The Montreal Impact rediscovered its winning ways on Wednesday night, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-1 at Stade Saputo. Jack McInerney and Ignacio Piatti scored their third goals of the season, in what was their team’s third straight victory at home.
“It was an important win for us,” said Impact head coach Frank Klopas. “We were under some pressure at the end of the first half, but in the second, we were able to win more of the 50/50 duels and that helped us regain the momentum.”
“We have a good feeling when we are playing at home,” added goalkeeper Evan Bush. “There is always a way to bounce back, regardless of what happened last Saturday, and we did that. We did well with where we drew the line defensively. We didn’t get too high and let their fast guys in behind us.”
To open the scoring, Laurent Ciman blasted a volley from 30 yards out that crashed off the crossbar, right onto the foot of striker Jack McInerney, who took one touch before hammering it past ‘Caps goalkeeper David Ousted for his 10th goal all-time in an Impact uniform.
Vancouver tied things up when Pedro Morales converted from the spot in the 79th minute, after the referee blew his whistle on a soft penalty call. Even more controversial was that Morales was the ‘Caps third change on the night, when originally, the referees had removed a substitution from the Whitecaps FC after the club made a late change to its starting XI, but later reversed that call at halftime.
However, four minutes later, the Impact found the go ahead marker when Ambroise Oyongo took a quick throw to Anthony Jackson-Hamel. The Academy product played quickly to Andrés Romero who then found Piatti in the box. Nacho took one touch forward and beat Ousted from in close for the game-winner.
“We rebounded well tonight at home,” said captain Patrice Bernier. “We didn’t give them too many chances to score and we took advantage of the ones we created. We showed a lot of character to go out and get the win after they tied things up late with a penalty.”
Although there weren’t too many chances created in the first half, Montreal held much of the possession (58.6%), with a late surge for the Whitecaps FC in the final 10 minutes, coming close to tying things up in the later stages, first when Kekuta Manneh was offside in the 40th minute and then when Darren Mattocks hit the left post in injury time.
More chances for IMFC in second half
McInerney, played through by Andrés Romero, fired a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, forcing Ousted into a save as it was going bottom right corner in the 50th minute. Then, reversing roles, Jack Mac played Romero into the box in the 62nd minute and the Argentine’s chip beat Ousted who was off his line, but landed just over the crossbar and on top of the netting.
Six minutes later, a quick play from Romero to Piatti to Tissot pushed the Canadian into the box down the left flank, but his shot was parried over the goal.
The Montreal Impact will hit the road for its next game, heading to Columbus this Saturday to take on the Crew SC at 7:30pm EDT (TVA Sports 2, TSN Radio 690).
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Donny Toia, Laurent Ciman, Wandrille Lefèvre, Ambroise Oyongo; M-Patrice Bernier (Anthony Jackson-Hamel 81’), Calum Mallace, Eric Alexander (Maxim Tissot 63’), Ignacio Piatti, Andrés Romero; F-Jack McInerney (Nigel Reo-Coker 78’)
Subs not used: GK-Eric Kronberg; D-Bakary Soumare, Victor Cabrera; F-Romario Williams
VAN – GK-David Ousted; D-Tim Parker, Diego Rodriguez, Kendall Waston, Jordan Harvey; M-Matias Laba, Russell Teibert (Pedro Morales 74’), Nicolas Mezquida, Mauro Rosales (Octavio Rivero 70’), Kekuta Manneh (Cristian Techera 63’); F-Darren Mattocks
Subs not used: GK-Paolo Tornaghi; D-Christian Dean; M-Gershon Koffie; F-Robert Earnshaw
GOALS
MTL – McInerney 14’
VAN – Morales (PK) 79’
MTL – Piatti (Romero) 83’
CAUTIONS
VAN – Rodriguez 46’
VAN – Parker 71’
VAN – Harvey 90’
