200th win at home in history since 1993
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact earned three points in the MLS standings, this Saturday night at Stade Saputo, beating D.C. United by clean sheet, 2-0. Blerim Dzemaili was in the middle of everything, scoring one and setting up another, while Chris Duvall found the back of the net for the first time with the Bleu-blanc-noir.
“It was not an easy game and they were dangerous in transition,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “We were able to defend well and break up their attacks. I think our confidence will grow with this defensive performance. We have to continue to grow as a team.”
“It’s the full package,” said Impact full-back Chris Duvall. “I’m not a guy used to scoring goals, but it’s an added bonus to get a goal and a shutout, especially. A 2-0 win is a perfect result for us.”
Winning the midfield battle
As soon as the game started, Blerim Dzemaili and his teammates in midfield, Marco Donadel and Hernán Bernardello, took over this key area. In the fifth minute, the Swiss international used the gaping spaces in the middle to run at United’s defence, before squaring it to the right for Matteo Mancosu, whose shot was blocked. Five minutes later, the backline had to stand up. On a long throw-in flicked at the near post, Hassoun Camara intervened twice to block the Black and Red’s tries at goal; the visitors did not hit the target once in the first half.
After 15 minutes, Donadel won a duel in midfield and gave the ball to Dzemaili, who turned intelligently before shooting, but lacking precision; the Impact’s number 31 would get the last laugh.
Dzemaili does damage
In the 21st minute, Bernardello passed to Dzemaili, just inside the opponent’s half. The midfielder ran for 20 metres unopposed and took advantage of this space to unleash a 25-metre rocket that flew inside Travis Worra’s top corner, gifting the hosts a 1-0 lead.
The Impact doubled down quickly. Ballou Tabla, on the left, relayed the ball to Chris Duvall, who cut inside. He passed to Dzemaili and continued his run; in the meantime, the Swiss controlled and lobbed the backline, finding Duvall alone in the box. The American defender finished his left-footed half-volley with finesse, just inside the post.
The Bleu-blanc-noir almost added a third in the 32nd minute. Bernardello used both Dzemaili and Tabla to penetrate D.C. United’s midfield. The young Impact winger, on the left flank, tried to lob the keeper with his left foot. Worra had a lot to do to tip the ball over the bar.
The Washingtonians came close to cutting the deficit in half, just before the break. A free kick on the right, taken by Taylor Kemp, found Ian Harkes’ head at the near post, but he could not direct his shot on target.
Controlling the second half
Sitting comfortably on a 2-0 lead, Montreal managed correctly this start to the second period. The hosts could have closed the case twice at the hour mark, but both Oduro and Mancosu, in quick succession, could not finish their chances offered by Dzemaili and Salazar respectively.
Another opportunity was created 10 minutes later for the Italian striker. Dzemaili’s shot from the right wing was punched by D.C.’s ‘keeper, but the ball fell at Salazar’s feet. He dragged it back for Mancosu, at the penalty spot, but his shot missed to the left of the frame.
United tried to score a goal, notably in the 77th and in the 79th minute, but Luciano Acosta saw his first shot land in Evan Bush’s arms, who recorded a third clean sheet this term, and his second caress the post.
The Impact’s back four, composed by Duvall, Laurent Ciman, Kyle Fisher and Hassoun Camara, along with the American goalkeeper, had a strong game, blocked seven of the 18 shots by D.C. United, while Bush made two saves.
The Impact could have gotten a penalty in the 87th minute when Bernardello crossed the ball to Oduro, on the right. The Ghana winger fell in the box following contact with Acosta, but while the assistant referee waved his flag to signal a foul, head referee Jorge Gonzalez waved his hand to reject the appeal.
Upcoming games
The team will once again play on the road, a fourth away game in five league games, with a trip to BBVA Compass Stadium, in Texas, against Houston Dynamo, on Wednesday, July 5, at 8:30pm EDT (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690), before a two-week break because of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, taking place in the United States. The Bleu-blanc-noir still has a friendly game scheduled, against its affiliated club in USL, the Ottawa Fury FC, on Wednesday, July 12, at TD Place, in Ottawa.
LINEUPS
MTL – G-Evan Bush; D-Chris Duvall, Kyle Fisher, Laurent Ciman, Hassoun Camara; M-Marco Donadel, Hernan Bernardello, Ballou Tabla (Michael Salazar 59’), Blerim Dzemaili (Calum Mallace, 88’), Dominic Oduro; F-Matteo Mancosu (Nick DePuy 70’)
Unused substitutes: Eric Kronberg, Victor Cabrera, Wandrille Lefèvre, Louis-Béland-Goyette
DCU –G-Travis Worra; D-Chris Korb (Chris Odoi-Atsem 69’), Kofi Opare, Steve Birnbaum, Taylor Kemp; M-Ian Harkes, Lloyd Sam (José Guillermo Ortiz 72’), Luciano Acosta, Marcelo Sarvas, Patrick Nyarko; F-Deshorn Brown (Lamar Neagle 55’)
Unused substitutes: Eric Klenofsky, Jalen Robinson, Jared Jeffrey, Julian Buescher
GOALS
MTL – Dzemaili (Bernardello) 21’
MTL – Duvall (Dzemaili) 23’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Tabla 22’
MTL – Mancosu 26’
DCU – Sam 45’ + 1’
MTL – Camara 82’
