Impact Bests City Stars 2-1 in Cleveland
The Impact needed a win if they wanted to maintain their 6th place position in the USL standings. Their opponents? The last place Cleveland City Stars. The Impact got the three points they were looking for, however it wasn't guaranteed until the 75th minute with an, until recently, elusive, late goal by the Impact to put the game away 2-1.
Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos had lamented on previous nights, the fact that his team was having trouble scoring the game-breaking goal to either save a tie or ensure a win. On this night, his team responded.
“Our only objective here was to win and it’s safe to say that we did the job,” said team captain Mauro Biello. “What’s most positive about this is that we showed character by looking for that second goal after they equalized 1-1.”
While Montreal had some good chances during the first half, the only scoring of the match for both teams occurred in the second.
Montreal opened the score at the 59th minute when forward Peter Byers, who was starting his first game since April 18 took a point blank shot to the far post from 6-yard area that beat goalkeeper Evan Bush to his right. Credit Tony Donatelli with the assist on his pass getting in just behind the Cleveland defence.
The City Stars tied it up at the 69th minute. Midfielder Jason Hotchkin accepted the ball on the left flank before taking a precise shot from 20 yards out to the far post to beat Matt Jordan to his left. Jordan played his second game in a row and with this eventual victory, got his 25th career win with the Impact.
The game was won with a milestone goal by Mauro Biello. Biello scored the game-winning goal at the 75th minute. Biello took short pass from midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo and pelted a shot from 30 meters out in the upper left corner, getting his 80th USL career goal.
Montreal will now head home where they will play their next three games in the friendly confines of Saputo Stadium. First on the list are the Austin Aztex on Sunday at 3:30 pm (Radio-Canada, FSW, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990) and then, they face a daunting challenge when they embark on an all important double header in Montreal against the Carolina Railhawks, August 30 and September 2.
These next three home games may prove pivotal with regards to the jockeying in the standings.
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