Sep 03 Impact Take Railhawks 1-0

I believe a new rivalry has been created.

It is common knowledge that the Montreal Impact and the Rochester Rhinos have a heated rivalry. Even the fans have at it with their visiting supporters in the stands and on the way to the parking lots of Olympic Stadium.

But after last night’s contest between the Carolina Railhawks, the second of a back to back between the two teams, you can now count these two teams as having no love lost for each other.

In a foul heavy night, and in the opinions of many in attendance, perhaps many more fouls should have been called, the tempers got high and the game got physical, folks got ejected and an exciting soccer game ended with the home team winning 1-0 with the potential promise that these same two squads could very well meet in the impending USL playoffs.

Leonardo Di Lorenzo scored early on at the 11th minute on a cross from defender Adam Braz from the right wing. RailHawks midfielder Brad Rusin couldn’t properly clear the ball and Di Lorenzo fired a powerful left-footed shot that RailHawks goalkeeper Eric Reed had no chance on. This was Di Lorenzo’s first goal  of the season.

The play and tempers got edgy, especially in the second half. Eight cautions were issued in the match but one could also say that perhaps the referees had lost a certain control of this game well before. Carolina RailHawks head coach Martin Rennie was ejected at the 68th minute for unsportsmanlike conduct. It appears that after bullying the 4^th official most of the evening without consequences, the final straw was when a water bottle was kicked in the official’s direction.

Play on the field wasn’t much friendlier, Adam Braz who received a yellow card in the game, was usually goaded by Railhawk players to risk getting ejected or was foing some of the responding himself when complaints got too amplified on the Carolina bench. Impact defender Nevio Pizzolitto, who received two cautions, was ejected at the 90th minute. He was the victim of a finger or hand in the eye, and when he went down, was accused by Railhawk players, of faking it, as one of them walked over a sprawled Pizzolitto.

The good news for the Impact was that although they were still not able to get that all elusive clincher goal they have been looking for all season, they also were able to defend well until the game’s finish and not let in a heartbreaker just prior to the whistle.

With these three well earned points, the Impact has moved up to 5th in the standings and is now playing at the .500 mark for the first time since July 5.

The Impact should include taking the lead into the second half as part of their game plans. They have not yet lost this season (5-0-2) when they are leading after the first half.

Next up for the Impact is a jaunt out in Cleveland where they will face off against the last place Cleveland City Stars as they try to extend their unbeaten streak to five as they are 3-0-1 in their last 4 games played.

It may just be that the team is gelling at the right time.

Tags: Adam Braz \ Carolina Railhawks \ Leonardo DiLorenzi \ Montreal Impact \ Nevio Pizzolito \ officials \ recap \ referees \ result \ score \ USL \ yellow cards