Sep 20 Montreal Impact and Puerto Rico Islanders Play to a 0-0 Draw

Although the point of the game was moot, as both teams had clinched their respective places in the USL1 standings and neither team budging , credit Montreal for playing a regular starters loaded roster and credit Puerto Rico for even showing up...barely.

Puerto Rico showed up with only 12 players, that's only 1 sub along with the 11 starters for those keeping score, and although the Impact dominated throughout the game, they could not solve Puerto Rico's back-up goalkeeper Justin Myers. Perhaps it is fitting that a game that had no bearing on the final standings as well as including two teams that potentially could meet in the playoffs, should end in a 0-0 tie.

To say the Impact dominated the 1st half is a gross understatement. Defensively, they were sound, with Montreal opting to go with 4 d-men, Stefano Pesoli, Simon Gatti, Cédric Joqueviel as well as Leonardo Di Lorenzo taking a stint on the back end. Puerto Rico was not able to break through this wall with any conviction and the one play that did seem to break through at the 31st minute was, in fact, called back on an offside.

Montreal's offense kept the Islanders' defenders, 4 as well, and 'keeper Justin Myers busy throughout, but with no goal to show for it. the Impact produced a flurry of chances at the 21st minute starting with a Donatelli break inside the box that was deflected out by Myers and Peter Byers had two golden chances within minutes of each other shortly thereafter, including a Di Lorenzo cross into the box that Byers would have wanted back as he was within 6 yards of goal and headed it over the crossbar. The half would end 0-0 on a definitely brisk autumn night, where many of the fans in attendance could be seen wearing the Impact scarves that were handed out on opening day, this time for warmth rather than style.

The Impact is 3-7-5 when  tied at the half, but 11-2-0 when scoring the first goal. There was no doubt they were trying for that go ahead goal. At the 56th, a nice give and go by Joey Gjertsen and David Testo resulted in Myers having to make a good save., Mauro Biello followed up with a couple of on-goal shots in the ensuing minutes that followed, including a play that started with an effort by Sandro Grande that had the crowd applauding before the actual shot on goal. After Biello's initial opportunity, the ball was kicked towards the sidelines, however Grande ran full force towards it and just before it was to fall out of bounds, slid into it to reverse it and promptly crossed it over to Tony Donatelli who found Biello in the box and were it not for Justin Myers' save of the game, this would have been a highlight reel goal of the week. At the 67th, Donatelli had another glorious chance to put the Impact ahead when he zig-zagged through 2 Islander defenders until he got just inside the 18, but booted the ball just over the crossbar. Puerto Rico however, seemed content to let the Impact take the game to them and Justin Myers, the team's back-up goalkeeper, seemed up to the task. Any Islander attempt to break the Impact's 18 however, was also denied by the aforementioned defenders.

Rocco Placentino came into the game, replacing Mauro Biello and started of a great play at the 78th minute with a back of the heel back-pass to Severino Jefferson on the drive towards the Islander goal but unfortunately, when Jefferson passed the ball inside the box to Peter byers, he was just offside and the play was whistled down. Placentino also managed a shot on Justin Myers shortly thereafter, but the 'keeper handled that shot rather easily.

So the game would end in a nil-nil draw but there were no down faces on the pitch after the match. All impact players and coach Limniatis alike responded to all obvious post-game questions with cautious optimism such as, "We are not happy with the result, but are satisfied with our effort tonight, said Captain Mauro Biello. Coach John Limniatis, when asked his approach with the CONCACAF and USL playoffs intertwining said "You have to take each game one at a time" and explaining that his choice to first fly to Seattle for Friday's USL contest before coming back home to re-play the Sounders was "So that if we get a positive result in Seattle, it puts the pressure on them in the second game."

So the Impact is saying all the right things and as of late have been backing their words with paralleled action on the pitch. With most of their players healthy and ready for game action, let's hope the team with the best record in the USL during the second half of the season, can carry this momentum to the 2008 championship. Hold on to your hats folks, exciting times ahead.

GAME NOTES:

- Montreal is now 1-1-1 against Puerto Rico for the season

- Adam Braz did not play this evening as he is serving a suspension for the ejection he incurred against Minnesota.

- All but two Impact players are healthy for game action if called upon this coming week. Patrick Leduc is estimated at a week away from recovery while Gabriel Gervais is as of yet undetermined.

NEXT GAMES

(End of the regular season)
• Wednesday, September 24 – Atlante FC @ IMPACT – 8 pm*
• Wednesday, October 1 – IMPACT @ CD Olimpia – @ Honduras – 10 pm*
• Wednesday, October 8 – IMPACT @ Joe Public – @ Trinidad & Tobago – 8 pm*
• Tuesday, October 21 – CD Olimpia @ IMPACT – 8 pm*
• Tuesday, October 28 – IMPACT @ Atlante FC – @ Mexico – 10 pm*
*CONCACAF Champions League

Tags: concacaf \ John Limniatis \ Mauro Biello \ Montreal Impact \ peter byers \ playoffs \ Puerto rico islanders \ Rocco Placentino \ Sandro Grande \ Saputo Stadium \ Tony Donatelli \ USL