Mancosu provides reply for Montreal after goals from Kamara and Davies
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Montreal Impact lost 2-1 against the Vancouver Whitecaps, Sunday at BC Place, in its 2018 MLS season opener. Kei Kamara and Alphonso Davies allowed their team to win all three points, while Mancosu scored in the last 10 minutes to give hope to the Bleu-blanc-noir.
“We believed until the very end,” said Montreal Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “We also believed in the beginning of the second half, as we controlled the play for some time. Even if we battled hard, it wasn’t enough. I still loved my team’s reaction. It was a first game, we’re going to build on what was done well and try to correct what wasn’t.”
A nervous first half
It was quite evident that both teams were playing their first game of the season. If the opponents studied each other at the start the game, mistakes gave the Whitecaps some good scoring chances, but on two different occasions, Kei Kamara was unable to beat Evan Bush.
The right side – form the Impact’s perspective – was a key area during the game and was occupied by four Canadian internationals: Michael Petrasso and Raheem Edwards, for the visitors, faced Marcel de Jong and Alphonso Davies. In control during the first half, the hosts were unable to capitalize, mostly because of the Bleu-blanc-noir’s defensive work.
Action packed second half
Back from the locker room, the Impact took control of the game for the first 15 minutes of the second period, keeping possession of the ball and creating quality scoring chances, notably from Saphir Taïder, who crossed a low ball in the box, without any of his teammates able to get a foot on it.
“We gave it our all and we fought hard,” said Saphir Taïder. “We conceded two goals that we could have avoided, but we didn’t put our heads down. It’s disappointing, because we wanted to go home with at least a point. With a little more precision, we even could have won, but we will learn from our mistakes. It’s a long season, and we are confident despite the loss.”
In the 63rd minute, the ‘Caps opened the scoring. Russell Teibert found Davies alone on the left wing. The young Canadian international had time to look up and find Kamara, who headed the ball past the goalkeeper at his near post.
Seven minutes later, Christian Techera, sent it behind Montreal’s defensive line, crossed the ball on the ground for Davies, who doubled his team’s lead.
The Impact answered in the 82nd minute. Piatti fed the ball to Daniel Lovitz on the left flank. He then crossed the ball with his right foot to Mancosu at the far post, who beat Stefan Marinovic with a header.
Upcoming games
The Impact heads to Columbus to face the Crew SC on March 10, at 1pm (TVA Sports, CTV), before playing its home opener on March 17 at 3pm at Olympic Stadium against its biggest rival, Toronto FC (TVA Sports, CTV, 98,5FM, TSN 690 – TICKETS).
LINEUPS
MTL – G-Evan Bush; D-Michael Petrasso, Víctor Cabrera, Jukka Raitala (David Choinière 78’), Daniel Lovitz; M-Samuel Piette, Saphir Taïder, Ken Krolicki, Raheem Edwards (Jeisson Vargas 70’), Ignacio Piatti; A-Matteo Mancosu
Unused subs – James Pantemis, Chris Duvall, Shamit Shome, Dominic Oduro, Marco Donadel
VAN – GK-Stefan Marinovic; D- Jakob Nerwinski, Aaron Maud, Kendall Waston, Marcel de Jong; M-Alphonso Davies (Brek Shea 81’), Cristian Techera, Efraín Juárez, Russell Teibert, Yordy Reyna (Felipe 75’); F-Kei Kamara (Anthony Blondell 89’)
Unused subs – Brian Rowe, José Aja, Nicolás Mezquida, Bernie Ibini-Isei
GOALS
VAN – Kamara (Davies, Teibert) 63’
VAN – Davies (Techera, Juárez) 70’
MTL – Mancosu (Lovitz, Piatti) 81’
CAUTIONS
VAN – Juárez 11’
MTL – Cabrera 32’
VAN – Waston 37’
MTL – Mancosu 90’+2’
