Impact Ends North Carolina Training by Topping Wake Forest
March 29, 2010 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Montreal Impact News Release
GREENSBORO, North Carolina - The Montreal Impact concluded its training camp in North Carolina with a 2-0 victory over Wake Forest University (NCAA), Monday afternoon, at Smith Park, in Greensboro.
The Impact opened the score at the 31st minute. Following a deep pass from Tony Donatelli, Impact rookie forward Reda Agourram defeated a defender before scoring on the near side with a left-footed shot.
Forward Roberto Brown, who replaced Agourram at the 59th minute, scored the insurance goal at the 84th minute. Positioned on the six-meter line, Brown accepted Leonardo Di Lorenzo's cross from the left flank, and beat the goalkeeper with a low shot to his right.
Romanian goalkeeper Andrei Badescu, who made his first start of camp, registered the shutout. He notably stopped a penalty at the 72nd minute.
"We are happy to finish camp with a win and to be returning to Montreal with confidence. It was important for everyone to end the camp on a positive note," declared head coach Marc Dos Santos.
"We faced one of the best university teams in the United States so we knew we were going to face a good opposition," explained Dos Santos. "We didn't take advantage of our opportunities at the start of the game and Wake Forest started believing in themselves and they became dangerous in the second half. But we then took control back in the last 20 minutes of the match."
As of the first minute of play, Peter Byers accepted a pass from Philippe Billy to take a solid shot that the Wake Forest goalkeeper saved by diving to his left. Then a few seconds later, Rocco Placentino fired a strong shot of about 20 meters out that grazed the post to the left of the goalkeeper.
At the 10th minute, the Impact obtained a scoring chance when Leonardo Di Lorenzo's free kick was deflected with a header by Reda Agourram inside the 18-yard box.
The match was played at the Demon Deacon's training complex, due to water accumulations on the WakeMed Complex fields, following heavy rain last night.
"The conditions were not the best because we were forced to play on a synthetic field. But this is what we will have in Austin," noted Dos Santos. "And the players had given a lot less than forty-eight hours earlier against the RailHawks. We demanded considerable efforts from our players, including Hicham (Aaboubou), who played all 180 minutes of the two games."
Impact Academy defender Francesco Augustin played his first exhibition game with the first team, replacing Placentino at the 58th minute. Reserve team defender Amine Meftouh also played for a few minutes.
The Montreal Impact concluded camp with a record of three wins (2-1 versus UQAM/McGill, 5-1 versus Freamunde and 2-0 versus Wake Forest), two losses (2-1 versus Celta de Vigo and 1-0 versus Rochester) and three draws (1-1 versus Boavista, 1-1 versus Charleston and 1-1 versus Carolina).
The Impact will be back in Montreal Tuesday evening, will be off on Wednesday and will resume training Thursday morning. The squad will then fly to Austin, April 9, for its first season game, April 11, against the Aztex.
Tickets for the home opener at Saputo Stadium on April 25 against Portland are now on sale through Admission (514-790-1245 / 1-800-361-4595/ admission.com), as well as at the Saputo Stadium ticketing office. 2010 season tickets and mini-season tickets for five or ten matches are also available. For further information, dial 514-328-3668 or visit impactmontreal.com.
North American Soccer League Stories from March 29, 2010
- Rowdies Update - Tampa Bay Rowdies
- Impact Ends North Carolina Training by Topping Wake Forest - Montreal Impact
- Rhinos Sign Three Players - Rochester Rhinos
- Palace Baltimore Pre-Season Friendly Vs. Dc United Postponed - Crystal Palace Baltimore
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