PUERTO RICO 1 IMPACT 0
MONTREAL – Despite dominating 18-4 in shots, the Montreal Impact (4-7-3; 15 points) lost 1-0 to the Puerto Rico Islanders (5-5-3; 18 points), Sunday, in front of 13,034 spectators at Saputo Stadium.
“I’m not blaming anyone for the loss today,” said Impact head coach John Limniatis. “The Islanders goalkeeper played a great game. We remain positive and will concentrate on the good things we did in this game. The good teams always find solutions so we will work hard to get things right.”
Islanders forward Josh Hansen scored the game-winning goal in the 5th minute of play. Hansen deflected with a header a centering pass to the near post from forward Taiwo Atieno, beating Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan to his right.
“They scored on half of the opportunities they got. When this happens, you know that you are playing against a quality team,” said Impact defender Gabriel Gervais, who started his first game since May 10, against the Minnesota Thunder. “We didn’t take them lightly at all. It’s deceiving to lose this way and to give points to the opponent. We absolutely have to stop losing points at home because if it continues, we will have problems at the end of the season.”
“We got caught in the beginning of the game on the only scoring chance they got and then we did not score on our chances,” said Impact team captain Mauro Biello. “The game today was almost the same as the one we played in Puerto Rico, the difference being that in that previous case, we were the ones who didn’t have a lot of scoring chances and we won 1-0. They took back from us what we had taken from them.”
The Impact got a few excellent scoring chances during the game. Impact forward Roberto Brown came close to tying the game in the 41st and 68th minute of play. Then, two minutes later, mdifielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo took a hard 20-meter shot directly on the crossbar.
It was for the Impact a first loss in its last six games (4-1-1) as well as a first loss in 12 regular season games against Puerto Rico (9-1-3).
The Impact will play its next game next Sunday, against the Seattle Sounders, at Saputo Stadium (3:30 pm, Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com).
HIGHLIGHTS
17th minute – Posted on the right, midfielder David Testo made a centering pass towards midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo, who took a low hard shot that was partially deflected by Islanders defender Cristian Arrieta. Goalkeeper Bill Gaudette then made the save, diving to his right.
25th minute –Impact forward Severino Jefferson took a low point blank shot that goalkeeper Bill Gaudette saved with his right foot.
34th minute – On a series of passes inside Islanders territory, midfielder David Testo fired a 25-meter shot in the upper corner of the goal that Islanders goalkeeper stopped, diving to his left.
41st minute – On a free kick poorly cleared by the Islanders defense, Impact forward Roberto Brown took a header that was blocked on the goal line by an Islanders defender.
55th minute – Midfielder Patrick Leduc fired a 35-meter high shot, but goalkeeper Bill Gaudette jumped to make the save.
68th minute – After dribbling on the goal line, midfielder Rocco Placentino made a centering pass with the exterior of the foot to forward Roberto Brown, who was posted in front of the net, but the ball was deflected on Islanders goalkeeper Bill Gaudette.
GAME SUMMARY
PHOTOS PÉPÉ AT SAPUTO STADIUM
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Source : Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info : 514-328-3668 (ext. 227)
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