Red card issued with 40 minutes to play
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact ended its four-game stint at home with a 1-0 loss against the Chicago Fire, this Saturday night, in front of 19,619 supporters at Stade Saputo.
The Impact had to play with 10 players for the last 40 minutes of the game, as defender Deian Boldor was sent off – a first for him in his career – following a decision from the video assistant referee. On the play, Boldor tackled Designated Player Bastian Schweinsteiger and received a caution, but that decision was overruled and he got ejected.
“In my opinion, it’s debatable that it was a red card,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “The game was even before the ejection. The two teams were not giving many opportunities, so at the end, the card changed the game.”
A balanced first half
Facing each other for the second time in less than three weeks, there were very few scoring chances in the first half, but the Impact had nine shots towards the Fire’s net.
Chicago got the best scoring chance in the 9th minute, when forward Luis Solignac dribbled on the left flank before firing a shot that was first blocked, then cleared by Boldor, who was playing his first career game with the Impact in MLS.
Striker Matteo Mancosu also got his chance in the 20th minute. Following a quick combination between Daniel Lovitz and Andrés Romero, his shot from the six-yard line missed the target.
Impact has to play with a man down
The Fire took advantage of the ejection in the 59th minute, when Schweinsteiger scored his third goal of the season. On the play, defender Matt Polster, from the corner of the field, sent a cross to the German DP who did not miss his opportunity to open the score.
Montreal almost tied the game twice through Nacho Piatti’s feet. In the 80th minute, the shot from the latest MLS Player of the Month hit the post. Then, in the dying seconds of the game, his point-blank shot went directly into the hands of goalkeeper Matt Lampson.
“I think that in the first half, we were patient with the ball. We maybe didn’t have all the possession, but we managed the game better than usual,” said Impact captain Patrice Bernier. “The Fire adjusted its play following the last game against us. We fought until the end to get the tying goal, so we’re disappointed, but we will go back to training and work hard to prepare for our next game.”
A few changes in the lineup
A few players missed the game due to international duty. David Choinière, Anthony Jackson-Hamel and Samuel Piette faced Jamaica and Shaun Francis on Saturday in Toronto, while Laurent Ciman and Blerim Dzemaili are with Belgium and Switzerland respectively.
Midfielder Andrés Romero started a game for the first time since October 10, 2015, in Denver, when he suffered a knee injury, while midfielder Louis Béland-Goyette got his second start of the season.
Upcoming games
In another important game for the MLS Cup playoff race, the Bleu-blanc-noir will travel to Foxborough to face the New England Revolution, on Saturday, September 9, at 7:30pm (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690), before coming back at Stade Saputo on Saturday, September 16 at 7:30pm, in the very first meeting with expansion club Minnesota United FC (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690 – TICKETS).
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Daniel Lovitz, Victor Cabrera, Deian Boldor, Hassoun Camara; M-Marco Donadel (Hernan Bernardello 77’), Louis Béland-Goyette (Kyle Fisher 55’), Patrice Bernier, Ignacio Piatti, Andrés Romero (Ballou Tabla 66’); F-Matteo Mancosu
Subs not used: Maxime Crépeau, Chris Duvall, Michael Salazar, Dominic Oduro
CHI – GK-Matt Lampson; D-Patrick Doody (Brandon Vincent 89’), Johan Kappelhof, Jonathan Campbell, Matt Polster; M-Juninho, Bastian Schweinsteiger (Drew Conner 79’), Michael de Leeuw, Djordje Mihailovic (Arturo Alvarez 90’), Luis Solignac; F-Nemanja Nikolic
Subs not used: Richard Sanchez, Michael Harrington, Brandt Bronico, David Arshakyan
GOAL
CHI – Schweinsteiger (Polster, Mihailovic) 59’
CAUTIONS
CHI – Juninho 38’
MTL – Donadel 70’
CHI – de Leeuw 90’+2’
EJECTION
MTL – Boldor 50’
