HOUSTON, Texas – The Montreal Impact fell to the Houston Dynamo 3-0 on Thursday night at BBVA Compass Stadium, in the knockout game of the 2013 MLS playoffs. With the loss, the Impact is eliminated from the postseason.
The Dynamo found the game’s first goal in the 16th minute. Midfielder Ricardo Clark played a back-heel into the 18-yard box that found forward Will Bruin square to goal. The US international striker put the ball past Troy Perkins as the Impact keeper dove to his left.
The Dynamo doubled its lead in the 27th minute when referee Mark Geiger pointed to the penalty spot following a tackle by midfielder Hernan Bernardello on Boniek Garcia. The Dynamo’s Honduran midfielder made no mistake, beating Perkins to his right.
Will Bruin made it 3-0 for the home side in the 72rd minute when, chasing down a long ball, he cut to the inside to beat his defender and fired his second of the game past Perkins.
Postgame comments
"We are really disappointed that we weren't able to reach the next round," said Impact head coach Marco Schällibaum. "We needed to go all out but today just wasn't our day. We started the game well, in the first 15 minutes, before they scored their goal, but we were unable to come back after that. The cards we received do not put the club in the best light."
"We started the game well and we were able to find some space," added forward Marco Di Vaio. "We tried after they scored to find an opening goal. The game became very difficult after Nelson's red card. We had some chances but it's tough to come back from two goals down."
“We have to look at ourselves. To their credit they played well today," said Jeb Brovsky. "To end the game that way is a shame, it's no way to go out. Hopefully, we learn from tonight for next year."
"It's unfortunate to end our season on this note," declared Hassoun Camara. "I think the Dynamo deserved the win. There are nights like this sometimes, but we have to learn from them for next year. We were a tight group this year when it went well and in tough times."
Other highlights
Impact midfielder Justin Mapp found some space in the 19th minute, but his shot from distance just missed low to the far post.
DP Marco Di Vaio was played through by Andrew Wenger, but the Italian striker’s chip was deflected away by Houston keeper Tally Hall in the 43rd minute.
In the 58th minute, Perkins made an acrobatic stop, diving to his left as Bruin tried to hammer home a short side shot.
Three minutes later, Di Vaio found some room outside the box, but his long distance shot was parlayed away by Hall, diving to his right.
The Impact played with just 10 men from the 69th minute on as defender Nelson Rivas was ejected. The central defender made his first start since Sept. 15 2012, at the Chicago Fire, following knee surgery that kept him out of the lineup the entire 2013 season.
The game ended on a sour note when Di Vaio and Andres Romero were shown red cards for altercations in the final minutes of the match.
Lineups
MTL – GK-Troy Perkins; D-Hassoun Camara, Matteo Ferrari, Nelson Rivas, Jeb Brovsky; M-Hernan Bernardello, Collen Warner (Felipe 62’), Andrea Pisanu (Andrés Romero 55’), Andrew Wenger (Daniele Paponi 62’), Justin Mapp; F-Marco Di Vaio
Subs not used: GK-Evan Bush; D-Maxim Tissot, Wandrille Lefèvre; M-Patrice Bernier;
HOU – GK-Tally Hall; D-Kofie Sarkodie, Bobby Boswell, Eric Brunner, Corey Ashe; M-Boniek Garcia, Warren Creavalle, Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis (Andrew Driver 83’); F-Giles Barnes (Omar Cummings 79’), Will Bruin (Cam Weaver 79’)
Subs not used: GK-Tyler Deric; D-Mike Chabala; M-Servando Carrasco, Alexander Lopez
Goals
HOU – Bruin (Clark) 16’
HOU – Garcia (PEN) 27’
HOU – Bruin (Ashe) 72’
Cautions
MTL – Rivas 35’
MTL – Ashe 89’
Ejections
MTL – Rivas 70’ (second yellow)
MTL – Romero 89’
MTL – Di Vaio 89’
