History
>
1993
In December 1992, the Saputo company announces a five-year commitment
as owner of a new professional soccer team in Montreal. The Impact kicks
off its inaugural season under president Joey Saputo, general manager
Pino Asaro and head coach Eddie Firmani.
The Impact
finishes its first season in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL)
last in the standings, but not without completing the season with a seven-game
winning streak - a club record that still stands although it has been
equalled four times since.
1994 <
One day before the first game of the season, Valerio Gazzola takes over
the team as head coach. The Impact finishes third with a record of 12-8.
In the semi-finals, the Impact clinches its first-ever playoff win, over
the Los Angeles Salsa, with a decisive shootout in California. Goalkeeper
Pat Harrington stops a shot with his face, Patrick Diotte scores the decisive
goal, and the Impact earns the right to play the final... in Montreal,
against the Colorado Foxes. The Impact wins 1-0 win thanks to a booming
free kick by Jean Harbor. At the final whistle, several hundred of the
8,169 spectators invade the Claude Robillard Stadium field to celebrate
Montreal's very first North American pro title in soccer.
> 1995
The Impact wins the regular-season title with a record of 17-7. Among
the players on the roster are Paulinho (photo), Paul Dougherty and Steve
Trittschuh. In spite of the overwhelming strength of the Montreal squad,
it loses in the first playoff round against an Atlanta Ruckus team who
plays a very defensive game. The Impact is eliminated without losing a
single game in regulation time, since its two losses over the three-game
series are by shootout.
> 1996
The Impact wins the regular-season title with a record of 21-6. Now recognized
as one of the league's premier organizations, the Impact attracts many
of the best Canadian players. Among the newcomers that season: Carl Fletcher,
Eddy Berdusco and Ian Carter. Also new on the team is a young Jamaican
striker, Onandi Lowe, who would eventually play in the 1998 World Cup
in France. The Impact is again one of the favourites in the playoffs,
but loses in the first round against an expansion team, the Rochester
Raging Rhinos.
1997<
The league is now called the A-League and the Impact wins the regular-season
title, its third in a row, with a record of 21-7. The Montreal squad beats
the Toronto Lynx in the first playoff round, but ultimately loses to the
Long Island Rough Riders… in a shootout. Players don't get much time
off as the Impact kicks off its first indoor season in the NPSL.
With Paul Kitson as head coach, the Impact posts a 21-7 record and earns a fifth straight playoff berth. The Montreal squad beats the Staten Island Vipers in the first playoff round, but loses in the second against an old rival, the Rochester Raging Rhinos, for the second time in three years. In the spring of 1999, Saputo yields the Impact to a group of local businessmen. The new ownership chooses not to play the 1999 outdoor season in order to better prepare the 1999-2000 indoor season, which would be played at Claude Robillard Sports Complex. It was to be the team's last indoor season.
> 2000
Back outdoors, the Impact misses the playoffs for the first time since
1993. The team has a bad start to the season, Zoran Jankovic is replaced
by Valerio Gazzola as head coach.
During the summer, the indoor franchise is sold to a group of Toronto
businessmen, while the outdoor franchise is sold to Ionian Financial Group.
The 2001 season was difficult, Ionian's sudden withdrawal in mid-season forcing the A-League to take over the team. But by accepting to finish the season despite drastic budgetary cuts, the players basically salvage soccer in Montreal. In spite of the difficult circumstances, the Impact come within only one win of clinching a playoff berth. In 2001, the team still managed to win the Montreal Cup, a six-team international tournament. In the fall, Lino Saputo announces a brand new start for the Montreal Impact, now a nonprofit organization whose future is ensured for at least the next five years thanks to the financial support of investors such as the Government of Québec, Hydro-Québec, and Saputo.
Coached by Bob Lilley, the Impact finishes the season first in the Northeast Division, tied with the Rochester Raging Rhinos with a record of 16-9-3. The Impact wins the Voyageurs Cup, a trophy awarded to the top team in home-and-home matchups between Canadian teams in the A-League throughout the season. The team attracts an average of 5,174 spectators per game at home, the best attendance average in team history. Forward Eduardo Sebrango sets a new team record with 18 goals and 36 points in one season. The Montreal squad takes part in the playoffs for the sixth time in club history, and reaches the second round for the fourth time. But it is eliminated by the Rochester Raging Rhinos... for the third time.
