"We did enough for a tie, but not enough for a win," said head coach John Limniatis. "We didn't do well enough in the front and we didn't tighten our game sufficiently, which gave Toronto numerous scoring occasions. On their side, Toronto played well and was more physical than we were. We were nevertheless in the game the full 90 minutes, despite being short of one player."
"The game this evening is a good indicator of the importance of this tournament," said goalkeeper Matt Jordan. "We faced a good team that fought from beginning to end. In a match like this one, you know that as a goalkeeper you will be busy. As in every game, I try to do my best to help my teammates."
Forward Chad Barrett opened the score for Toronto FC at the 35th minute. On the goal sequence, the striker, who entered the game at the 16th minute, controlled a lofted pass he made to himself and took a volley shot just outside the penalty box that he netted in the top part of the goal.
From the 70th minute of play, the Montreal Impact was short of one player, after midfielder David Testo was expelled from the game for illegally tackling Toronto FC midfielder Sam Cronin.
Goalkeeper Matt Jordan conceded only one goal after facing 16 shots. Jordan was mostly put to the test in the last 30 minutes of the game, notably stopping shots from Amado Guevara and a breakaway from Chad Barrett. Already in the first ten minutes of play, forward Dwayne De Rosario put pressure on the Montreal defense with two excellent scoring chances. At halftime, the Impact was trailing behind 10-1 in shots.
The Montreal Impact started the game with a 4-5-1 lineup, when Roberto Brown was the lone player in the forward position.
Defender Stefano Pesoli, as well as midfielders Patrick Leduc and Leonardo Di Lorenzo did not travel with their teammates to Toronto due to injuries.
A reminder that Montreal is defending its Canadian championship title, which allowed it to advance to the CONCACAF Champions League in 2008.
The Impact will host its next game in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship next Wednesday, May 20, against the Vancouver Whitecaps, at Saputo Stadium, (8 pm, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990).
Meanwhile, the team will play its next two regular season games at home, this Friday, against the Charleston Battery (7:30 pm, Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com) and Sunday, against the Austin Aztex (3:30 pm, Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com).
HIGHLIGHTS
3rd minute - De Rosario collected a cross coming from the right flank inside the penalty box, turned and took a hard shot that goalkeeper Matt Jordan caught directly in his hands.
9th minute- Following a poor clearing from the Montreal defense, De Rosario controlled the ball on his chest and took a left-footed shot just to the left of the Impact net.
20th minute - Following a series of rapid passes from Toronto FC, midfielder Sam Cronin took a high cross shot just outside the penalty box that hit the far post to the left of Jordan.
27th minute – De Rosario dribbled the ball towards the center of the field, before taking a 20-meter high shot that grazed the post to the left of Jordan.
43rd minute - Following a low pass from De Rosario, midfielder Amado Guevara took a low shot that Jordan saved with a dive to his left.
52nd minute – Following a short corner kick that was quickly centered to the far post, defender Marco Velez took a head shot that hit the right post.
77th minute - Goalkeeper Matt Jordan dove to his right to stop a shot from Amado Guevara, who had taken advantage of a pass inside the box from Chad Barrett.
82nd minute – While the Montreal defense positioned itself to play the offside, Chad Barrett weaved his way towards the Montreal goal, but Matt Jordan made the save by diving to the ground.
GAME SUMMARY
PHOTOS PÉPÉ IN TORONTO
-30-
Source: Patrick Vallée, Montreal Impact
Info: 514-328-3668 (Ext. 227)
