"Things didn’t go so well for us tonight,” said Impact head coach John Limniatis. “We made many mistakes, including two which cost us two goals, while offensively we weren’t aggressive enough. We didn’t set the tone of the game and the pace of the match wasn’t as it should have been.”
"I think that as a whole, we didn’t do enough tonight," said Impact veteran Nevio Pizzolitto, who played the entire 90 minutes of the game. "It's not one player or one particular play, we just didn’t work hard enough. In this league, you have to show up every night if you want to win. Hopefully, it will be a wakeup call for us. We will go back to work and try to win the next game."
Miami FC forward Diego Serna opened the score for Miami in the 50th minute on a penalty, beating Matt Jordan with a low shot to his right. On the previous sequence, Pizzolitto had lighlty taken forward Alen Marcina down in the box.
Less than five minutes later, midfielder Leonardo Inacio Nunes (55th) doubled Miami’s lead. Nunes took advantage of a poorly cleared ball from the Montreal defense and did not miss his chance while he was alone in front of Jordan.
The Impact was also awarded a penalty in the 59th minute, but forward Joey Gjertsen, who came in the game at the 45th minute, took a low shot that was stopped by goalkeeper Pat Hannigan.
Forward Eduardo Sebrango reduced the lead to one goal at the 75th minute. Sebrango deflected by diving with a header a center to the near post from midfielder Rocco Placentino, beating goalkeeper Pat Hannigan to his left. It was his first regular season goal with the Impact since September 11, 2005 against Vancouver.
The Impact ended the game with a man advantage, after Diego Serna received a second yellow card in the first of six minutes of stoppage time, but did not capitalize on this opportunity.
This marks the Impact’s first loss in nine games against Miami (4-1-4), conceding for the first time two goals to its Florida rivals in a single game.
Forwards Eduardo Sebrango and Roberto Brown, who had recovered from a light ankle injury, started their first season game. Captain Mauro Biello, who recovered from a clavicle injury, played his first game in 2009. He replaced Sandro Grande in the 74th minute of play.
Defender Kevin Sakuda played his 150th career game in the USL First Division.
The Montreal Impact will play its next game Saturday, May 2, against the Puerto Rico Islanders at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium, in Bayamon (8pm, USLlive.com).
Montreal will then play its home opener at Saputo Stadium, Saturday, May 9, at 3:30 pm, against the Rochester Rhinos. Season tickets are still available by calling 514-328-3668.
HIGHLIGHTS
22nd minute – Following a low pass from Impact defender Zanzan, forward Roberto Brown took a low shot that went just to the right of the Miami FC goal.
41st minute – After accepting a deep pass from Roberto Brown, midfielder Tony Donatelli was all alone in front of Miami FC goalkeeper Pat Hannigan, but both players collided.
54th minute –Impact forward Eduardo Sebrango accepted a pass from behind the Miami FC defense and went alone against Hannigan, who came out of his box and dove to the ground to make the save.
GAME SUMMARY
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Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (ext. 227)
