Impact Maintain 5th place with Tie Vs Minnesota
While it was not necessarily the outcome the Impact may have wanted, it could have ended less positively.
After an early 6th minute goal from the Minnesota Thunder with a flurry of near miss opportunities just prior, it looked like the Thunder was going to steal one in front of the sold out crowd at Saputo Stadium. The starting 11, who were not your every day starters, with many of the "regulars" such as Adam Braz, David Testo, Nevio Pizzolitto, Joey Gjertsen and Roberto Brown, either not dressed or sitting on the bench to start the game.
Were it not for Hicham Aboubou's foot, right on 'keeper Matt Jordan's goal line, the game could have easily been 2-0 before the 7 minute mark. Aboubou blocked a low shot from Nate Knox which was crossed into the box, beating Jordan who committed himself to the shot.
The near miss and subsequent goal seemed to awaken the Montreal squad.
“In the beginning of the game, we made a number of mistakes which cost us,” mentioned team captain Mauro Biello. “However, we managed to come back after halftime with the right attitude. We worked hard and that allowed us to obtain at least one point.”
Peter Byers, again played hero with time running out in the 85th minute. After receiving a short pass from Roberto Brown in the 18-yard box, Byers controlled the ball, dribbled past two Thunder players, then took a left-footed low shot that beat the Thunder goalkeeper Matt Van Oekel to his left. For the remaining 5 minutes as well as 3 in extra time, it was all Impact, however, the Thunder managed to keep the game a 1-1 draw.
This was Byers' 4th goal of the season, and coincidentally, all 4 of his goals have been scored in the Impact's last seven matches, contributing to their recent 7 game (5-0-2) unbeaten streak..
Byers was ejected in stoppage time of the second half after receiving his second yellow card of the game after an altercation deep in Thunder territory with an opposing player. His first yellow was given to him because of his post goal celebration that saw him take off his shirt as he ran up the field to celebrate. He will have to serve an automatic one-game suspension in the next match.
Look for a "no holds barred" contest in the final game of the regular season as the Impact travel to Carolina Friday, September 18th and look to cement their position in 5th place with a win. Players' cautions records will be moot at this point as regular season cautions will have no effect on the impending playoff games. With the recent games played between these two teams and the temperatures rising in both, this looks to be an exciting contest with a playoff type atmosphere.
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