Win and you’re in. That was the scenario the Impact faced when the team stepped onto the pitch against the New England Revolution this weekend and a wonder goal from Ignacio Piatti in the second half secured the three points.
The goal
The Impact got the game’s only goal 10 minutes into the second half. Piatti fended off three Revolution players all while dribbling the ball towards goal. From around 25 yards out, the Argentine curled a right-footed effort over and around goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
Ignacio Piatti 55’ (0-1)
Why it happened
This goal is simply a fantastically inspired individual effort from one of the Impact’s key players. The play starts from an Evan Bush dead ball restart played long up the field. Piatti does well to recognize he was not able to directly challenge the first ball, so he drops back a few steps and anticipates the second ball.
Piatti shows intelligence and awareness by repeatedly taking a look around him to scan and take in information while the ball is still in the air, giving him time to position his body to shield it from an onrushing Juan Agudelo as it touches the ground.
Once he gets by Agudelo, Piatti is confronted by Jermaine Jones. The Impact attacking midfielder turns his body and immediately places himself between Jones and the ball, ensuring the U.S. International has no chance of getting it off of Piatti’s feet.
In order to beat his third challenger Scott Caldwell, Piatti does a subtle, but effective, body feint and takes a bigger touch into the empty space ahead of him and uses his pace to get out in front.
The final major part of this golazo is the finish. While trying to still shrug off Caldwell, Piatti finds himself surrounded by three additional Revolution players. From a defensive viewpoint, allowing Piatti time to shoot when surrounded by four defenders is scandalous. Caldwell is trying to latch onto Piatti from the back, while London Woodberry and José Gonçalves run beside Piatti watching, instead of attempting to win the ball. Andrew Farrell the last man back keeps backing up, inviting Piatti to shoot and then turns his body when Piatti unleashes his sublime curling strike.
This goal from Piatti shares many similarities with the goal scored by Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco midweek against the Red Bulls, which like Piatti’s, was also the goal that clinched them a playoff spot. It seems like it’s a case of ‘whatever you can do, I could do better’, setting up a mouth-watering final regular season meeting this coming Sunday at Stade Saputo. Expect to see both of these goals nominated for not only ‘MLS Goal of the Week’, but ‘MLS Goal of the Year’.
