ORLANDO, Florida – The Montreal Impact earned its second win of the preseason in as many games, bettering the Tampa Bay Rowdies 4-1 (3-1 at half), Wednesday afternoon, in its second game of the Walt Disney World Pro Classic Soccer tournament, presented at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Marco Di Vaio scored twice, while Felipe and Sanna Nyassi each scored their first goals of the preseason. Midfielder Andrea Pisanu finished the game with two assists.
Lots of positives
“It was a good game and I saw a lot of positives, including some good ball movement in both the first and second half,” said Impact head coach Marco Schällibaum. “There is still a lot of work to do in terms of the rhythm and pace, but its only our second game. We saw some things in the game that we worked on in training, so that’s nice to see as well.”
WATCH: Postgame comments
“I think things are starting to fall into place,” noted midfielder Justin Mapp, who played the first 45 minutes of the game. “We are learning each other’s movement and we want to be on the same page for the start of the season.”
The Impact opened the scoring in the second minute of the first half. While penetrating the penalty area, Di Vaio played the ball to Andrea Pisanu down the right flank. The Italian midfielder crossed the ball to Felipe who was trailing the play and the Brazilian beat Rowdies’ goalkeeper Andrew Fontein to his left.
Doubling its lead in the 16th minute, Di Vaio converted a penalty into the top corner, to the keeper’s right. Felipe was taken down by Fontein in the box following a cross towards goal by Di Vaio.
Then in the 18th minute, the Rowdies cut into the lead when defender Takuya Yamada scored on a penalty of his own, beating goalkeeper Evan Bush, who had dove to his right.
The Impact’s Designated Player scored his second goal of the game towards the end of the first half (41st minute), after one-timing a low cross from the right flank by midfielder Andrea Pisanu that curled behind the defence. Pisanu ran onto the ball sent into space by midfielder Calum Mallace.
After changing all of the field players at half, forward Sanna Nyassi scored the lone goal of the second frame in the 65th minute. The Gambian forward combined with newcomer Andres Romero on a give-and-go in the box that resulted in Nyassi beating his defender and scoring back towards the opposite post to beat the keeper to his left.
Romero earned a scoring chance 10 minutes earlier, after heading a cross by Davy Arnaud that was knocked over the bar by the Rowdies keeper.
The Impact will play its next preseason game against the Philadelphia Union, this Friday, at 7:30pm at EverBank Field, in Jacksonville, before heading back to Orlando to face D.C. United on Saturday in the Disney Pro Classic.
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.
Lineups
MTL: GK – Evan Bush; D – Jeb Brovsky (Zarek Valentin 46’), Alessandro Nesta (Karl W. Ouimette 46’), Hassoun Camara (Matteo Ferrari 46’), Maxim Tissot (Dennis Iapichino 46’); M – Collen Warner (Wandrille Lefèvre 46’), Andrea Pisanu (Davy Arnaud 46’), Felipe (Eber 46’), Calum Mallace (Andrés Romero 46’), Justin Mapp (Blake Smith 46’); F– Marco Di Vaio (Sanna Nyassi 46’)
TB: GK Andrew Fontein; D Takuya Yamada, D Daniel Scott, D Jay Needham (Andres Arango 45'), D Raphael Cox (Anton Blackwood 45'); M Evans Frimpong, M Stuart Campbell (Kyle Clinton 45'), M Luke Mulholland (JC Mack 74'), M Keith Savage (George Tor 60'); F Devin Del Do, F Jemal Johnson
GOALS
MTL – Felipe (Pisanu) 2’
MTL – Di Vaio (PEN) 16’
TB – Yamada (PEN) 38’
MTL – Di Vaio (Pisanu, Mallace) 41’
MTL – Nyassi (Romero) 65’
CAUTION
TB – Campbell 32’
