FRISCO, Texas – In a game that saw FC Dallas leading by two goals in the second half, the Montreal Impact's comeback fell just short, losing to 3-2 in its season opener, Saturday, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Midfielder Sanna Nyassi and forward Andrew Wenger scored for the Impact in the loss.
GOALS: Nyassi makes it 1-0|Wenger heads in Felipe's cross
The Impact scored the game’s opening goal in the 10th minute when midfielder Jusitn Mapp took on three Dallas defenders down the right flank before playing a cross towards the opposite corner of the six yard box. Waiting there unmarked, midfielder Sanna Nyassi lunged to poke the ball past FCD keeper Chris Seitz.
FC Dallas tied it up in the 16th minute when a lucky bounce near the 18 sprung midfielder Fabian Castillo alone on goal, using a one touch to put the ball low to the left of Troy Perkins who came out to challenge the shooter.
Then the men in red took the lead on a questionable PK call against Jeb Brovsky in the 18 yard box eight minutes later, awarding Dallas a penalty that striker Blas Perez buried underneath the crossbar.
Argentine striker Mauro Diaz curled a well-placed free-kick from 20 yards out that sailed around the wall and into the top right corner in the 47th minute.
The Impact came within one in the 65th minute when Brazilian midfielder Felipe beat his man to the outside down the left flank and played a cross to the penalty spot that found forward Andrew Wenger. Beating his defender in the air, Wenger placed his header to the opposite corner.
Upcoming matches
The Impact plays Dallas again tomorrow at 11:30 am ET in an MLS Reserve League match at the FC Dallas Soccer Center.
The team will train in Dallas until Thursday before heading to Houston to take on the Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday, March 15, at 8:30pm ET.
The bleu-blanc-noir then heads back north to host its home opener on March 22 versus the Seattle Sounders FC at Olympic Stadium, at 4pm ET.
Get your tickets for March 22 »
Lineups
MTL – GK-Troy Perkins; D-Jeb Brovsky (Calum Mallace 77’), Hassoun Camara, Matteo Ferrari, Eric Miller; M-Hernan Bernardello, Justin Mapp, Felipe, Collen Warner, Sanna Nyassi (Santiago Gonzalez 69’); F-Andrew Wenger
Subs not used: GK-Evan Bush; D-Wandrille Lefèvre, Karl W. Ouimette; M-Blake Smith, Patrice Bernier
DAL– GK-Chris Seitz; D-Kellyn Acosta (Andrés Escobar 81’), Moises Hernandez, Matt Hedges, Jair Benitez, M-Hendry Thomas (Michel 65’), Andrew Jacobson, Je-Vaughn Watson, Fabian Castillo, Mauro Diaz (Peter Luccin 88’); F-Blas Pérez
Subs not used: GK-Richard Sánchez; D-Nick Walker; M-Danny Garcia; F-Tesho Akindele
Goals
MTL – Nyassi (Mapp) 10’
DAL – Castillo (Pérez, Watson) 16’
DAL – Pérez (PEN) 24’
DAL – Diaz 47’
MTL – Wenger (Felipe) 65’
Cautions
MTL – Ferrari 17’
DAL – Hernandez 19’
DAL – Diaz 50’
MTL – Nyassi 60’
