The Bleu-blanc-noir solidifies itself in sixth in Eastern Conference standings
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact earned a 3-0 clean sheet against the Columbus Crew SC on Saturday afternoon, at Stade Saputo. After combining for 17 goals and 20 assists in the club’s last 16 games, the trio composed of Taïder-Silva-Piatti kept up the pace with one goal each and two assists in the win. Goalkeeper Evan Bush finished the night with nine saves to earn his ninth clean sheet of the season.
“We were able to find the success that evaded us last week because of the team’s remarkable team spirit,” said head coach Rémi Garde. “The group’s answer was excellent today, in terms of solidarity, and putting in the effort for each other. It’s another good game for us at Stade Saputo.”
Two important goals and a shining keeper
After both clubs exchanged chances, the Impact opened the scoring in the 32nd minute on a perfect penalty kick taken by Algerian Designated Player Saphir Taïder, his seventh goal of the season. On the previous play, Alejandro Silva won his one-on-one battle in the right corner before crossing in the box, where the ball touched the arm of Crew SC defender Josh Williams. The referee called the penalty following a video review of the play.
Silva doubled the Bleu-blanc-noir’s lead after a great play initiated when Taïder recovered the ball in the centre of the field. After getting the ball, the Uruguayan dribbled towards the net, beating a few players and beating Steffen to his right.
“When you give yourself a lead, you play more freely,” said midfielder Samuel Piette. “In the beginning of the game, we had problems finding spaces in behind. But once we scored, they attacked more and we found the spaces.”
Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush stood out in the first half, particularly in the 14th minute, when he blocked a shot from close range from Harrison Afful. Two minutes later, he stopped Pedro Santos’ shot. In the 36th minute, Bush made another great save, parrying away from Gyasi Zardes’ header from inside the box.
“We’ve come back from being down in games before, and even recently it’s been something that we’ve done better,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “But this time of the year, coming back from a bad loss, going down early would have been a disaster. You break it down and in that one moment, you are happy to keep the team in the game. I’m proud of the way things went down.”
Impact shuts the door in the second half
Nacho Piatti brought the crowd at Stade Saputo to its feet for a 12th time this season when he tripled the Impact’s lead after a long run on the left side. When he entered the box, he changed direction a few times before taking a low shot that beat Steffen to his left for his 14th goal of the season.
Upcoming games
The Impact will not play next weekend because of the international break and will then host its biggest rival, the Toronto FC, at Stade Saputo, on Sunday, October 21, at 3pm (TICKETS – TVA Sports, TSN, 98.5fm, TSN Radio 690). The team will then move to the state of Massachusetts for his last game of the season on Sunday, October 28, at 4:30pm, at the Gillette Stadium (TVA Sports, TSN, 98.5fm, TSN Radio 690).
LINEUPS
MTL – Gk-Evan Bush; D-Bacary Sagna, Rod Fanni, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz; M-Samuel Piette, Micheal Azira, Saphir Taïder; F-Alejandro Silva (Chris Duvall 84’), Quincy Amarikwa, Ignacio Piatti (Mathieu Choinière 76’)
Substitutes not used – Clément Diop, Rudy Camacho, Ken Krolicki, Jeisson Vargas, Matteo Mancosu
CLB – Gk-Zach Steffen; D-Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, Josh Williams (Niko Hansen 89’), Milton Valenzuela; M-Artur, Federico Higuaín, Justin Meram (Mike Grella 69’), Pedro Santos (Patrick Mullins 70’), Wil Trapp; F-Gyasi Zardes
Substitutes not used – Jon Kempin, Gastón Sauro, Héctor Jiménez, Ricardo Clark
GOALS
MTL – Taïder (PK) 32’
MTL – Silva (Taïder) 45’
MTL – Piatti (Taïder) 59’
CAUTIONS
CLB – Santos 45’+2’
MTL – Azira 61’
CLB – Jonathan Mensah 90’
