Piatti scores, Jackson-Hamel adds a brace
CHESTER, Pennsylvania – With heart and tenacity, the Montreal Impact managed to overturn the Philadelphia Union’s three-goal lead, this Saturday afternoon at Talen Energy Stadium. Just like last week, Nacho Piatti and Anthony Jackson-Hamel – with a brace – scored for the Impact, who picked up a 3-3 tie.
“This was a fantastic comeback,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “You don’t often see a team being down 3-0 on the road and coming back to score those three goals. We dominated the second half, took it to them and were able to get the breakthrough. It’s good to come out of here against a Conference team with a point.”
“This is my first brace for the Impact in MLS, and that pleases me a lot,” said Jackson-Hamel. “It’s good to follow up on my goal-scoring performance from last Saturday with a good game today. I’m glad to be able to contribute to the team’s good results. It’s positive to have players coming on as a sub and contributing.”
Wrong start, but right ending for Bleu-blanc-noir
The Union opened the scoring only five minutes into the game, after C.J. Sapong picked up a back pass. Sapong then fed Roland Alberg, who squeezed past a tackle before beating goalkeeper Evan Bush with a low shot.
The home team doubled its lead in the 23rd minute. A cross from Haris Medunjanin found Chris Pontius at the back post. With his head, Pontius played the ball square into the six-yard box, where Sapong swiftly completed the move.
A penalty kick gave Philadelphia a chance to make it 3-0 in the 39th minute, after a foul on defender Jack Elliott. Penalty taker Alberg buried his attempt from the spot, scoring his second of the game.
But the Bleu-blanc-noir got one back two minutes later. After picking up a Marco Donadel pass on the left, Nacho Piatti embarked on a run through the entire Union defence to the edge of the area, where he placed a low right-footed shot past goalkeeper Andre Blake.
The Impact got the Union supporters doubting in the 69th minute. A pinpoint cross by Ambroise Oyongo found Jackson-Hamel, who’d come on as a sub seven minutes earlier. Jackson’s header left no chance to Blake, who conceded the Impact’s 900th regular-season goal in its 668th game all-time since 1993. Jackson-Hamel also became the first Impact player to come off the bench and score in two MLS games in a row.
In the 81st minute, Evan Bush made a crucial save on a play that could have finished the game right there and then. Released down the left, Fafa Picault came straight at Bush, who closed down the angles and denied him a goal.
“We knew what kind of game we were getting into with this team,” said defender Chris Duvall. “They were desperate to get a first win and defend their home turf. We knew it was going to be a battle. We put ourselves in a big hole, but we used the break to regroup and make adjustments.”
The comeback was complete in the 86th minute. Hassoun Camara cushioned a long Laurent Ciman pass for Matteo Mancosu, who blasted a shot that Blake stopped. But the rebound fell for Jackson-Hamel, who tapped it home to make it 3-3.
Next game
The Impact will play its second game at Stade Saputo this season on Saturday, April 29, at 3pm EDT against Vancouver Whitecaps FC (TVA Sports, CTV, 98,5FM & TSN Radio 690). Excellent tickets for this game, as well as season tickets and mini season packages, are still available on impactmontreal.com.
LINEUPS
PHI – GK-Andre Blake; D-Raymon Gaddis, Jack Elliott, Richie Marquez, Fabinho; M-Chris Pontius (Fabian Herbers 73’), Alejandro Bedoya, Roland Alberg (Derrick Jones 86’), Haris Medunjanin, Ilsinho (Fafa Picault 66’); F-C.J. Sapong
Subs not used – GK-Jake McGuire; D-Oguchi Onyewu, Keegan Rosenberry; F-Jay Simpson
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Chris Duvall, Hassoun Camara (Kyle Fisher 90’ + 2’), Laurent Ciman, Ambroise Oyongo; M-Dominic Oduro (Anthony Jackson-Hamel 62’), Marco Donadel, Patrice Bernier, Hernán Bernardello (Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla 46’), Nacho Piatti; F-Matteo Mancosu
Subs not used – GK-Maxime Crépeau; D-Daniel Lovitz; M-Calum Mallace, Adrián Arregui
GOALS
PHI – Alberg (Sapong) 5’
PHI – Sapong (Pontius, Medunjanin) 23’
PHI – Alberg (PK) 39’
MTL – Piatti (Donadel) 41’
MTL – Jackson-Hamel (Oyongo) 69’
MTL – Jackson-Hamel 87’
CAUTIONS
PHI – Gaddis 43’
PHI – Alberg 56’
MTL – Piatti 65’
PHI – Bedoya 71’
