May 16 USL - Montreal Impact Offense Explodes in 2nd Half to Defeat Austin Aztex 4-0

The Montreal Impact faced off today against the Austin Aztex for their second game in less than 48 hours and were still in search of their first win of the 2009 season. This was the first ever meeting between these two teams as this is the Aztex's first season in the USL who have gone 1-0-3 in their first 4 games of the year. After yet another tentative first half, the Impact exploded for 4 unanswered goals in the second half to hand the Aztex their first loss and simultaneously garnered their first victory of the year.

In first half action, the Impact would lose defender Cédric Joqueviel in the 7th minute as he injured a thigh muscle in his right leg. Navio Pizzolitto, came in to replace Joqueviel who never make it back to the game.

In almost a carbon copy of the game played at Saputo Stadium less than 2 days before, the Impact, although maintaining ball possession for most of the half, seemed either tentative or hesitant about getting the ball on goal, seeming to prefer a perfect play instead of taking a chance on a rebound or forcing the 'keeper to make a save. But the half was not without its chances for the Impact.  

At the 23rd minute, Roberto Brown ended up in all alone on Aztex 'keeper Miguel Gallardo, but his shot hit Gallardo and sailed wide of the goal. A minute later, Friday's player of the game, Joey Gjertsen managed to split the D as he headed into the box, but the ball just rolled out of his reach and no play was possible. Zanzan played a great two way game showing that he not only wouldn't be intimidated in his own end, but he could easily pitch in offensively if given the chance. On a play in the 34th, he managed to beat two Aztex defenders and tried a pass towards Roberto Brown who would have been home free if the play would not have been called offside.

But the half would end with a 0-0 tie and many of us were wondering why the Impact were hesitating at shooting on goal and whether Interim coach Marc Dos Santos would see what we did and address it. He did. " It's nice to be near the goal but we had to get shots on goal." he would say post-game. "This is soccer, not le Cirque du Soleil."

The 11,470 fans that braved the bitterly cold weather to cheer their team would not be disappointed as early as the 51st minute as it was quite clear that the Impact had discussed the lack of balls directed towards the Aztex net. Stephen deRoux who played a very solid game and made a case for more playing time streaked down the left side of the field, crossed the ball into the box where Gjertsen just missed getting a full shot across, but the ball dribbled out to Roberto Brown who pelted it to the back of the net for the Impact's first goal.

Less than 6 minutes later, Montreal 'keeper Srdjan Djekanovic who was not terribly busy in his own end, thanks to great defending by Zanzan, Adam Braz and Pizzolitto, started a picture perfect play by launching the ball upfield to a waiting deRoux who promptly raced downfield into the touchpoint and centred it to Brown who performed a spin-a-rama move and deftly tapped it towards Gjertsen who made no mistake this time and scored the Impact's second goal of the game. Before the Aztex could recover from that goal, Tony Donatelli made it 3-0 on a harmless play in the Aztex end that ended up with Donatelli quickly gaining possession of the ball at the top of the box and let a high dipping shot beat the goalkeeper who later kicked the ball high in the air in frustration.

To add insult to injury, with less than 1 minute in regular time, Rocco Placentino, who came in to replace deRoux, took over the left side and managed to cross the ball into the penalty area where Simon Gatti roofed it for his first of the season and the Impacts fourth and final goal of the game.

"This was definitely a confidence booster for the team" said deRoux after the game. "We will definitely bring this to the the game against Vancouver."

The Impact's next two games are, in fact, against the Vancouver Whitecaps as the two teams will play their home and away Nutrilite Canadian Championship playoff games starting with The Impact hosting Vancouver on Wednesday May 20th, and then heading to Vancouver one week later to close off the series.

photo by photos pépé

Tags: Austin Aztex \ May 17 2009 \ Montreal Impact \ Roberto Brown \ score \ Simon Gatti \ Stephen deRoux \ Tony Donatelli \ USL \ Zanzan