CHESTER, PA – The Montreal Impact fell to the Philadelphia Union 2-1 (0-0 at halftime) on Saturday night, on the road, at PPL Park. The Impact had equalized in the 90th minute off an own goal from a Patrice Bernier corner.
The Union opened the scoring late in the game, when a give and go pushed forward Antoine Hoppenot behind the Impact defence, down the left flank. His short angle shot from near the goal line, in the 82nd minute, bounced off of Ricketts, and fell to forward Lionard Pajoy who roofed it from four yards out.
The Impact then tied it in the 90th minute off of a corner kick when midfielder Patrice Bernier played the ball towards the short post. It deflected off of Union midfielder, Keon Daniel, who jumped to try and head it away, for an own goal.
Philadelphia then took the lead back in extra time off of a long throw in by defender Sheanon Williams, which bounced free near the short post. Defender Carlos Valdez turned and fired the loose ball that beat Ricketts low to his right.
Postgame comments
"We've got to figure out a way to stop literally handing points to other teams, otherwise this thing will get away from us," said Impact head coach Jesse Marsch. "We got a quick turnaround, so we have to figure out how to regroup and move forward."
"It was a difficult result, but overall we had some of the better chances, especially in the first half," said Impact defender Zarek Valentin. "We got to stop giving goals off of set pieces."
"It was disappointing and frustrating," said Impact midfielder Justin Mapp. "To give up two late goals like that, that they didn't really earn, is very frustrating. We had a chance to get points on the road and we let that slip away. It's unacceptable."
Other highlights
Union midfielder Freddy Adu tested Impact goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts in the game’s opening minutes as he brought down a bouncing cross towards midfield, about 30 yards out. He fired it with his second touch, going far post, but Ricketts dove to his left, in full extension, to tip away the low shot with his left hand.
The first real chance for the Impact came in the 25th minute when midfielder Collen Warner played a deep ball down the left flank to midfielder Justin Mapp, who dribbled the ball towards goal. He fired the ball from about 18 yards out, from just inside the left side of the box, but his low shot was deflected wide, short side.
The Impact came close in the 32nd minute when Marco Di Vaio was sprung down the left flank. He dribbled the ball into the box, and then fired a curling shot from about 10 yards out from a tough angle, going far post, but Union keeper Zac MacMath made a diving save.
One minute later, Mapp played a cross from deep down the right flank that found Felipe jumping for a header near the penalty spot. The Brazilian midfielder, who returned from a one-game suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards, sent his attempt towards the far post, but it ended up bouncing off the crossbar.
In the 55th minute, defender Sheanon Williams played a curling cross from the right flank that found forward Jack McInerney near the penalty spot. The 19-year-old striker went far post with his header, but Ricketts made another diving save on a ball going towards the top right corner.
In the 72nd minute, Di Vaio was played in alone inside the box. He took one touch and then hammered a left footed shot, short post, from 15 yards out just right of the goalkeeper, but MacMath managed to get a hand on it, deflecting it inches past the far post.
The Impact, although conceding the advantage in ball possession, bettered the Union in attempts on goal with 14 to 8 and won 54% of its duels.
Captain Davy Arnaud, returning to action after serving a one game suspension for an accumulation of cautions, surpassed the 21,000 minutes played mark for his career.
Recently signed Swiss defender Dennis Iapichino, wearing jersey number 17, made his Impact debut in the 85th minute when he came on as a sub for defender Zarek Valentin.
Upcoming match
The Impact returns home on Wednesday, July 18, to host the New England Revolution at Stade Saputo, at 8pm. Group packages, 3 or 6 game partial plans, as well as special promotions are available by calling 514-328-3668.
Highlights: PHI 2, MTL 1
Lineups
MTL: GK– Donovan Ricketts; D – Zarek Valentin (Dennis Iapichino 85’), Shavar Thomas, Hassoun Camara, Jeb Brovsky; M – Collen Warner (Sinisa Ubiparipovic 84’), Justin Mapp (Lamar Neagle 69’), Patrice Bernier, Davy Arnaud, Felipe; A – Marco Di Vaio
Subs not used: GK – Evan Bush; D - Karl W. Ouimette, Josh Gardner; A - Eduardo Sebrango
PHI – GK – Zac MacMath; D - Carlos Valdes, Sheanon Williams, Amobi Okugo; Gabriel Farfan; M – Brian Carroll, Keon Daniel, Freddy Adu (Lionard Pajoy 45’), Michael Lahoud (Gabriel Gomes 66’); A – Josué Martinez (Antoine Hoppenot 60’), Jack McInerney
Subs not used – GK – Chase Harrison, D – Raymon Gaddis, Chris Albright; M - Roger Torres
GOALS:
PHI – Pajoy 82’
MTL – OG Daniels 90’
PHI – Valdes 91’
CAUTIONS:
PHI – Daniel 61’
