"We expected a match like that tonight, but unfortunately they were more physical than us and we weren't first on the ball," said Impact head coach John Limniatis. "We didn't play poorly, but it just wasn't enough to win. This wasn't a bad result, but obviously it wasn't a very good result either."
"We're taking the result positively because it gives us a lot of confidence for the second game," said Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan. "We played a good game and did what we had to do here. It was a typical playoff game with two teams that had a lot of desire to win. We're looking forward to the second leg in Montreal."
Stefano Pesoli scored the lone Impact goal in the 21st minute of play. Leonardo Di Lorenzo’s free kick from about 40 meters out was deflected in front of the goal, ending up at the feet of Mauro Biello who unleashed a powerful shot from within the crease. Pesoli jumped on the rebound, easily beating goalkeeper Chris Eylander, who was sprawled out helplessly on the pitch.
Midfielder Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar opened the scoring in the 15th minute. After the Montreal defense had managed to stop an attack mounted by Sébastien Letoux and Roger Lévesque, Alcaraz-Cuellar took advantage of a poor clearing attempt by the Impact and beat Matt Jordan with a low shot.
Sounders midfielder Leighton O’Brien scored the winning goal on a penalty kick in the 42nd minute. The penalty was awared when Impact defenders Davy Uwimana and Simon Gatti held onto forward Sebastien Letoux in the 18-meter area. O’Brien beat Matt Jordan to his left, who had guessed incorrectly to his right.
The game ended 10 vs 10. Sounders defender Kevin Sakuka was ejected in the 78th minute after an illegal tackle on Félix Brillant. Defender Stefano Pesoli was also ejected in the 84th minute after receiving his second yellow card of the game.
A few Impact regulars didn’t make the trip out west, most notably defender Nevio Pizzolitto, midfielders Sandro Grande and David Testo, as well as forward Peter Byers.
This is the third time these two teams have faced off in the playoffs. The Impact defeated the Sounders in the championship game in 2004, by a final score of 2-0. The following year, Montreal was eliminated by Seattle in the semifinals, 4-3 on total goals.
Elsewhere in the USL playoffs, the Rochester Rhinos blanked the Charleston Battery 2-0, while the Whitecaps shut out the Minnesota 2-0, in Vancouver.
HIGHLIGHTS
8th minute – After taking a centering pass from captain Mauro Biello, midfielder Rocco Placentino took a left-footed shot from the top of the crease that sailed just right of the Seattle net.
9th minute – Midfielder Josh Garder capitalized on a failed clearing attempt by defender Cédric Joqueviel in front of the Impact net. He took a low shot from close range, but goalkeeper Matt Jordan dove to his right to make the save.
22nd minute – Forward Roger Lévesque took a short pass to get behind the Impact defense and one-on-one with goalkeeper Matt Jordan, but he missed his shot just right of the net.
51st minute – Goalkeeper Matt Jordan made a great diving save to stop a point-blank shot from Leighton O’Brien.
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Source : Patrick Vallée, Impact de Montréal
Info : 514-328-3668 (poste 227)
