MONTREAL – A hat-trick by U23 forward Anthony Jackson-Hamel helped lift the Montreal Impact to a 4-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls in MLS Reserve League play on Sunday morning, at Olympic Stadium. Patrice Bernier rounded out the scoring for the home team.
It took just 16 minutes for the Impact to find the opening goal. Midfielder Blake Smith played a through ball to Jackson-Hamel towards the right of goal, beating Red Bulls keeper Ryan Meara.
Doubling its lead in the 19th minute, Impact captain Patrice Bernier, posted inside the box, buried a low cross from Santiago Gonzalez who was deep down the left flank.
In the 30th minute, Jackson-Hamel hammered home his second of the game, with a low bomb from outside the 18 that beat Meara to his left.
The Red Bulls got one back in the 55th minute when Michael Bustamante converted on a PK, slotting it home to the right of Evan Bush as the Impact keeper dove the other way.
Jackson-Hamel completed the hat trick in the 87th minute, heading home a corner kick by Calum Mallace towards the opposite corner.
Post-game comments
“I think the team showed a lot of passion and commitment. It was an encouraging performance for the younger players,” said Impact assistant coach Nikolaos Kounenakis, who ran the bench Sunday. “Opportunities arise as the season is long, so games like today are good opportunities for players who haven’t had a lot of minutes to show us that they can step in and do the job.”
“I’m very happy with my performance today, especially coming back from an injury,” added Jackson-Hamel. “We had a solid performance as a team, giving up a goal solely on a penalty kick. I think we showed a lot of fight today.”
Next game
The Impact will play its final MLS regular season game at Olympic Stadium next Saturday, April 12, at 4pm EDT, against head coach Frank Klopas’ former team, the Chicago Fire.
Lineups
MTL: GK - Bush; D - Tissot, Ouimette, Lefèvre, Brovsky; M - Gagnon-Laparé* (Charbonneau* 67’), Bernier (Béland-Goyette* 72’), Mallace, Smith (Ndiaye* 81); F - Jackson-Hamel, Gonzalez
Unused subs - Crépeau
Academy players
RBNY – GK – Meara (Castano 75’); D – Tetro, Politz, Miazga (Borja 69’), Duval; M – Lade (Bover 83’), Lema, Basuljevic, Bustamante, Stevenson; F – Adjei
*Academy players
Trialist
Goals
MTL - Jackson-Hamel (Smith) 16’
MTL - Bernier (Gonzalez) 19’
MTL - Jackson-Hamel 30’
RBNY – Bustamante (PK) 55’
MTL - Jackson-Hamel (Mallace) 87’
Cautions
MTL – Mallace 16’
RBNY – Adjei 18’
MTL – Lefèvre 22’
MTL – Brovsky 93’
