HARRISON, NJ – In a matchup that was marked by three goals from French forward Thierry Henry, the Montreal Impact (0-3-1) lost 5-2 (halftime 2-2) to the New York Red Bulls (2-2-0), at Red Bull Arena, in Harrison, New Jersey.
Sanna Nyassi (19th minute) and Justin Mapp (38th) scored for the Impact, while Thierry Henry, with is first career hat trick in MLS (28th, 56th and 89th), Kenny Cooper (48th) and Mehdi Ballouchy (72nd) scored for the Red Bulls.
“The second half got much too open and we allowed way too much space for their talented players. They punished us,” said Impact head coach Jesse Marsch. “We all have to stay focused on how to move ourselves along. It’s a moment of big frustration because we felt we played a good first half, but one half does not get you results.”
Sanna Nyassi scored the Impact’s first ever goal on the road in the 19th minute, his fourth career marker versus the Red Bulls. Following a pass from Bernardo Corradi, the 23-year-old Gambian forward was able to get onto the end of the ball beating defender Markus Holgersson and then buried it passed the Red Bulls goalkeeper Ryan Meara low, right side.
The Red Bulls tied the score in the 28th minute when striker Thierry Henry got onto the end of a Rafa Maquez cross near the penalty spot, coming from the right flank, heading it passed goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts to his right as it bounced off the ground just before the goal line.
The Impact took back the lead in the 38th minute, when midfielder Felipe played a ball down the left flank to Justin Mapp. Mapp, 27, then cut to the inside, carrying the ball towards the centre close to the 18-yard line and fired a right-footed low shot from the top of the box, beating the Red Bulls' keeper to his right, just inside the post for the 19th goal of his career.
In extra time of the opening half, the Red Bulls were awarded a penalty kick when sliding defender Matteo Ferrari took down New York midfielder Dax McCarty while playing the ball at the same time. Forward Kenny Cooper, using a stutter step as he approached the ball, caught the Impact goalkeeper diving right as his shot went down the middle.
The Red bulls took the lead for the first time in the game in the 56th minute when striker Thierry Henry scored his second of the game. Intercepting a pass in midfield, Joel Lindpere played the ball just into the top of the box, left side, to McCarty, who pushed the ball square to Henry. The French international then turned and fired a low shot.
New York then doubled its lead in the 72nd minute when midfielder Jan Gunnar Solli made a move to pass the Impact defender down the right flank and carried the ball into the box along the touch line. He played the ball to a streaking Henry about four yards from goal, who back heeled it to the substitute Mehdi Ballouchy far post, left alone to tap the ball in with the outside of his foot.
In the 89th minute, Henry completed the hat trick, first of his career in MLS, after a shot from Cooper just outside the box was stopped by Ricketts, but the long rebound fell to Henry, tucking it in right side of the Impact goalkeeper.
“I thought we played some of our best soccer of the season in the first half,” said midfielder Justin Mapp. “We were a different team during the second half. They have good players and if you give them too much space, they will punish you. No excuses, we just weren’t good enough in the second half. There is still a long way to go and now a quick turnaround for our next game Wednesday.”
“I think we should be happy with our first half performance,” said Impact captain Davy Arnaud. “To get two goals and be up twice is positive. We got rattled a little bit with the penalty kick and we didn’t respond well in the second half.”
This was the first appearance of the season for defender Zarek Valentin, who started as right back in place of the suspended Jeb Brovsky. It was also the first start for striker Bernardo Corradi, a third appearance since joining the Impact late in preseason.
Forward Justin Braun, who came in the game for Bernardo Corradi at the 77th minute, played his 100th career match in MLS.
Match Highlights
The Impact will play its third consecutive game on the road versus Real Salt Lake, in Utah, this Wednesday at 9pm (ET). The game will be broadcast live on TVA Sports and is available on illico Mobile and Web.
The team will then return to Montreal for a matchup on April 7 against its Canadian rivals, Toronto FC, at Olympic Stadium. Kick off was changed from 1pm to 12pm (ET). The stadium doors will open at 10 am, while the ticket office will open at 9am. The organization invites all supporters to join The Guard to “Defend the North,” as some 1,000 Toronto FC supporters will invade the stands for this matchup.
Season tickets are still available online at impactmontreal.com or by calling 514-328-3668 while individual for all games presented at the Olympic Stadium are also available through the Admission network.
LINEUPS:
MTL – GK - Donovan Ricketts; D – Zarek Valentin (Andrew Wenger 65’), Tyson Wahl, Matteo Ferrari, Josh Gardner; M - Davy Arnaud, Patrice Bernier, Felipe, Justin Mapp (Lamar Neagle 85’); F – Bernardo Corradi (Justin Braun 77’), Sanna Nyassi
*Subs Not Used: GK – Greg Sutton; D - Calum Mallace, Shavar Thomas; M – Collen Warner
NY – GK – Ryan Meara; D – Jan Gunnar Solli, Wilman Conde, Markus Holgersson, Roy Miller; M – Dane Richards, Dax McCarty (Brandon Barklage 89’) , Rafa Marquez (Teemu Tainio 45’), Joel Lindpere (Mehdi Ballouchy 69’); F – Thierry Henry, Kenny Cooper
GOALS:
MTL - Sanna Nyassi 18’
NY - Thierry Henry (Rafael Marquez) 28’
MTL - Justin Mapp (Felipe Martins) 38’
NY - Kenny Cooper 48’
NY – Thierry Henry (Dax McCarty) 56’
NY - Mehdi Ballouchy (Thierry Henry, Jan Gunnar Solli) 72’
NY – Thierry Henry 89’
CAUTIONS:
MTL - Corradi 41'
NY - Ballouchy 77'
