“There were two different games tonight, one in the first half and another one after halftime,” said Impact head coach John Limniatis. We did well in the first 45 minutes but nothing good happened in the second half. The attitude in the second half was very disappointing.”
Despite this loss, the Impact is still third in the USL First Division standings with 41 points, one point ahead of Charleston and Seattle, which is playing tonight at 10 pm its last game of the season against Vancouver.
Since the team will also play Sunday, only 15 players made the trip to Minnesota. In midfield, Sita-Taty Matondo started his first game of the season while Antonio Ribeiro was starting his fifth season game. On defense, Alex Surprenant and Davy Uwimana were also on the starting line-up.
Rookie defender Alex Surprenant registered his first career goal at the 33rd minute, scoring on a free kick in the middle lane, just outside the box. Surprenant beat the Thunder goalkeeper Nicolas Platter with a perfect shot in the right upper corner.
“We did well in the first 30 minutes but then it was more difficult for us,” noted Surprenant. The Thunder scored on almost all their opportunities. I think that our position defensively was poor and we did not create many scoring chances, so it’s unacceptable.”
Midfielder Ricardo Sanchez scored the equalizing goal at the 38th minute also with a free kick in the middle lane. From 25 meters out, Sanchez outplayed goalkeeper Andrew Weber in the upper corner to his left.
The Thunder then scored two consecutive goals in the second half. Forward Brian Cvilikas scored the second goal for the Thunder at the 60th minute, completing the plays of Malvin Tarley and Ricardo Sanchez. Then, midfielder Jeremiah Bass scored the insurance goal at the 70th minute, firing a cannon shot 25 meters out that beat Weber to his left.
The Impact had to play one man down, when defender Adam Braz got ejected at the 73rd minute for having discussed with the referee.
Defender Gabriel Gervais, who had recovered from a thigh injury, missed the game due to a blood clot behind a knee. He will be absent for an undetermined period. Midfielder David Testo was serving a one-game suspension for an accumulation of five cautions in regular season play.
The Impact is flying back to Montreal right after the game as the team will conclude its regular season Sunday against the Puerto Rico Islanders, at Saputo Stadium (7:30 pm, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com). This game, postponed due to the Impact’s qualification in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage, was initially scheduled on September 16.
Note that the Puerto Rico Islanders were crowned champions of the regular season after tying the Atlanta Silverbacks 1-1 Friday. The Islanders won their first Commissioner’s Cup in the fifth year of franchise history.
OTHER HIGHLIGHT
48th minute –Thunder defender Kevin Taylor deflected with a header defender Mark Schulte’s throw-in, but Weber redirected the ball with his hands above the net.
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 227)
