SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – Playing its second of four games in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage, the Montreal Impact won its second consecutive game Wednesday night, by a score of 3-2 against C.D. FAS at Estadio Cuscatlan, in El Salvador.
For a second game in a row against the Central American club, the Impact was able to get the three points despite playing a man down, this time fighting through the last 20 minutes with 10 players following the ejection of Felipe who received two yellow cards.
The Impact was explosive in the first 10 minutes of play, scoring back-to-back goals at the 7th and 8th minutes. Andrés Romero opened the scoring with his left foot after receiving a through ball behind the Salvadorian defence from Marco Di Vaio. A minute later, Ignacio Piatti sent a square pass to Di Vaio in the box, who gave the bleu-blanc-noir a two-goal advantage with a low shot on his first touch.
Di Vaio then scored his second goal of the night, which proved to be the game-winner at the 60th minutes on a well-taken penalty that beat goalkeeper Adolfo Menendez to his right.
“We knew it would be difficult so we’re very happy to get the three points against a good team like C.D. FAS,” said Impact assistant coach Mauro Biello. “We’re now on top of the group and we’ll have to prepare for two tough games against New York. Tonight, we showed tremendous character before and after the red card. We had to make some changes during the game and everybody helped and reacted well.”
“We’re very happy with the result because we tallied six points against that team,” said Di Vaio. “We played a good game, especially the first half, by controlling the rhythm even with 10 players. We managed and reacted well during the toughest moments of the game. We will now face New York twice with more confidence.”
“It feels great this time coming down here after not getting the result we wanted last year,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “We showed a lot of progress recently and not letting them back in the game after that third goal was great for us. We knew they wouldn’t give up no matter the score.”
C.D. FAS had narrowed the lead to one goal at the 33rd minute. Following a corner kick, defender Jorge Moran found a loose ball at the top of the box and took a shot that deflected in front of the goal, beating Evan Bush top corner.
FAS then tied the game at the 51st minute on a phantom penalty call, taken by Marcio Teruel to the left of goal, while Bush went the opposite way.
New Impact Designated Player Ignacio Piatti made his CONCACAF Champions League debut after leading Argentine club San Lorenzo to the Copa Libertadores championship, the South American version of the tournament. Piatti was clearly the catalyst of all three Impact goals, including the game-winning goal, after being fouled in the box by a C.D. FAS defender that led to the penalty.
Defender Hassoun Camara and head coach Frank Klopas were not available as they were both serving a suspension. Midfielders Justin Mapp and Gorka Larrea also missed the game due to injuries.
The team will play its third game in eight days this Saturday in New Jersey, against the New York Red Bulls at 7pm EDT (RDS, TSN2, TSN Radio 690).
The Impact will play its third game in Champions League play versus the Red Bulls on Wednesday, September 17, at Stade Saputo.
Lineups
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Karl W. Ouimette, Wandrille Lefèvre (Issey Nakajima-Farran 71’), Matteo Ferrari, Krzysztof Krol; M-Patrice Bernier, Felipe, Andrés Romero, Dilly Duka (Calum Mallace 45’), Ignacio Piatti; F-Marco Di Vaio (Maxim Tissot 76’)
Subs not used: GK-Troy Perkins; D-Eric Miller; A-Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Jack McInerney,
FAS – GK-Adolfo Menendez; D-Juan Granados (Marcio Teruel 12’), Alexander Mendoza, Xavier Garcia; M-Jorge Moran, Juan Carlos Moscoso (Melvin Alfaro 67’), Elder Figueroa, Nestor Renderos, Carlos Aparicio; F-Jonathan Aguila, Gonzalo Mazzia (Mark Blanco 45’)
Subs not used: Miguel Lemus, Bryan Tamacas, Ismael Valladares
Goals
MTL – Romero (Di Vaio) 7’
MTL – Di Vaio (Piatti) 8’
FAS – Moran 33’
FAS – Teruel (PK) 51’
MTL – Di Vaio (PK) 60’
Cautions
MTL – Ferrari 62’
MTL – Felipe 73’
MTL – Nakajima-Farran 82’
FAS – Teruel 83’
MTL – Krol 87’
Ejection
MTL – Felipe (second yellow) 73’
Marco Di Vaio's postgame comments
Mauro Biello's postgame comments
Evan Bush's postgame comments
