MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact tied the Charlotte Eagles 1-1 on Monday afternoon at Stade Saputo, in its second to last MLS Reserve League game of the season.
The Impact took the lead early in the game against the USL Pro squad. In the 5th minute of play, Maxim Tissot dribbled into the 18-yard box before taking a low shot that beat goalkeeper Alec Kann far post.
The Eagles tied the game five minutes later following a turnover in the Impact zone. Zak Boggs fired a powerful strike from inside the box that goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau saved but Jorge Herrera jumped on the rebound to score in an empty net.
Crépeau made a good diving save later in the game in the 69th minute to stop Drew Yates' shot from close range. He finished the match with six saves.
The Impact pushed until the end to find the game-winning goal. Maxim Tissot and Jack McInerney had scoring chances, but could not find the winner.
“We lacked in finishing our opportunities in the offensive third, but we played well defensively. The Academy players did well under the circumstances,” noted Maxim Tissot. "We would have preferred to score before the end of the game. We are tired, but it feels good to play a full 90 minutes. Those are important minutes for everyone.”
Three Impact U23 players were in the starting lineup: defender Franck Zoué, as well as midfielders Fabio Morelli and Philippe Lincourt-Joseph.
“We want to do well during these games and leave everything on the pitch,” said Lincourt-Joseph. "The level of play is higher, but we were expecting it. We want to take advantage of these opportunities to prove ourselves.”
The Impact will play its last game in Reserve League play on October 6 in Chicago. The next regular season game will be in Houston this Saturday at 8:30pm EDT (TVA Sports, TSN Radio 690).
LINEUPS
MTL - Maxime Crépeau; Franck Zoué, Heath Pearce (Chakib Hocine 64’), Futty Danso (Janouk Charbonneau 69’) Eric Miller; Calum Mallace, Fabio Morelli (Gege Soriola 45’), Maxim Tissot, Philippe Lincourt-Joseph; Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Jack McInerney
Substitute not used: Troy Perkins
CHE – Alex Kann; Drew Russell (Olutolani Ibikunle 60’) Richard Dixon (Matthew Gold 82’), Brock Duckett, Jarvis Greer; Jorge Herrera, Darren Toby (Owusu Sekere 61’), Tyler Newnam; Thomas Thompson, Zak Boggs, David Estrada (Drew Yates 45’)
Substitutes not used: Brock Duckworth, Felix Obilo
GOALS
MTL - Tissot 5’
CHE - Herrara 10’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Zoué 30’
MTL – Hocine 80’
