Alejandro Silva scores the game’s lone goal
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact prevailed 1-0 in this first leg of the Canadian Championship semifinals, Wednesday evening at Stade Saputo. Alejandro Silva scored the only goal of the game in the second half.
“Keeping a clean sheet was very important with the away goals rule,” said Impact head coach Rémi Garde. “We would have liked to score the second one as well, as we know it will be a difficult task on the West Coast. But we still are in a good position to progress.”
Advantage Montreal in the first half
The two Canadian clubs could not find the back of the net in the first half, but Montreal still had the upper hand in the run of play. As well as gaining over 60% of possession, the Bleu-blanc-noir had the best goal scoring opportunities.
The first one came in the 11th minute, when Jeisson Vargas gave the ball on the right flank to Ken Krolicki, who laid it back for Alejandro Silva. The Uruguayan winger took a powerful shot that forced an awkward save by the goalkeeper.
In the 24th minute, Canadian striker Anthony Jackson-Hamel hit the post by redirecting with his head a cross by Daniel Lovitz.
Answers come in second half
The Impact took the lead in the 58th minute. After shielding the ball in front of the box, Vargas passed the ball to the left, where Saphir Taïder was waiting. The Franco-Algerian brought the ball back for Silva, who scored his first Canadian Championship career goal and his second with Montreal.
Vargas once again created a chance a few minutes later, just after the hour mark, when he found Jackson-Hamel in front of the box, but his shot hit the crossbar and went over.
In the 63rd minute, the Impact played quickly on the left wing after Krolick won a free kick. Lovitz crossed the ball for Taïder. His header caused a lot of problems for goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic, who scrambled it away.
In the 86th minute, Homegrown midfielder Mathieu Chonière, who had signed his first professional contract on Tuesday, obtained his first minutes with the first team, entering the game as Taïder came off. It was also goalkeeper Clément Diop’s debut with the club.
“The most important now is to focus on our next challenge ahead of us, and that’s the game against Portland. After that, Vancouver awaits,” said full-back Daniel Lovitz. “We don’t want to look too far ahead of us, but we know that the upcoming month will go by quickly and it will allow a lot of players to showcase their abilities and to prove they deserve their chance. We will move forward as a group.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will play its next two games on the West Coast, first in MLS action against the Portland Timbers on Saturday, July 21, at 11pm EDT (TVA Sports), at the Providence Park, before playing the return game of the Canadian Championship semifinal at the BC Place, against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, on Wednesday, July 25, at 10pm EDT (canadasoccer.com, Yahoo Sports Canada, 98,5fm).
LINE-UPS
MTL – GK-Clément Diop; D-Michael Petrasso (Jukka Raitala 38’), Rudy Camacho, Victor Cabrera, Daniel Lovitz; M-Samuel Piette, Ken Krolicki, Saphir Taider (Mathieu Choinière 86’); F-Jeisson Vargas, Anthony Jackson-Hamel (Ignacio Piatti 71’), Alejandro Silva
Subs not used – James Pantemis, Rod Fanni, Shamit Shome, Matteo Mancosu
VAN – GK-Stefan Marinovic; D-Aaron Maund, Aly Ghazal, Brett Levis (Bernie Ibini-Isei 74’), Jakob Nerwinski; M-Brek Shea, Cristian Techera, David Norman (Sean Franklin 71’), Russell Teibert; F-Anthony Blondell (Erik Hurtado 59’), Nicolás Mezquida
Subs not used – Sean Melvin, Alphonso Davies, Michael Baldisimo, Myer Bevan
GOAL
MTL – Silva 58’
CAUTIONS
VAN – Norman 41’
VAN – Shea 87’
