CHESTER, Pennsylvania – Matteo Mancosu’s 88th-minute goal clinched a 1-1 tie for the Montreal Impact against the Philadelphia Union, this Saturday night at Talen Energy Stadium. The Impact has thus remained undefeated against the Union this season, with a win and two draws.
Mancosu thus countered Tranquillo Barnetta’s opener, scored just before halftime. The Bleu-blanc-noir holds on to fifth place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the Union with a game in hand. With this 16th road point, the Impact also tied its record single-season away points tally, set in 2013 and matched in 2015.
“We played well for most of the game,” said head coach Mauro Biello. “We saw good things on both the defensive side and the offensive side. The goal at the end is the result of all the work that my players put in. This is a good point that we pick up against Philadelphia, and I’m pleased with the game.”
Tenacious Impact cancels out cruel opener
The Bleu-blanc-noir, playing its second game in four days, first made sure to play responsible soccer in the first half. With their efficient pressing, Montreal players had only few last-second interventions to make – and even then, those that had to be made were impeccably executed.
The Impact even created two clear opportunities in the first 10 minutes, as Lucas Ontivero and Patrice Bernier both got the ball just outside the six-yard box but couldn’t finish. Montreal got another good chance 30 minutes in, as Nacho Piatti slipped the ball through for Matteo Mancosu to goalkeeper Andre Blake’s right, but Blake covered his angles well to deny Mancosu on this offensive transition.
It was the Union, however, who opened the scoring in the 45th minute. Fabian Herbers, under pressure, quickly tipped an Alejandro Bedoya pass to Barnetta, who cut inside near the penalty area. Barnetta then took a left-footed shot from distance that Eric Kronberg, whose view of the ball was obstructed, was unable to stop.
“We played a good first half, but we conceded a goal that hurt, considering what we had wanted to achieve,” said Hassoun Camara. “We created more opportunities than they did. We had to recover, and although it’s tough to do so away from home, the team effort got us there.”
The Impact opened the game up, sending a second striker on in the second half. While the Union did show more going forward, Montreal also created fine chances. Piatti, most notably, played Mancosu through again in the 62nd minute, but Blake came out of his net once more to block his left-footed attempt.
But Mancosu got the better of Blake in the dying moments of the game. Harry Shipp, who had come on as a sub minutes before, played a short corner kick back to Hernán Bernardello. With his first touch, Toia crossed for Donny Toia, who swiftly deflected the ball to the far post where Mancosu nodded the ball home for the game-tying goal.
“I’m very satisfied with this goal,” said Matteo Mancosu. “We played a good away game against a direct rival. We could have scored more, with the chances that we created, but we have to be pleased, because we played well and picked up an important point.”
Next game
The Impact’s next game will take place at Stade Saputo on Saturday, September 17, at 7:30pm against the New England Revolution (RDS, TSN, 985sports.ca & TSN Radio 690). Excellent individual tickets are still available for this game on impactmontreal.com.
LINEUPS
PHI – GK-Andre Blake; D-Keegan Rosenberry, Josh Yaro, Richie Marquez, Fabinho; M-Alejandro Bedoya, Warren Creavalle, Fabian Herbers (Ilsinho 70’), Tranquillo Barnetta, Chris Pontius (Roland Alberg 82’); F-C.J. Sapong
Subs not used – GK-John McCarthy; D-Raymon Gaddis, Ken Tribbett; M-Brian Carroll; F-Charlie Davies
MTL – GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Donny Toia, Hassoun Camara, Laurent Ciman, Ambroise Oyongo; M-Marco Donadel (Harry Shipp 79’), Hernán Bernardello, Lucas Ontivero (Dominic Oduro 69’), Patrice Bernier (Didier Drogba 61’), Ignacio Piatti; F-Matteo Mancosu
Subs not used – GK-Maxime Crépeau; D-Víctor Cabrera; M-Calum Mallace, Kyle Bekker
GOALS
PHI – Barnetta (Herbers) 45’
MTL – Mancosu (Toia, Bernardello) 88’
CAUTIONS
PHI – Pontius 34’
MTL – Ciman 48’
PHI – Sapong 54’
MTL – Camara 60’
