Jeisson Vargas’ goal gives Bleu-blanc-noir all three points
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact took its first three points of the season, this Saturday afternoon in front of 26,005 people at Olympic Stadium, beating Toronto FC 1-0. Jeisson Vargas opened his scoring account with the Bleu-blanc-noir and was the game’s only goal scorer.
“It has a special taste because we knew it was a particular game,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “We are mostly happy because we have taken three points and we played a pretty good game overall. We did not give them many opportunities, we remained organized and patient, while creating a few scoring chances for ourselves.”
New tactical set-up
The Impact went for a formation with three centre backs, to nullify Toronto’s similar set-up. Rod Fanni started his first game with Montreal, playing in between Jukka Raitala and Víctor Cabrera.
The two opponents remained patient in the opening 10 minutes, not taking many risks going forward and venturing to the final third only a few times. The first shot was taken by the Reds, Sebastian Giovinco finding a pocket of space 25 metres away from goal, but his shot was easily saved by Evan Bush, who finished the game with five stops.
In the 32nd minute, Samuel Piette read the play and intercepted a pass aimed at Michael Bradley, in the attacking third. The midfielder from Repentigny gave the ball quickly to Nacho Piatti, who entered TFC’s box, but Drew Moor stopped him before he had a chance to shoot.
In the 41st minute, Piette once again broke down a Torontonian move, this time in midfield, beating Bradley in the duel by intercepting the ball and passing it to Saphir Taïder. The Algerian international found Piatti, free in the Reds’ half. He carried the ball forward and gave it to Vargas, on the right. The Chilean took a touch and shot quickly. A TFC defender tipped it and Alex Bono was beat at his near post. It was a third game in a row that Piatti contributed to the score line, raking in a goal and two assists in the process.
“We knew we had to prove to our supporters that we were here to win, especially against Toronto,” said midfielder Samuel Piette. “The team responded well today. I am very happy for the team, and even more so for the technical staff. They are so dedicated to us, they give a lot of time and effort, so this win is also for them.”
A lead to defend
For the first time this campaign, the Impact was ahead in a game, but the team did not sit on its laurels, getting three great scoring chances in the first 15 minutes after the break, but a passing combo between Piette, Taïder and Vargas narrowly fell through, before Taïder missed the target in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and Piatti, on a three-on-two, shot right at Bono.
The Bleu-blanc-noir defense came up big a couple of times in its own area in the following minutes, notably Cabrera, who blocked a dangerous shot by Nicolas Hasler in the 63rd minute, and Fanni, who shut down Giovinco and Jozy Altidore.
“I am very happy to be with this team, because I saw a lot of solidarity today, said centre back Rod Fanni. I really saw a team and we have been together only for a short time. A performance like this requires a lot of effort. It’s really a team win today. »
In the 70th minute, Piatti dribbled past Bradley and put Vargas through, who was all alone in front of Bono. He beat him with a right-footed shot, but the Impact’s number 16 was just offside and the goal was not given.
Then, in the 75th minute, the Impact should have had a penalty shot, when Piatti was tripped by Eric Zavaleta inside TFC’s box, but the referee, even after a video replay, decided otherwise.
In the 84th minute, Toronto FC came very close to finding an equalizer. Altidore freed himself in Montreal’s box and only had Bush to beat. The American goalkeeper parried the ball, but it was still going to trickle in; Michael Petrasso saved his team and cleared it off the line.
“It happened so fast, I just saw it go past him,” said full-back Michael Petrasso. “My first instinct was to keep it out and just kick it anywhere but in the goal. I’m happy to have cleared it off the line because that was a big win for us. It feels good to win against Toronto.”
With this win, the Montreal Impact is still undefeated at Olympic Stadium against Toronto FC in all competitions, with a record of four wins and one draw.
Upcoming games
After a week without a game because of the international break, the Montreal Impact will head to the West coast to face the Seattle Sounders FC, on Saturday, March 31 at 10pm (TVA Sports, TSN Radio 690). The Bleu-blanc-noir will then travel to Boston for its only Friday game of the season to take on the New England Revolution, on April 6 at 7:30pm (TVA Sports, TSN, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690).
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Michael Petrasso, Rod Fanni, Víctor Cabrera, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz; M-Samuel Piette, Saphir Taïder, Ken Krolicki (Louis Béland-Goyette 66’); F-Jeisson Vargas (Marco Donadel 84’), Ignacio Piatti (Anthony Jackson-Hamel 90’+4’)
Subs not used – Clément Diop, Chris Duvall, Dominic Oduro, Marco Donadel, Raheem Edwards
TOR – GK-Alex Bono; D-Eriq Zavaleta, Drew Moor, Nick Hagglund (Marco Delgado 59’); M-Gregory Van der Wiel, Ager Aketxe (Nicolas Hasler 59’), Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio, Ashtone Morgan (Auro 66’); F-Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco
Subs not used – Clint Irwin, Chris Mavinga, Jay Chapman, Jordan Hamilton
GOAL
MTL – Vargas (Piatti) 41’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Piette 32’
TOR – Bradley 35’
MTL – Krolicki 38’
MTL – Vargas 53’
MTL – Cabrera 90’+4’
MTL – Donadel 90’+6’
