The game was played in front of 9,128 spectators at Sherbrooke University Stadium. The Impact now has a 6-0-1 record and still has yet to allow a goal in its "home" games played outside of Montreal, since 1996.
"The atmosphere was great, it was exciting to see all those people cheer us on," said Mauro Biello, who became the team’s all-time leader in minutes played. He now has a total of 18,329, therefore erasing the old record of 18,245 minutes, previously held by Nick DeSantis, now the team’s head coach.
"I’m proud of the record," added Biello. "But one day, it’ll be beaten by one of the young players on this team."
Lavrynenko scored at the 24th minute of play. After picking up the rebound following a shot by Biello, he kicked the ball to the right of Joe Barton. The ball was partially stopped by the Atlanta goalkeeper, but it slowly rolled past the goal line.
The Impact had a 12-6 edge in shots on net. Zé Roberto had the most shots on the Montreal side with three. Eduardo Sebrango also was a constant threat.
"We started off well, and we moved the ball very well," said DeSantis. "We stretched them out on the sides and found some pockets, and Yuri scored when we needed it."
Sutton, who notably made a key save against Anthony Tokpah at the 79th minute, collected his 16th shutout of the season, allowing him to tie the league record first set in 1998 by Pat Onstad of the Rochester Rhinos.
The Impact also set a new A-League record with a team total of 18 shutouts — adding Andrew Olivieri’s two. The old record of 17 was held by the Rhinos (1998) and the Charleston Battery (2002).
It was also Montreal’s seventh consecutive shutout — five by Sutton, two by Olivieri — to improve the club record. The Impact, now undefeated in its last seven match-ups (6-0-1), also extended its stretch without allowing a goal to 658 minutes, also a club record.
The win allows the Impact, which has already clinched a playoff spot, to climb back on top of the Eastern Conference standings, two points ahead of the Richmond Kickers.
The Montreal squad could now clinch the Eastern Conference regular-season title with a victory against the Edmonton FC this Wednesday at Claude Robillard Sports Complex (7:30 pm, CKAC). It will be the team’s second match-up of a series of four games in eight days.
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SOURCE:
bcomm
INFO:
Stéphane Banfi
514-328-3668 (ext. 27)
