FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts – The Montreal Impact’s MLS Cup Playoffs run starts now. A remodeled Montreal team finished its 2016 regular season with a 3-0 defeat at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Revolution, this Sunday afternoon for Decision Day.
The Impact thus has the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed locked up, which means that it will take on fourth-placed D.C. United at Washington’s RFK Stadium in the Knockout Round. That game will be played Thursday, October 27, at 7:30pm (RDS2, TSN, UniMás, 985sports.ca & CJAD).
“We’re turning our focus to our Knockout Round game,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “Playing a game on Wednesday or Thursday dictated my decisions to rest certain players today. We want to give ourselves the best possible chance of winning that midweek game. Today, we pushed for the equalizer, and their ‘keeper made two good saves when the outcome of the game could have changed. We move forward.”
Revs take quick lead
Ahead of his team’s Knockout Round game, head coach Mauro Biello made eight changes to the team that had played Toronto FC last week. Three Homegrown Players got the nod: defender Wandrille Lefèvre, serene alongside Laurent Ciman, forward Anthony Jackson-Hamel, lively in his first start of the season, and winger David Choinière, impressive on his MLS debut.
“These circumstances weren’t the best, but I’ll make the most of what I’m given,” said David Choinière. “I’m satisfied with my overall performance in my first MLS game. We couldn’t take the game to them more and create more chances, but I’m glad that I could make my debut.”
The Revolution opened the scoring 13 minutes in, after a Montreal foul on the edge of the area to goalkeeper Evan Bush’s right. On the ensuing free kick, Diego Fagundez curled a shot around the wall and on the inside of the post, giving no chance to Bush despite a courageous leap. The ball fell behind the ‘keeper for Fagundez’s sixth goal of the season.
Still, Bush again made some great saves in the first half. The Montreal netminder stopped Juan Agundelo on a shot to the far post, Gershon Koffie on a belter from distance and Kei Kamara on an attempt from close range.
The Impact nearly equalized just after the break. After a corner that he’d won himself, Choinière blasted a shot at goal from the outside of the area, but goalkeeper Cody Cropper dived to his left to beat the shot away. Cropper then had to make a last-second save minutes later, denying Jackson-Hamel after a Donny Toia cross.
The Revs doubled their lead on the hour mark. After picking up a short pass from Scott Caldwell, Juan Agudelo dribbled to the edge of the Montreal penalty area. His left-footed strike beat Bush to his right.
“Losing always hurts, but this team was playing together for the first time,” said Laurent Ciman. “The players that got a rest will be ready to play D.C. United. This is going to be a tough Knockout Round game, but it’ll be up to us, with our experience, to get a great result.”
The locals made it 3-0 in the 71st minute. After a pass from Lee Nguyen to the penalty spot, Fagundez played the ball wide to Kei Kamara, inside the area to Bush’s left. With the outside of his right foot, Kamara placed the ball into the side netting for his seventh goal since his mid-season trade to the Revs.
Next games
The Impact will enter the MLS Cup Playoffs at the Knockout Round stage on Thursday, October 27, at 7:30pm at Washington’s RFK Stadium against D.C. United. Impact supporters can also visit impactmontreal.com for all details on playoff tickets.
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Ambroise Oyongo, Wandrille Lefèvre, Laurent Ciman, Donny Toia; M-Calum Mallace, Michael Salazar (Ignacio Piatti 58’), Johan Venegas, Harry Shipp (Dominic Oduro 58’), David Choinière (Lucas Ontivero 76’); F-Anthony Jackson-Hamel
Subs not used – GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Hassoun Camara, Kyle Fisher; M-Hernán Bernardello
NE – GK-Cody Cropper; D-Kelyn Rowe, José Gonçalves, London Woodberry, Andrew Farrell; M-Gershon Koffie (Daigo Kobayashi 86’), Diego Fagundez (Zachary Herivaux 90’+2’), Scott Caldwell, Lee Nguyen; F-Kei Kamara (Teal Bunbury 80’), Juan Agudelo
Subs not used – GK-Bobby Shuttleworth; D-Darrius Barnes, Chris Tierney; M-Steve Neumann
GOALS
NE – Fagundez 13’
NE – Agudelo (Caldwell) 60’
NE – Kamara (Fagundez, Nguyen) 71’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Mallace 55’
NE – Agudelo 56’
MTL – Oduro 64’
NE – Kamara 72’
MTL – Venegas 83’
