Montreal Impact forward Rocco Placentino scored his first goal of the season in the 5th minute of play. After receiving a deep pass from Joey Gjertsen on the left flank, Placentino beat his defender with speed and streaked in alone on Battery goalkeeeper Dusty Huddock, beating him with a strong, left-footed strike to the top of the net.
With the goal, the Impact put an end to a scoreless streak of 551 minutes, which includes the Canadian Championship match against Toronto FC, May 27. The Impact’s last goal before tonight was scored May 2, in a 1-0 win against the Islanders in Puerto Rico.
Charleston tied the game up in stoppage time at the end of the first half when forward Ian Fuller headed in a corner kick from former Impact player Chris Williams, beating Jordan under the bar.
« Right after the goal we scored we saw that we were not there physically,” said Impact head coach Nick De Santis. “We were second on every ball and we could not counter attack. The goal that we allowed at the end of the first half cut our legs. We did not deserve to win tonight.”
Substitute forwards Aaron King (73rd minute), on an assist from Fuller, and David Kenga (86th minute), from King, scored the two other goals for the Battery in the second half.
The Impact was playing its fourth game in 11 days while the Battery was playing for the first time since May 28.
“The guys were feeling tired tonight and it showed on the field,” said defender Nevio Pizzolitto. “In the second half, the Battery showed that they had more legs than us. Their first goal gave them a boost for the second half.”
“We are disappointed tonight because it was not a good performance for us,” said defender Adam Braz, who was celebrating his 27th birthday. “We did not keep possession of the ball and we were less organized, so we paid the price. We just lost three points.”
Central defender Cédric Joqueviel started the game, replacing Stefano Pesoli who was suspended after his ejection from the game against Miami, June 4.
Quebec-native midfielder Cristian Nunez played his first career game with the Impact when he came into the match in the 74th minute, replacing Pato Aguilera, while forward Massimo Di Ioia played his first match of the season with Montreal. Called back from the Trois-Rivières Attak reserve team on Thursday, Di Ioia was substituted into the game in the 82nd minute.
Note that injured players Gabriel Gervais (thigh), midfielders Leonardo Di Lorenzo (thigh), Antonio Ribeiro (ankle) and David Testo (hip), as well as forward Roberto Brown (thigh), did not make the trip to Charleston due to injuries.
The two teams will match up again at Saputo Stadium this Friday, at 7:30 pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, TEAM 990, USLlive.com).
HIGHLIGHTS
24th minute – Charleston forward Lazo Alavanja took a free kick from 30 yards but Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan made the save diving to his right, giving no rebound.
45th minute – On a failed clearing attempt by the Montreal defence, Battery midfielder Osvaldo Alonso took a high shot from the top of the box that was partially deflected and rattled off the left post.
72nd minute – Posted at the penalty spot, Battery forward Randi Patterson shot just above the net as he was inconvenienced by Matt Jordan, coming out.
-30-
Source : Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info : 514-328-3668 (ext. 227)
