Fourth win on the trot at home for the Bleu-blanc-noir
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact won a fourth game in a row at Stade Saputo in MLS, on Wednesday night, beating Philadelphia Union by a 2-1 score. Michael Salazar and Blerim Dzemaili have given the win to the Montreal squad, which showcased tonight a lot of young players, among whom Louis Béland-Goyette, 21, starting his first game in MLS.
“We knew it would be a tough game tonight,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “Philadelphia is amongst the hottest teams over the past 10 matches. It was important for us to get these three points and build our confidence, especially with a lot of young players in the lineup. It’s a good start for us to win today and now we move forward and get ready for FC Dallas.”
Salazar opens the scoring
The Impact started the game with a little scare. The Union, pressing very high on the pitch, won the ball in the Montreal box, but Fabrice Picault could not direct his shot on frame. Holding firmly possession of the ball during the first half, the Bleu-blanc-noir was able to craft itself some scoring chances, notably for Blerim Dzemaili who, in the 7th and in the 14th minute, had shooting opportunities, but did not put them on target.
The hosts finished by opening the score in the 19th minute. Hernán Bernardello sent a long diagonal ball for Chris Duvall, who was forward on the right wing. The American full-back created himself a yard of space with a dribble before sending a perfect cross to the first post for Michael Salazar to attack. His header aptly beat goalkeeper John McCarthy and the winger had found the back of the net for a second consecutive game.
In the 36th minute, the Montreal attack should have doubled its lead. Dzemaili, at the heart of everything the Impact did offensively, gave the ball for Matteo Mancosu. Ballou Tabla came to help his teammate with a clever run in the middle to create a two against one, but the Italian could not find the 18-year-old winger.
A few minutes before the break, the Union came back to level terms. The Montreal backline, in control of the ball, gifted Picault, once again, a golden opportunity in the box. All alone, the American beat Bush with a low shot to wane the supporters’ enthusiasm and halt a 268-minute shutout sequence for the Impact at home.
“We knew at the start of the game that our lineup would be very young and that the conditions would be tough with the heat,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “It was important for us to enter this game with the right mentality. We showed a lot of character to come back after allowing this bad goal to score the winning goal. We really needed to win this game. We are creeping up in the standings, we are looking for points to get in the top six. It was an important win for us tonight.”
Impact goes ahead once more
The Montreal squad created three chances on the bounce after coming back from the dressing room. First, Dzemaili had a chance on a free kick a little on the right from 20 metres, but his shot was off target.
Then, in the 51st minute, Tabla, from the inside left corridor, dribbled three times to beat two Philadelphians defenders, but his low shot did not beat McCarthy.
From the rebound, Salazar, in the middle, recovered the ball. The 24-year-old Belize international passed to the right for Dzemaili, who beat Giliano Wijnaldum with a nutmeg before dispatching a powerful shot across Philadelphia’s goalkeeper, giving the hosts the lead. The Swiss thus added a third game winning goal to his record, while scoring in a third consecutive home game.
Visitors send in stirring substitutes
Entering the fold in a 10-minute interval, Marcus Epps and Jay Simpson both caused problems to the Bleu-blanc-noir’s defensive block. In the 70th minute, the striker from Arsenal’s academy beat a Montreal defender before running at the defense and shooting, but did not trouble Bush.
In the 86th minute, Epps lobbed the ball beyond the defensive line to find Roland Alberg alone in the box, and for good reason: the Union’s number 10 was a hair offside. His volley still beat Bush, but did not count.
The end of the game was hacked, as both teams committed a lot of fouls and two cautions were given, including one to Bernardello, who will be suspended for Saturday’s game, causing some concern to the crowd; Stade Saputo still could celebrate a win and add three more points to the standings, which bring the Impact five points away from the red line with two games in hand.
Upcoming games
The Impact will play a second game in four days, as FC Dallas travels to the Bleu-blanc-noir’s ground, this Saturday at 7:30pm (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690 – TICKETS). Then, Montreal will go to the Big Apple for a first visit to Red Bull Arena since the team eliminated the Red Bulls at the Conference semifinals stage, in 2016, on Saturday, July 29, at 7:30pm (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690).
LINEUPS
MTL– GK-Evan Bush; D-Chris Duvall, Kyle Fisher, Laurent Ciman, Dan Lovitz; M-Louis Béland-Goyette (Marco Donadel 74’), Hernan Bernardello, Blerim Dzemaili, Michael Salazar (Dominic Oduro 64’), Ballou Tabla (David Choinière 76’); F-Matteo Mancosu
Subs not used: Eric Kronberg, Victor Cabrera, Calum Mallace, Nick DePuy
PHI – GK-John McCarthy; D-Raymon Gaddis, Jack Elliott, Oguchi Onyewu, Giliano Wijnaldum; M-Warren Creavalle (Adam Najem 79’), Haris Medunjanin, Ilsinho (Marcus Epps 57’), Roland Alberg, Fabrice-Jean Picault (Jay Simpson 67’); F-C.J. Sapong
Subs not used: Jake McGuire, Keegan Rosenberry, Joshua Yaro, Brian Carroll
GOALS
MTL – Salazar (Duvall) 19’
PHI – Picault 43’
MTL – Dzemaili (Salazar) 51’
CAUTIONS
PHI – Alberg 29’
MTL – Béland-Goyette 32’
PHI – Gaddis 45’
PHI – Elliott 77’
PHI – Onyewu 90’
MTL – Bernardello 90’
