May 29 Impact Dominates-Loses 1-0 to the Timbers

On my way from the parking lot to the press box I happened to converge on a contingent of the Impact team walking toward Stade Saputo. Among them were Dwight Barnett, Stefano Pesoli and Pato Aguilera, this spring's newer additions to the team. The anxiety and tension was palpable as they walked in quiet concentration. "Tonight's the night boys" I told them. They looked at me and without saying a word for risk of jinxing their chances, they nodded in agreement. Stefano asked me if I knew if the stadium was sold out for tonight as many fans were already milling around at 5:30, 2 hours before the first touch. I could tell that the players were eager to please the home crowd and they knew they had to forget the past and concentrate on tonight's task at hand in order to do so.

The Impact has not scored in 4 consecutive games, tying a club record and had their work cut out for them tonight as they faced the Portland Timbers, a team that edged them out of 2nd place last year by one point and a team that is off to a better start this season, going a stretch without a loss in 7 games. The Impact is 2-3-2 lifetime against the Timbers and meet them three times this season, twice at Stade Saputo.

The Impact had, perhaps, a few tactical advantages going into the game this evening; the Timbers' head coach Gavin Wilson and forward Takayuki Suzuki were serving game suspensions from their previous game against Miami and team captain Mauro Biello as well as Defender Cédric Joqueviel would be back in the line-up after healing minor injuries.

The first half saw both teams testing each other out but with Montreal, again coming out aggressively. Midfielder Davis Testo was playing like a man who wanted to win, seeming to appear everywhere he was needed, be it in aide of his defenders or by driving by the Timbers defenders before setting up forwards Rocco Placentino or Charles Gbeke who was back in the line-up after sitting out during the Toronto FC game. Placentino suddenly proving to be a fan favourite had the crowd on the edge of their seats on a kick that even surprised Timbers' goaler Ray Burse well outside the 18 yard line on more than one occasion. Gbeke looked in fine form having at least 3 serious chances inside the box including a cross from Joey Gjertsen that he just couldn't head down in time. Impact goaler Matt Jordan played solidly when called upon including the punch save he made at the 31 minute mark to thwart a Portland attempt, but eventually, in the 45th minute, in a missed clearing attempt by Stefano Pesoli, Timbers' top scorer Chris Brown put it past a helpless Matt Jordan. The Impact would have quite a challenge in the second half.

To say the Impact dominated the play would be complacent and redundant. It would also be true. From the onset of the 46th minute, the clan of Gjertsen, Gbeke and Placentino gave all in attendance near heart stopping plays including a passed ball, a missed open net and a hit crossbar on a beaten goalie.

Using his bench as he does so often, Nick De Santis substituted allegedly injured Mauro Biello, who did not play in the Toronto FC game for David Testo who went off for a well deserved rest. This was shortly followed by Alex Surprenant and Severino Jefferson replacing Joey Gjertsen and Simon Gatti, De Santis hoping that fresher legs would cure what has been ailing the team for the last 5 games.

But once again, as it has been for the last 4 games, the Impact were all guts but no glory, always the bride's maids but never the brides, close but no Cigar. In short, they lost again and now have the distinction of being the team that broke the franchise record for most games without a goal (5) and are en route to tying last year's total losses for the season at 6 (Including tonight's loss they are at 5)

Upon arriving on the field after the game, you could see the deception in all the players' eyes as well as Nick De Santis who calmly answered " I don't know" whan asked what else could they do to score that elusive goal. As they have done in previous games, they outplayed their oponents but couldn't capitalize on their chances, only to have the opposing team come back and capitalize on theirs, be they much fewer.

A few notes of interest : Shots were 22-7 in favour of Montreal

                                     Corners were 9-0 in favour of Montreal

Dwight Barnett, after having a difficult game against Toronto FC was not in the line-up for this evening.

You have to think something's gotta give, soon. Maybe it will be on Wednesday June 4th against Miami FC before the Impact head back out on the road. 

Tags: dominates \ loses \ Montreal Impact \ Portland timbers \ score \ soccer \ USL