Jul 12 The Impact Dominate Again But Lose to Seattle 1-0

Despite the rain, approximately 8000 fans turned out to cheer on their Montreal Impact team who were hosting the Seattle Sounders who were in town Montreal's 15th game of the season and while Montreal had better lifetime statistics against their opponents last week, this week was a different matter going 8-12-2 lifetime against Seattle. The Impact, with their 1-0 loss last week to Puerto Rico as well as other teams in the USL winning, found themselves in last place and 4 points out of the 7th and last playoff spot. They would not help their cause on this day as the Sounders took this one in a game that initially showed promise for the Impact but a lapse in Montreal pressure and aggressivity as well as Seattle 'keeper Christopher Eylander was all the Sounders needed to score their only goal en route to their 1-0 win.

The first half was unequivocally dominated by the Impact with Sounders' 'keeper Christopher Eylander having to make many good quality saves in order for the Sounders to still be in this one. And those were the chances that were actually on target. From the 2 minute mark, the Impact's newest addition, Tony Donatelli was alone in front of Eylander but was not able to keep the ball under the crossbar, sending it high while Rocco Placentino later deked two defenders before crossing it to Brown who was unable to convert. At the 12 minute mark David Testo forced Eylander to make a great diving save as he kicked a bullet just outside the 18.

At the 15 minute mark, Joey Gjertsen caught a bad bounce on the wrong foot which ended up creating a corner kick for the Impact that, although it did not result in a goal, was the beginning of 10 minutes of consecutive Montreal opportunities. But one got the sense that the Impact were hesitating within the penalty area and were not being as aggressive as they could have been on the ball inside the box.

The best chance of the half for the Impact was provided by Seattle defender Zach Scott, who in a clearing attempt at the 25 minute mark, rattled the ball off his own goalpost with Eylander clearly beaten had it been inches to the left.

The second half resumed where the 1st left off. Right at the 46th minute, Donatelli did not quite get in on time for a cross that made it into Eylander's box resulting in a missed opportunity. While you could say that he has to perhaps get used to his new team, the reality was that until this point the Impact were not finishing their plays close in and the Sounders came into the 2nd playing to win as opposed to playing not to lose. The fruits of this attitude resulted in Matt Jordan having to make a good save at the 50th when a Youssouf Kante cross bent dangerously towards him.

You almost saw the Sounders' goal coming as a drop in the Impact pressure resulted in added pressure from the Sounders who capitalized on a good scoring chance. A corner kick ended on the head of Leighton O'brian which bounced to Sebastien Le Toux who promptly put the ball past Jordan with a header of his own at the 1.

It all unraveled for the Impact from this point where, for the first time, the  boo-birds made themselves heard and to make matters worse, in a frustrated melee that ensued, only Impact players Roberto Brown and David Testo were assessed yellow cards, adding to the one Donatelli received in the 1st half.

Coach Limniatis, in an attempt to add some offence, made some tactical substitutions bringing in Leonardo Di Lorenzo, Mauro Biello and Severino Jefferson for Simon Gatti, Tony Donatelli and Adam Braz, respectively. The new legs provided the Impact with one of their better chances of the half, when Severino Jefferson managed to cross the ball to a streaking Mauro Biello who was stopped by a well placed Christopher Eylander. Biello, you will recall, was already suffering from a fractured wrist, but a little known fact is that he was playing while also suffering from plantar faciitis. It's a wonder he was even walking, let alone able to streak in for the scoring opportunity. A true captain indeed. 

The last 5 minutes of the game ended in a sort of role reversal, with the Impact throwing everything they had to the Sounders who were just barely holding on. With the ensuing 5 minutes of added time, the boo-birds who previously chastised their team were now applauding the effort, but it was to no avail. No matter what the Impact threw Seattle's way, they, or more precisely Eylander had the answer. Even Matt Jordan joined the rush with moments left in the contest and actually was able to get a whack at the ball for the Impact's last corner of the game and nearly scored were it not for a Christopher Eylander who was perfect on this evening. Shots at the end of this game were 15-4 in favor of Montreal. Eylander had to make 10 saves as opposed to the 1 his counterpart, Matt Jordan had to make in another one of those games where the Impact dominated....again... but lost......again.

Montreal will have to regroup and reset for this Friday when they play their last home game against Miami FC until they head out on a 2 game road trip including a jaunt to Toronto where they will play the last of the CONCACAF championship qualifiers. Montreal need only not lose against Toronto (who went 1-0-1 against the Vancouver Whitecaps) in order to advance.

Tags: dominate \ lose \ Montreal Impact \ seattle \ soccer \ USL

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