Jack Harrison is the lone goal scorer
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact lost by a 1-0 score against New York City FC on Wednesday evening at Stade Saputo. Jack Harrison gave his team all three points by scoring in the first half.
“Tonight was not good enough in all aspects of the game, especially as we are in the playoff race,” said Impact head coach Mauro Biello. “We cannot accept that kind of performance in front of our supporters. We now play on Saturday in Colorado, we have to work hard to get the win.”
Heavy rain at the start
Stade Saputo had to live with the weather at the start, with heavy rain pouring onto the pitch, making the grass slippery and passing moves tougher to complete. In the fifth minute, a quick attack on the left allowed Blerim Dzemaili to find a pocket of space in front of the box, but his shot flew over the goal.
In the 13th minute, Rodney Wallace got a good opportunity in the box. Spotted by Khiry Shelton, his left-footed shot was stopped by Evan Bush.
Right before the half-hour mark, New York City FC opened the score. Jack Harrison, from the left, played a one-two with Wallace. The former had a lot of space to run into and beat Bush with a high shot.
In the 41st minute, Wallace got another one on one with the goalkeeper, this time launched by Maximiliano Morález. Bush once again stood tall.
The Bleu-blanc-noir had a chance to shoot right before half-time as Laurent Ciman joined the attack, but his powerful shot from 20 metres out was parried by Sean Johnson.
Impact tries but does not find a goal
Ten minutes after the break, the visitors had a great chance to double their lead, as Morález put the ball in Shelton’s run, but Bush made another save, this time with his foot. The American goalkeeper finished the game with five saves in his 30th start of the season.
“For a reason or another, we are having a tough time since the past couple of weeks,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “We slipped up and it kind of snowballed from there. We missed another good opportunity tonight to climb in the standings.”
The Montreal squad tried to equalize and came close with a shot by Dzemaili and a header from Matteo Mancosu, but could not capitalize.
Midfielder Blerim Dzemaili will be unavailable through suspension for the upcoming game on Saturday, because of yellow card accumulation.
Upcoming games
The Impact will leave for the Rockies, and Denver more precisely, to play against the Colorado Rapids, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, on Saturday, September 30, at 9pm (TVA Sports, CJAD 800). After the international break will follow the – possibly – last derby in 2017 against Toronto FC at BMO Field, on Sunday, October 15, at 3pm (TVA Sports, TSN, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690).
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Kyle Fisher, Laurent Ciman, Víctor Cabrera (Andrés Romero 46’); M-Hassoun Camara, Marco Donadel (Matteo Mancosu 69’), Hernán Bernardello (Patrice Bernier 61’), Blerim Dzemaili, Shaun Francis; F-Ignacio Piatti, Anthony Jackson-Hamel
Subs not used – Maxime Crépeau, Chris Duvall, Samuel Piette, Dominic Oduro
NYC – GK-Sean Johnson; D-Andraz Struna, Frédéric Brillant, Alexander Callens, Ronald Matarrita (Ben Sweat 82’); M-Thomas McNamara, Alexander Ring, Jack Harrison (Yangel Herrera 70’), Maxi Morález, Rodney Wallace (David Villa 61’); F-Khiry Shelton
Subs not used – Eirik Johansen, Ethan White, Andrea Pirlo, Jonathan Lewis
GOAL
NYC – Harrison (Wallace) 29’
CAUTIONS
NYC – Brillant 33’
MTL – Dzemaili 40’
NYC – Struna 45’
NYC – Ring 73’
NYC – Callens 74’
