MONTREAL – Jack McInerney wasted no time in opening his account as the Montreal Impact battled to a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire Saturday afternoon, in its third and final game at Olympic Stadium. The Impact has now earned points in three straight matches.
The Impact opened the scoring in the 43rd minute from a play that started near the half line. Midfielder Felipe won a ball in the air, heading it to forward Marco Di Vaio near the offensive half-circle. With his back to goal, the Impact DP flicked it over the Fire defence and onto the path of newcomer Jack McInerney. After a 20 yard run, Jack Mac fired a low shot to the left of Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who managed to get a leg on the ball, before it bulged the net for McInerney’s first in the bleu-blanc-noir uniform.
The Fire tied things up in the 55th minute when, following a corner kick, a free ball fell to forward Mike Magee who played a short cross into the box where his strike partner, Quincy Amarikwa, one-timed it past Impact goalkeeper Troy Perkins.
The first chance of the game fell to Felipe, whose one-time volley from 30 yards out was pushed away by Johnson, diving to his left as the ball dipped toward the corner in the 12th minute.
Chicago came close in the 35th minute when defender Lovel Palmer played a low cross through the box that found captain Jeff Larentowicz, but the midfielders redirect went over the bar.
The Fire almost found another in the 79th minute when a header by Patrick Nyarko was dipping towards the far corner before Perkins leapt to push the attempt over the bar.
Post-game comments
“Today was disappointing because we had more energy in the other games and commitment was not there today,” said head coach Frank Klopas. “We felt tired and that the game was flat. We made some changes in the second half and started off a little bit better.”
“It’s good to get the first goal out of the way, but overall the performance of myself and the team was disappointing,” said McInerney. “I think we were lucky to have a goal go in and be able to change the game up a little. Today’s game didn’t play in our favor.”
“I’ve been working hard the whole year at every training session,” said Impact defender Karl W. Ouimette. “I just have to do even better next time and keep evolving as a player.”
Upcoming games
The Impact will hit the road next week to take on Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park on Saturday, April 19 before returning to Quebec to host the Philadelphia Union for the Stade Saputo opener on Saturday April 26 at 4pm.
Lineups
MTL – GK-Troy Perkins; D-Heath Pearce (Hassoun Camara 46’), Karl W. Ouimette, Matteo Ferrari, Eric Miller; M-Collen Warner (Calum Mallace 85’), Justin Mapp, Felipe, Andrés Romero (Patrice Bernier 46’); F-Marco Di Vaio, Jack McInerney
Subs not used: GK-Evan Bush; D-Jeb Brovsky; M-Blake Smith; F-Santiago Gonzalez
CHI – GK-Sean Johnson; D-Lovel Palmer, Bakary Soumare, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Greg Cochrane; M-Patrick Nyarko (Juan Luis Anangono 88’), Jeff Larentowicz, Alex, Harry Shipp (Matt Watson 75’); F-Mike Magee, Quincy Amarikwa
Subs not used: GK-Kye Reynish; D-Patrick Ianni; M-Benji Roya, Victor Pineda, Chris Ritter
Goals
MTL – McInerney (Di Vaio) 43’
CHI – Amarikwa (Magee) 54’
Cautions
CHI – Nyarko 44’
CHI – Magee 66’
MTL – Camara 90+2’
