GUADALAJARA, Mexico – The Montreal Impact won its second game in a row by shutout, this time against Iteso University in Guadalajara, by a score of 7-0, Wednesday, in its third game of the preseason in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Forwards Miguel Montaño (14th and 65th minute) and Aaron Schoenfeld (48th and 58th) each scored twice. Juan José Pena (14th), Reda Agourram (29th) and Mircea Ilcu (60th) added a goal each.
“We are a better team than them and I am pleased that we did not play down to their level,” said Impact head coach Jesse Marsch. “I felt that a lot of guys had a good day today. We put a big emphasis on how we defend and that will continue all year.”
Miguel Montaño opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Montaño beat the goalkeeper between the legs after corralling a back pass by Eduardo Sebrango.
A few seconds later midfielder Juan José Pena, on tryout with the team in Mexico, doubled the Impact lead. After a give and go with Agourram, Pena dribbled passed a defender and beat the goalkeeper with a low shot.
Quebec forward Reda Agourram, also on a tryout with the team, scored the third goal in the 29th minute. After taking a pass from defender Daniel Arcila, Agourram’s pivot put him in a position to beat the goalkeeper to the top-right corner of the net.
“We are satisfied with our performance, but there are still a few things we need to work on,” explained Agourram. “I think we made some progress offensively even though the team we played wasn’t that strong. It’s good for the confidence.”
Forward Aaron Schoenfeld, selected by the club in the MLS Supplemental Draft, scored both of his goals in the second half. He scored the team’s fourth goal of the day with a volley following a cross from the right wing.
Then in the 58th minute, Schoenfeld took in a long clearing by defender Gienir Garcia after stealing the ball from the keeper and scoring into an empty cage.
“It's a good result and we played good soccer. We kept the tempo high even when the score was high,” said Schoenfeld. “Every day the chemistry keeps building and the ball is moving faster.”
Two minutes later, forward Mircea Ilcu took advantage of a rebound off of a Garcia shot to score the sixth goal of the game.
Montaño, who subbed back into the game in the 50th minute for Agourram, scored his second on the night with a powerful drive cross crease, which came off a cross by Pena from the left flank.
Goalkeepers Evan Bush and Greg Sutton, who played one 35-minute half each, shared in the team's third shutout of training camp.
“We want to make sure as a defensive unit that our shape is good. Hopefully we can add another clean sheet tomorrow,” said defender Jeb Brovsky, who played his first game in Mexico.
The Impact plays its fourth and final game of the training camp in Mexico, Thursday, at 12:30pm ET against Mexican first division side Atlas.
Founded in 1916, Atlas finished tops in the Primera once, won four Copa Mexcio and four Campeon des Campeones. It currently plays at Estadio Jalisco stadium, where 17 World Cup games were held in 1970 and 1986. It has developed the likes of defender Rafael Márquez, currently a DP for the New York Red Bulls in MLS and a starter for the Mexican national team, and also has former Serie A (Italy’s first division) defender of the year and Argentinean international Leandro Cufré on its current roster.
First-half lineup: GK-Evan Bush, D-Calum Mallace, D-Shavar Thomas, D-Gienir Garcia, D-Daniel Arcila, M-Juan José Pena, M-Ian Westlake, M-Bryan Arguez, M-Miguel Montaño, F-Eduardo Sebrango, F-Reda Agourram
Second-half lineup: GK-Greg Sutton, D-Hassoun Camara, D-Gienir Garcia, D-Jeb Brovsky, D-Daniel Arcila, M-Juan José Pena, M-Gerson Mayen, M-Sinisa Ubiparipovic, M-Mircea Ilcu, F-Reda Agourram (Montaño, 50th), F-Aaron Schoenfeld
Goals
Miguel Montaño – 14th minute
Juan José Pena – 14th minute
Reda Agourram – 29th minute
Aaron Schoenfeld – 48th minute
Aaron Schoenfeld – 58th minute
Mircea Ilcu – 60th minute
Miguel Montaño – 65th minute
