Montreal to take advantage of two-week break
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact suffered a 3-0 loss to D.C. United, Saturday night at Stade Saputo. Ola Kamara opened the scoring for the visitors and Paul Arriola was able to add a second shortly after, before Kamara completed his brace, with all three of the visitors’ goals coming in the first half.
“The game was played in 12 minutes,” said Impact head coach Wilmer Cabrera. “We fought in the second half, but the other team dropped and did a good job defending. We need to regroup now and come together to prepare for what’s coming. We have very important games coming that will decide our playoff hopes.”
Visitors in control
The visitors were able to get in on goal early, in the third minute, when Paul Arriola managed to avoid his defender and make his way into the box, but goalkeeper Evan Bush was quick off his line, stifling the danger before a shot was taken.
In the 14th minute, Montreal answered with an opportunity of its own. After Saphir Taïder’s corner was intercepted, the Algerian managed to quickly recover the ball and cross into the box again. Orji Okwonkwo was first on it, but his header from in close sailed just over the bar.
But it was D.C. United who grabbed the lead, in the 20th minute. After a free kick right in front of Montreal’s box was blocked by the wall, the ball ended up at Ola Kamara’s feet, inside the 18-yard-box. The Norwegian was able to pick his spot, beating Bush to his right.
Three minutes later, the visitors doubled their lead. Arriola managed to get on the end of a Bill Hamid clearance to make his was in on goal unopposed. He kept his calm, tucking it past Bush.
D.C. United was able to add a third in the 32nd minute, after a corner delivered into the box was headed by Kamara, who managed to beat Bush for his second goal of the game.
“We conceded three really bad goals”, said full-back Daniel Lovitz. “It’s really tough to plan for that. It’s very disappointing that we put ourselves in a hole very early on, in a game that was very important to us.”
D.C. holds on
Montreal returned from the locker room reenergized, looking to claw its way back into the game. In the 48th minute, they almost got one back, when Bojan pierced into the box with speed before finding Lassi Lappalainen open on the left side, but his shot was blocked by a defender.
In the 57th minute, it was Montreal again, this time Taïder swinging in a corner for Rudy Camacho, but his powerful header was directly on Bill Hamid, who made the save.
Maxi Urruti almost opened the scoring for the home team in the 66th minute, dribbling past his man and trying a curled shot, but his attempt was just inches off the right post.
“The goals they scored were unlucky for us and not very good,” said centre back Jukka Raitala. “We do our best to win games, and it was not good enough today. We can’t hide behind fatigue. We need to perform every game.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will take advantage of a week break due to the international window, before hosting FC Cincinnati in Montreal for the very first time on Saturday, September 14, at 7:30pm (TICKETS – TVA Sports). The Impact will then host Toronto FC for the first leg of the Canadian Championship final on Wednesday, September 18, at 7:30pm, to try and lift the Voyageurs Cup for a 10th time (TICKETS).
LINE-UPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Bacary Sagna, Jukka Raitala, Rudy Camacho (Zachary Brault-Guillard 87’), Daniel Lovitz; M-Samuel Piette, Saphir Taïder, Lassi Lappalainen (Shamit Shome 78’), Bojan, Orji Okwonkwo (Ballou Tabla 72’); F-Maximiliano Urruti
Subs not used – Clément Diop, Jorge Corrales, Clément Bayiha, Ken Krolicki
DCU – GK-Bill Hamid; D-Frédéric Brillant, Joseph Mora, Russell Canouse, Steven Birnbaum; M-Felipe, Júnior Moreno, Lucas Rodriguez, Paul Arriola (Luciano Acosta 87’), Ulises Segura (Leonardo Jara 90’); F-Ola Kamara (Quincy Amarikwa 87’)
Subs not used – Chris Seitz, Donovan Pines, Marquinhos Pedroso, Emmanuel Boateng
GOALS
DCU – Kamara 20’
DCU – Arriola 23’
DCU – Kamara 32’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Camacho 18’
DCU – Mora 21’
MTL – Urruti 56’
