SANFORD, Florida – The Montreal Impact lost its first game of the preseason Wednesday, falling 2-1 to Orlando City in its second-to-last game in Florida, at the Seminole Soccer Complex, in Sanford. Midfielder Calum Mallace scored for the Impact in the defeat.
Orlando City opened the scoring in the 3rd minute when forward Dennis Chin found the back of the net. After bringing down a long ball, Chin beat goalkeeper Brad Stuver with a low shot.
In the 41st minute, Orlando midfielder Ian Fuller doubled the lead off of a header, near the left side of goal that originated from a cross by Chin.
Midfielder Calum Mallace cut into the lead in the 72nd minute when he hammered a shot from 18 yards out, beating the goalkeeper to his right, following a back pass by Fernando Monge.
The Impact was forced to play with 10 men from the 42nd minute, when midfielder Collen Warner, was shown a straight red for a dangerous foul.
More character in the second half
“We took a bad red card that came from a mistake, but it wasn't the result that counted,” said Impact head coach Marco Schallibaum. “After that, we fought for more than 60 minutes against a good side. I saw a lot of character in the second half and a team willing to battle.”
This was the first ever meeting between these two clubs, outside of the context of the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic, played in Orlando.
The Impact finished first in its group at the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic and will play in the final against the Columbus Crew, on Saturday, February 23 at 8pm (ET). The game will be broadcast on RDS2 and TSN2.
Following the Disney Pro Classic final, the team will return to Montreal on February 24 before heading to Seattle on February 28 to play its first game of the 2013 season on March 2.
Lineup
MTL: G-Brad Stuver; D-Dennis Iapichino, Wandrille Lefevre, Karl W. Ouimette, Zarek Valentin; M- Blake Smith (Eber 61’), Calum Mallace, Collen Warner, Sanna Nyassi (Fernando Monge 69’), Andrés Romero (Mircea Ilcu 61’); A- Andrew Wenger
Goals
ORL – Chinn 3’
ORL – Fuller (Chinn) 41’
MTL – Mallace (Monge) 72’
Ejection
MTL – Warner 42’
Season tickets
2013 season tickets are now available in seven categories, at a cost of $295, $385, $475, $580, $770 and $1070. You can assure your spot for the 2013 season by contacting the Impact’s sales and services team at 514-328-3668. Show your support for your club by paying for your tickets using your Montreal Impact BMO credit card.
