MONTREAL, Quebec – The Montreal Impact started off its CONCACAF Champions League group stage with a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes Wednesday night, in front of 15,115 spectators at Stade Saputo, despite some heavy rainfall.
Defender Hassoun Camara scored the game’s lone goal in the 16th minute. The Frenchman scored off of a header when the Impact’s newest Designated Player Hernán Bernardello played a free-kick from 25 yards out that found Camara inside the box, beating Quakes keeper David Bingham in the top right corner.
Goalkeeper Evan Bush stopped a penalty shot in the 10th minute to preserve the shutout, diving to his right to parry the low shot by Quakes forward Alan Gordon.
Post-game comments
“We were solid tonight. Defensively, we did really well and we scored that one goal we needed that made the difference,” said Impact head coach Marco Schällibaum. “We created a few scoring chances, but the important thing is the result. The team was ready for this game and we did well, even though we had a number of players with their first taste of Champions League.”
“You want to win your first game at home starting the group stage in this tournament,” said Impact midfielder Patrice Bernier. “It was a good start for us and will bring us some good momentum moving forward.”
“The game got a little choppy, but at the same time, we were able to deal with that,” said Impact goalkeeper Evan Bush. “We didn’t get frustrated by it, played the game the way we needed to and scored a goal to win the game. We saw that our depth played an important role in this game tonight.”
Other highlights
San Jose came close to tying things up in the 50th minute when midfielder Sam Garza, who entered the game near the half-way mark, headed a cross from Jamie Alas that missed the far post by inches.
Two minutes later, a Garza free-kick hit the crossbar.
In the 65th minute, Impact midfielder Justin Mapp, deep down the right flank, played a cross into the box. Defender Matteo Ferrari, who wore the captain’s armband for the matchup, soared in the air to meet the ball, but his header hit the crossbar.
Designated Player Hernán Bernardello started his very first game for the Impact, after joining the club on July 23.
Upcoming games
The Impact plays its next regular season game against the Chicago Fire, this Saturday, at 8:30pm ET. The team will then return to Stade Saputo to host D.C. United the following Saturday, August 17, at 7pm ET.
In CONCACAF Champions League action, the Impact next plays on Monday, August 21, against C.D. Heredia in Guatemala, at 10pm ET.
Lineups
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Jeb Brovsky, Alessandro Nesta, Matteo Ferrari, Hassoun Camara; M-Justin Mapp, Hernán Bernardello, Collen Warner, Andrés Romero (Patrice Bernier 81‘); F-Marco Di Vaio (Sanna Nyassi 89’), Daniele Paponi (Blake Smith 69’)
Subs not used: GK-Troy Perkins; D-Maxim Tissot, Wandrille Lefèvre; M-Davy Arnaud
SJ – GK-David Bingham; D-Justin Morrow, Jason Hernandez, Brad Ring, Dan Gargan; M-Marvin Chavez (Sam Garza 43’), Jaime Alas, Ramiro Corrales (Chris Wondolowski 70’), Mehdi Ballouchy; F-Adam Jahn (Walter Martinez 83’), Alan Gordon
Subs not used: GK-Jon Busch; D-Steven Beitashour, Jordan Stewart; Rafael Baca
Goal
MTL – Camara (Bernardello) 16‘
Cautions
MTL – Warner 10’
SJ – Corrales 37’
MTL – Di Vaio 72’
SJ – Wondolowski 85’
