Jeisson Vargas scores the game’s lone goal, Evan Bush wins 50th game with Bleu-blanc-noir
MONTREAL - The Impact put its four-game losing streak to an end, beating the Houston Dynamo 1-0, Saturday night at Stade Saputo. Midfielder Jeisson Vargas netted the team’s lone goal late in the first half, putting an end to the club’s 426-minute scoreless streak. It also marks goalkeeper Evan Bush’s third shutout of the season.
“I saw a complete investment from my players tonight,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “It’s a good victory and I’m happy for the players, who gave a lot of effort tonight. We were in a difficult period. We won’t say we aren’t anymore, but in terms of our confidence, this was an important step we had to take today.”
On the frontfoot in the first half
The Impact came into this one knowing how dangerous the Dynamo were offensively this season, especially on the wings. Although both teams came out with a lot of energy, none were able to get a clear scoring chance in the game’s early goings, struggling to breakthrough in the final third.
That changed quickly as both teams settled into it. In the 19th minute, after Bush dove to clear a cross with his fingertips, Lovitz recuperated the ball and found Anthony Jackson-Hamel on the partial break. He managed to get close to the 18-yard line, but Houston defender Leonardo stayed with him the whole time and made a good last-minute tackle to erase the danger.
Montreal continued applying pressure on the Dynamo’s back line. Just a minute later, in the 20th minute, the ball fell for Nacho at the top of the box. He took it one time, but his curled shot went off the crossbar, only to bounce off the line before being cleared.
Then, with the first half coming to an end, Montreal’s offensive prowess was finally rewarded. A scuffle for the ball in front of the box allowed Raheem Edwards to eventually break through and enter the box on the left, taking a shot that was stifled by the Dynamo keeper. Samuel Piette collected Beasley’s attempted clearance and gave it straight to Jeisson Vargas, waiting at the top of the box. The Chilean touched it once before unleashing a curled shot on the turn that went straight into the top corner, giving Joe Willis no chance.
“We were in a situation today where we couldn’t allow ourselves to lose,” said midfielder Samuel Piette. “It was important for us to start strong, and we continued that way in the second too. It was important for us to keep the clean sheet today. We need to continue like this and build on this game.”
Holding off the orange wave
Back from the locker rooms, the Bleu-blanc-noir continued in its stride, dominating possession as it did in the first, keeping the Dynamo deep in its own half while working patiently to try and find the slightest of openings to get in on goal.
Houston started picking up the pace at the hour-mark. Romell Quioto had a good opportunity to get the ball in the box from the left side, but his attempt was easily recovered by Bush after Raitala managed to get a touch on it near the six-yard box.
Wilmer Cabrera’s men kept trying to break through in the game’s late stages, but the Raitala-Fanni tandem in central defence was unbreakable, allowing the Dynamo to take just one shot on Evan Bush through 90 minutes.
With the win, the Bleu-blanc-noir remains perfect at home against the Dynamo, going 6-0-0 since the club entered MLS in 2012. It also marks Evan Bush’s 50th career win with the Impact in all divisions, and his 26th shutout.
“As a defender, I’m very happy we got the clean sheet,” said defender Jukka Raitala. “We didn’t rush when he had the ball tonight. We kept the ball in defence and midfield, and it forced their offensive players to run a lot, costing them a lot of energy. It was a good game.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will face another team from the Lone Star State, FC Dallas, at Toyota Stadium on Saturday, June 9 at 8pm EDT (TVA Sports, 98.5fm, TSN Radio 690), and will then come back to Stade Saputo for a game against Orlando City SC on Wednesday, June 13 at 7:30pm (TICKETS – TVA Sports, 98.5fm, TSN Radio 690).
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Daniel Lovitz, Jukka Raitala, Rod Fanni, Chris Duvall; M-Saphir Taïder, Samuel Piette, Ignacio Piatti, Jeisson Vargas (Ken Krolicki 62’), Raheem Edwards; F-Anthony Jackson-Hamel (Alejandro Silva 75’)
Substitutes not used – Clément Diop, Rudy Camacho, Marco Donadel, Dominic Oduro, Matteo Mancosu
HOU – GK-Joe Willis; D-DaMarcus Beasley, Leonardo, Kevin Garcia, Adam Lundqvist; M-Luis Gil (Mauro Manotas 63’), Eric Bird, Oscar Boniek Garcia; F-Alberth Elis (Tomas Martinez 80’), Memo Rodriguez, Arturo Alvarez (Romell Quioto 58’)
Substitutes not used – Chris Seitz, Conor Donovan, Eric Alexander, Andrew Wenger
GOAL
MTL – Vargas (Piette) 44’
CAUTIONS
HOU – Elis 29’
HOU – Gil 33’
MTL – Edwards 65’
HOU – Lundqvist 69’
HOU – Martinez 84’
