May 27 Impact Lose to Toronto FC 1-0

A couple of firsts for the Montreal Impact on a perfect evening to play soccer. Tonight's first of two games against the Toronto FC marked the first time in Impact history that they faced a major league opponent. Coincidently, this was also the first time the Impact was playing it's first game of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship in order to qualify for the newly formed CONCACAF Champion's league. If you thought that this game meant nothing to either team, you would be sorely mistaken and the game played between the two teams reflected it.

Keeping with the trend of "firsts", Toronto FC netminder Greg Sutton plays his first game against his former team since leaving them as well as the Impact's newest acquisition, Rocco Placentino, saw himself on the starting line-up for this much anticipated match.

Placentino and the Impact showed from the start of this game that they were in it to win as coach De Santis had explained prior to game start. Before the game was 10 minutes in, the Impact had at least 3 very close chances, Placentino being at the heart of two of them including a play deep inside the box on a partial break where it looked like Placentino had been "helped" to the ground by the Toronto defender which went uncalled.

As has been the case in many of the Impact's games, they have been able to keep possession of the ball for a majority of each half and have had more than their fair share of chances, but just can't seem to put the ball in the net. If you would give an "A" for effort then, on this particular night, the Impact deserve a Magna cum laude as, although Toronto had a few keen opportunities themselves in the first half, like Jeff Cunningham's 2 on 1 with Danny Dichio (bent just wide) the Impact really dominated in possession, opportunities and defensive play. Shots on goal were 9-6 and corner kicks were 4-1, both in favour of the Impact, which should give you an idea of the edge Montreal had in the half.

Midfielder Patrick Leduc also substituted as a defender when the "Midas touch" Dichio who has scored 4 goals in the last 9 games, was unable to finish a play inside Matt Jordan's box. Leduc almost mistook Jordan's head for the ball in the ensuing play. Luckily, all, including the fans were able to laugh about it.

Matt Jordan also came out big at the 39 minute mark stopping a certain goal off the foot of none other than Danny Dichio with a sprawling save.

The Second half started with both teams much more aggressive. Toronto getting it's 2nd yellow card of the game, but Italian defender Stefano Pesoli really put his team in trouble after being clearly beat by Jeff Cunningham and taking him down, earning him a red card and expelling him from the game and putting his team one man short for the remainder of the game.

Montreal fared well with the disadvantage but Toronto came on strong forcing the Impact to commit more infractions including a penalty kick opportunity resulting in yet another yellow card for the Impact as Pato Aguilera touched the ball with his hand in the ensuing block attempt.

In a tactical move, Rocco Placentino, who had played a brilliant game to this point, was replaced for fresh legs in the form of Alex Surprenant. The Impact seemed to respond when Dwight Barnett, at the 70 minute mark just failed to finish off a play inside the Toronto box.

But it was too much for the Impact who have not been able to score in 4 games (tying a club record) but in the last 4 games, have allowed a goal in the last 15 minutes or so in 3 of them. A beautiful header by Marco Velez where any one of 5 Toronto players could have headed that ball in.

Then the flood gates opened for Toronto and again Matt Jordan came up big during the barrage, including a Carl Robinson bullet at the 75 minute mark.

The game would end 1-0, again... with the Impact on the losing end, again... Coach De Santis must be wondering what the Impact has to do to score a goal, even an ugly one in order to resurrect a flagrantly impotent Impact attack. It is to note that in the last 5 games played by the Impact, they managed to score only one goal. A goal scored in an exhibition game against their farm team, the Trois Rivières Attak. Ironic, as on this night, the Impact, Joey Saputo and the Montreal fans wanted to show the MLS that the Impact belonged in the same league as the Toronto FC.

Tags: lose \ Montreal Impact \ Nutrilite \ toronto FC

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