CARSON, California – The Montreal Impact, playing its second game in a series of five in 15 days, lost 2-1 (1-1 at half) to Chivas USA, Wednesday night, at the Home Depot Center.
Chivas opened the scoring in the 14th minute off a corner kick from Cesar Moreno, when striker Juan Agudelo got a right foot volley on the ball near the six yard box that deflected off of the thigh of Alejandro Moreno, which beat Impact goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts to his right.
Felipe then brought the Impact even in the 42nd minute from near the six-yard box. He put the ball down the right wing to Davy Arnaud, who slowed up and played a low cross to the short post, where Felipe was waiting to deflect the ball past Kennedy low, far post, for his second goal in as many games, and a second assist for captain Davy Arnaud this season.
Substitutes Jorge Villafaña and Juan Pablo Angel connected in the 82nd minute to score the game winner. Villafaña played a cross from deep down the left flank, far post, where Angel’s header from about 10 yards out beat Ricketts to his right, going cross crease, opposite post.
"We knew what the job was," said Impact head coach Jesse Marsch. "For the most part I thought we had that under control, but we weren't good enough on set pieces. That's what we have to keep working on, not giving it away."
"We've seen this story too many times this year," said Impact captain Davy Arnaud. "We played well enough to come out of here with a result. We' have to find way to make sure we get those points."
For a third game in a row, the Impact started the game with a 4-2-3-1 formation. The only change made to the lineup by Jesse Marsch was starting Shavar Thomas in the place of injured Matteo Ferrari in central defence, out due to a right quad injury.
The Montreal Impact had its first good chance of the first half in the 38th minute. Forward Andrew Wenger broke in alone behind the Chivas defence from a through ball by midfielder Collen Warner, but Wenger could not beat charging goalkeeper Dan Kennedy who stopped his shot with his left foot.
Ricketts was forced into making a couple of key saves during the first half from about 30 yards out by midfielder Ben Zemanski in both the 29th and 45th minutes.
In the 61st minute, midfielder Cesar Romero came close to putting Chivas ahead, but his point blank shot curled too much to the right of Ricketts’ goal.
Felipe almost got his second of the night when he took a free-kick from about 35 yards out that just missed over the bar.
Defenders Jeb Brovsky and Shavar Thomas made two key defensive stops in the box in the 12th and 58th minutes respectively.
Young Quebec defender Karl W. Ouimette was part of the 18-man roster for that game, dressing for the first time in his career for an MLS game, but did not take part in the match.
Next Game
The Impact’s next game is set for Stade Saputo this Saturday against Brian Ching, Andre Hainault and the Houston Dynamo, which tied Toronto FC 3-3, scoring in the 90th minute Wednesday night, in Houston.
Season tickets and mini-packages for games at Stade Saputo are still available, via impactmontreal.com or by calling 514-328-3668.
In addition, the Impact U21 (3-0-3) will play its next game on the road against the Serbian White Eagles, this Friday, at Centennial Stadium.
Highlights: CHV 2, MTL 1
Lineups
MTL: GK - Donovan Ricketts; D - Jeb Brovsky, Shavar Thomas, Nelson Rivas, Zarek Valentin; M – Davy Arnaud, Felipe, Patrice Bernier (Justin Braun 63’), Collen Warner, Justin Mapp (Lamar Neagle 81’), F – Andrew Wenger (Sanna Nyassi 73’)
Subs not used: GK – Evan Bush; D – Tyson Wahl, Karl W. Ouimette; M - Sinisa Ubiparipovic
CHV: GK –13 D Ante Jazic, Rauwshan McKenzie, Danny Califf, James Riley; M Oswaldo Minda, Ben Zemanski, Paolo Cardozo (Juan Pablo Angel 77’); F Juan Agudelo, Alejandro Moreno (Peter Vagenas 86’), Cesar Romero (Jorge Villafaña 77’)
Subs not used: GK - Tim Melia; D Scott Gordon; M Laurent Courtois, Blair Gavin, Peter Vagenas
GOALS:
CHV - Romero (Agudelo, Moreno) 14’
MTL - Felipe (Arnaud) 42’
CHV - Angel (Villafaña) 82'
CAUTIONS:
CHV - Romero 16’
MTL - Arnaud 55’
CHV - Agudelo 90’+
