Battery midfielder Omar Dailey scored the winning goal in injury time after a run on the left wing. Dailey streaked alone to the net and beat goalkeeper with a shot to the near post.
“On the goal, I thought one of the Battery players had a hand ball, but the referee did not whistle,” said defender Adam Braz. “We started the game slowly but we came back strong in the second half. We had a few chances to score, but we didn’t take advantage of them tonight.”
The Impact, which tallied a fourth loss this season, still remains in first place in USL D1 standings with 43 points, five points ahead of the Battery and the Vancouver Whitecaps.
This is the second time this season the Impact loses to the Battery. Montreal suffered a 3-1 loss in Charleston, May 13.
It was also the first time the Impact suffered two consecutive losses since August 27 and 29, 2004.
« We didn’t get a lot of scoring chances tonight, said Montreal Impact head coach Nick De Santis. We played better in the second half, but it wasn’t enough. We had a good chance on the Di Lorenzo free kick. The difference tonight was the giveaway in a bad area, which led to the Battery goal.”
“We played well defensively, but we didn’t get enough scoring chances as we would have liked,” said Impact captain Mauro Biello. “They scored a lucky goal at the end of the game and it’s disappointing to lose that way. We would have liked to secure a playoff spot in front of our fans tonight. We will have to regroup to come back stronger the next game.”
Defender Nevio Pizzolitto received a red card at the end of the game and will miss the next Impact game.
The Impact will play its next game on Wednesday, August 23 against the Lynx in Toronto (7:30 pm, CJAD 800, Sport Plus XM-172).
THE GOAL
90th minute – Battery defender Omar Daley on a rush on the left wing beat the Impact defence and streaked towards net. His shot beat goalkeeper Greg Sutton to the near post.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
17th minute – After a centering pass from midfielder Zé Robert deep on the right flank, defender Lars Lyssand took a one-time shot from the edge of the goal, but the ball went just wide right of the net.
36th minute – After a deep run on the left wing, midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo swerved to the right along the 18-yard-box line, and took a low shot that was saved by Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock, diving to his right.
49th minute – On a long centering ball in the Battery box, Mauricio Salles challenged a defender for a header, only to have the ball fall to his feet. His quick shot from inside the six-yard box sailed over the net.
64th minute – Battery midfielder Lazo Alavanja took a low shot from 30 metres out that was blocked by Sutton, diving to his right.
76th minute – Following a failed clearing attempt by the Battery on a Di Lorenzo free kick, Impact defender Mauricio Vincello fired a low drive to the net that was blocked on the goal line by Battery defender Kevin Nylen.
82nd minute – From the top of the box, Battery forward Gavin Glinton took a low shot that rattled off the post, to the left of Sutton.
MISSING FROM THE LINE-UP
Team – Player (Position) – Reason – Status
MTL – Patrick Leduc (M) – ankle injury August 11 @ ROC – Day to day
MTL – Bill Sedgewick (D) – back injury August 11 @ ROC - Day to day
MTL - Jason DiTullio (D) – knee - season over
NEXT GAMES
Wed. August 23 – Impact @ Toronto – Centennial Stadium – 7:30 pm
Fri. August 25 - Virginia Beach @ Impact - Claude-Robillard Sports Complex – 7:30 pm
Sun. August 27 - Virginia Beach @ Impact – Sherbrooke University Stadium – 4 pm
Thur. August 31 – Impact @ Portland – PGE Park – 10 pm
Fri. Sept. 8 - Toronto @ Impact - Claude-Robillard Sports Complex – 7:30 pm
(end of regular season)
GAME SUMMARY
www.impactmontreal.com/Tracker/Tracker.aspx?GameID=22&language=EN
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Source : Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info : 514-328-3668 Ext. 27
