down to 10 players, once again quite harshly, in the 43rd minute. Toronto FC ignored the official’s whistle, carrying on playing after a Marky Delgado foul, and Calum Mallace got in Steven Beitashour’s way in a bid to bring the ball to a stop and get the play going forward again. Referee Jorge Gonzalez, whose back was turned to Mallace’s intervention, opted to send Mallace off. Delgado, for his part, got a yellow card.
TFC piled on the pressure on Montreal, but the Impact held strong and got its reward when Piatti scored, 17 minutes from full time.
Matteo Mancosu got his head on an Evan Bush goal kick, deflecting the ball to Dominic Oduro. With a defender on his back, Oduro fell down but still managed to hook the ball into Piatti’s path. Well marked by Beitashour, Piatti found a way to send a low shot to the far post that beat goalkeeper Alex Bono for his 14th tally of the season – Oduro has provided the primary assist for five of those.
“For us to be a man down and stay disciplined, go up a goal and defend really well, it doesn’t even feel like three points, it feels like six points,” said Dominic Oduro. “It’s going to motivate us for days. On any given Saturday, if you want the game, you win it. This is going to inspire us.”
Still in control, the Impact was only really worried in stoppage time, when a Benoît Cheyrou free kick found Evan Bush’s arms. The Montreal keeper, who made three saves and registered his fifth shutout of the season, had also stopped Giovinco on a set play in the 64th minute.
Next game
The Impact will next play on Wednesday, September 7, at 7:30pm at Stade Saputo against Kaká and Orlando City SC (TVA Sports, TSN, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). Excellent individual tickets are still available for this game on impactmontreal.com.
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Donny Toia, Hassoun Camara, Laurent Ciman, Ambroise Oyongo; M-Calum Mallace, Hernán Bernardello, Ignacio Piatti (Michael Salazar 90’ + 1’), Kyle Bekker, Dominic Oduro (Johan Venegas 77’); F-Didier Drogba (Matteo Mancosu 55’)
Subs not used – GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Kyle Fisher, Víctor Cabrera; M-Lucas Ontivero
TOR – GK-Alex Bono; D-Steven Beitashour (Benoît Cheyrou 76’), Eriq Zavaleta, Drew Moor, Justin Morrow; M-Marco Delgado (Tosaint Ricketts 71’), Michael Bradley, Will Johnson, Jonathan Osorio; F-Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco (Tsubadah Endoh 67’)
Subs not used – GK-Quillan Roberts; D-Nick Hagglund; M-Armando Cooper, Daniel Lovitz
GOAL
MTL – Piatti (Oduro, Mancosu)
CAUTIONS
TOR – Delgado 44’
TOR – Zavaleta 48’
TOR – Osorio 70’
MTL – Bush 73’
MTL – Mancosu 81’
MTL – Bekker 90’ + 1’
EJECTION
MTL – Mallace 43’
