Saphir Taïder and Nacho Piatti score for Bleu-blanc-noir, Evan Bush saves a penalty
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida – The Montreal Impact remained perfect in its 2018 preseason, earning a third straight win, this time by a score of 2-1 over the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Saturday night at Al Lang Stadium, in St. Petersburg, Florida.
“We are getting wins, it’s great for our confidence,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “I prefer when the win is a little more constructed. Until now, teams that have tried to destabilise our defensive shape have had a hard time. I ask a lot out of my players, but that’s my job. Now, I tell the players and I keep repeating it, winning games is not easy. There is still a lot of work to do.”
A controlled first half
The Bleu-blanc-noir put the same starting 11 on the field as in Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Fire. The continuity in the line-up allowed the players to play the ball quickly and find each other, often with just a touch of the ball. If the Rowdies could not dangerously test Evan Bush, the Impact had a few shooting opportunities, notably for Matteo Mancosu and Saphir Taïder, on a free-kick, but both failed to hit the target.
In the 44th minute, Montreal built the play on the left flank before Taïder switched the play with a long diagonal to Raheem Edwards on the right-hand side. The Canadian winger controlled the play and took advantage of Michael Petrasso’s overlap to feed him the ball. Petrasso’s cross found a diving Taïder, and the Algerian Designated Player put his team in front with a nice header.
“It was a well-constructed play,” said midfielder Saphir Taïder. “The first goal is always nice. In the first half, everything was working well, we created opportunities and we scored a goal. In the second, the opposing team was more determined. What’s important is how quickly we reacted. At the end, we won, and it is great.”
A strong second half
After the break, the Impact came out with a slightly different tactical set up, due to three changes brought to the starting line-up. The Rowdies took advantage and caused problems for the Bleu-blanc-noir defensively, most notably in the 56th minute.
Junior Flemmings, on the right wing, beat his defender and cut inside, dribbling past Evan Bush who had come out to meet him. The Rowdies player shot, only to see the ball cleared off the line by Petrasso. Michael Nanchoff got the ball back and was fouled in the box, earning a penalty. George Hristov stepped up to take the kick, only to see it saved by Evan Bush.
In the 75th minute, the Rowdies tied the game. Sebastian Guenzatti, on the edge of the box, passed to Jochen Graf, who lobbed Bush.
Montreal answered immediately just two minutes later. Petrasso, on the right flank, dribbled through a few Tampa Bay players and passed the ball to Taïder, who found Piatti, alone on the left. The Argentine beat the keeper with a strong right-footed shot.
“With my first touch of the ball I beat the first defender,” said Michael Petrasso. “After that, it was mostly my reflexes, because all I saw around me were green shirts. When I saw Saphir, I gave him the ball and he was able to find Nacho’s run. I think I am adjusting well defensively and going forward as well. I’m going to try and continue on the same path.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will continue its preseason preparations against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, February 21 at Joe DiMaggio Sports Complex, and against New York City FC on Saturday, February 24 at 5pm at Al Lang Stadium, as part of the Rowdies Suncoast Invitational.
The team will kick off its season with two games on the road, in Vancouver on March 4 and Columbus on March 10, before playing its home opener at Olympic Stadium on Saturday, March 17, at 3pm, against its biggest rival, Toronto FC.
LINE-UP
MTL – Evan Bush; Jukka Raitala, Zakaria Diallo, Víctor Cabrera (Daniel Kinumbe* 46’), Michael Petrasso (Chris Duvall 81’); Ignacio Piatti, Saphir Taïder, Samuel Piette (Ken Krolicki ^ 90’), Shamit Shome (Michael Salazar 46’), Raheem Edwards (Clément Bayiha* 65’); Matteo Mancosu (Anthony Jackson-Hamel 46’)
*Impact Academy player
^Player on trial
TB – Akira Fitzgerald; David Najem (Tamika Mkandawire 62’), Hunter Gorskie (Kyle Curinga 62’), Neill Collins (Max Lachowecki 62’), Zac Portillos (Ivan Magalhaes 62’); Jack Blake, Marcel Schäfer (Michael Nanchoff 33’), Junior Flemmings (Alex Morrell 62’), Joe Cole (Martin Vingaard 46’), Leo Fernandes; Georgi Hristov (Jochen Graf 62’)
GOALS
MTL – Saphir Taïder 44’ (Michael Petrasso)
TB – Jochen Graf 75’
MTL – Nacho Piatti 77’ (Saphir Taïder)
CAUTIONS
MTL – Raheem Edwards 32’
TB – Georgi Hristov 32’
MTL – Michael Petrasso 61’
