Forward Joey Gjertsen opened the score for the Impact in the first half, in the 29th minute. On the sequence, Mauro Biello made a deep pass on the right flank to Eduardo Sebrango, who centered the ball on the ground for Gjertsen, at the entrance of the 18-yard box. He then dribbled the defender, before beating goalkeeper Lapo Giusti with a high shot.
Andrea Corsi tied the score in the 62nd minute, while left alone on the right flank, giving no chance to Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan. It was the first goal conceded by Montreal in six preseason games since the beginning of training camp.
“We played with inconsistency today with very good and bad moments,” said Impact head coach John Limniatis. “We did good things in the first half but the second half was tougher. A few technical and defensive errors during 15 minutes gave them the opportunity to score the tying goal.”
Jordan, who played the entire game, made a few key saves in the second half. In the 59th minute, he stopped a point blank shot from Fabio Casini, diving to his left. Then in the 80th minute, Jordan dove to his right to block a low 15-yard shot from Mattia Donati.
All players on the starting lineup were substituted, except for Jordan and central defenders Nevio Pizzolitto and Cédric Joqueviel.
“Overall, it was a good game and we got good opponents, especially in the second half,” noted Joqueviel. “We ran more in the second half because they put on the field 11 fresh players. It’s positive because we continue correcting minor imperfections in our game to be ready for the February 25 matchup.”
The Impact will play its fourth of five exhibition games in Italy, Tuesday, against USD Fiesole Caldine (Division Eccellenza), at 3 pm (9 am, Eastern Time).
IMPACT LINEUP
GK-Matt Jordan, D-Alex Surprenant (Stephen deRoux, 45th), D-Cédric Joqueviel, D-Nevio Pizzolitto, D-Adam Braz (Mike Vitulano, 68th), M-Rocco Placentino (Pierre-Rudolph Mayard, 66th), M-Sandro Grande (Tony Donatelli, 63rd), M-David Testo (Leonardo Di Lorenzo, 60th), M-Mauro Biello (Félix Brillant, 45th), A-Joey Gjertsen (Laurent Merlin, 45th), A-Eduardo Sebrango (Léo Bessong Libiih, 63rd)
VF COLLIGIANA LINEUP
1st half:
Lapo Giusti, Lorenzo Laverone, Ruggero Radice, Mattia Donati, Luca Bonini, Andrea Pobega, Daniele Chiocchetti, Patrizio Billio, Pietro Tranchitella, Davide Collini, Gianluca Savoldi
2nd half:
Carlo Camilli, Adriano Russo, Nicola Ficano, Domenico Marino, Antonio D’Ambrosio, Rodrigo De Lazzeri, Fabio Casini, Andrea Corsi, Massimiliano Bongiorni, Davide Carfora, Alessandro Osso
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Source: Patrick Vallée
Info: 514-653-0539 (in Italy)
