Atlanta Offense Awakens against Impact
Published on June 8, 2011 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Montreal Impact News Release
ATLANTA, Georgia - The Montreal Impact lost 2-1 against the Atlanta Silverbacks, on Wednesday, in Georgia.
At the 13th minute, the Silverbacks ended a five-game scoreless streak when midfielder Raphael Cox gave Atlanta the lead with a low shot from inside the 18-meter box, following a cross from defender Mario Perez, in possession of the ball deep in the Impact territory.
Atlanta doubled its lead at the 34th minute on a goal from Matt Horth. Following a turnover, Cox registered his third point of the game when he gave the ball to Horth who scored with a low shot in an empty net.
The Impact cut the lead at the end of the first half. Forward Mignane Diouf scored his second goal in as many games with a header at the 43rd minute. Following a couple passes between Di Lorenzo and Ribeiro, midfielder Idriss Ech Chergui crossed the ball to the Senegalese player who was standing close to the goal line. The ball first hit the bar before crossing the goal line.
"The Silverbacks didn't create more chances than us, but they were able to capitalize on our mistakes. We can't make those fouls at this level," said Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. "We didn't have a good start and we tried to come back after. We put ourselves in a difficult position. We still worked hard and we took some chances, which allowed them to counter attack. Also, the substitutions we had to make didn't help our situation."
Earlier in the first half, Diouf got two scoring chances, but each time his shots were close from the target.
Midfielder Anthony Le Gall left the game at the 14th minute after making contact with the Silverbacks' goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer. He could be suffering from a light concussion. Le Gall was replaced by Idriss Ech Chergui.
Forward Reda Agourram also left the game in the first half following a calf injury. He was replaced by Pierre-Rudolph Mayard at the 36th minute.
The game was interrupted at the 55th minute due to a 30-minute lightning delay.
The Impact had several scoring chances in the second half. At the 56th minute, Ech Chergui took a left footed point blank shot from 35 meters out that went to the left of the Silverbacks' goal. At the 76th minute, standing in the six-yard box, Mayard headed a corner taken by Di Lorenzo, just wide to the left of the goal. A shot from the left wing from Zurab Tsiskaridze then hit the crossbar at the 85th minute.
Midfielder Antonio Ribeiro was ejected from the game at the 89th minute after receiving his second yellow card of the game. He will now serve an automatic one-game suspension that will make him miss the next game in Puerto Rico.
Gaudette was brilliant on two straight plays at the 90th minute when he dove to his left to stop with his hand a low shot from 20 meters out from Ciaran O'Brian. A few seconds later, he stopped a point blank shot from forward Moussa Toure.
Four players did not travel with the team: defenders Richard Pelletier and Nevio Pizzolitto, midfielder Luke Kreamalmeyer, as well as striker Ali Gerba.
Pelletier suffered a hamstring strain against Edmonton and will be out of the lineup for approximately one month. Team captain Nevio Pizzolitto is out of the lineup with a hip injury. Kreamalmeyer also missed the game due to fractured foot.
Striker Ali Gerba is currently with the Canadian National Team for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup. After losing 2-0 against the USA on Tuesday, Canada will face Guadeloupe on June 11, at Raymond James Stadium, in Tampa, and Panama, on June 14, in Kansas City.
The Impact will now travel to Puerto Rico on Thursday to face the Islanders Sunday at 6:05pm.
The team will play its next home game at Saputo Stadium against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, on June 18, at 2:30pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, radio-canada.ca/sports). Tickets for this game are still available through Admission Network (admission.com / 514-790-1245) or at Saputo Stadium's ticketing office.
THREE NEXT GAMES
- Sunday, June 12 - IMPACT @ Puerto Rico Islanders - Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium - 6:05pm
- Saturday, June 18-Fort Lauderdale Strikers @ IMPACT - Saputo Stadium - 2:30
- Sunday, June 26 - IMPACT @ FC Edmonton - Foote Field - 4:05pm
North American Soccer League Stories from June 8, 2011
- Silverbacks Defeat Impact for First Win of Season - Atlanta Silverbacks
- Atlanta Offense Awakens against Impact - Montreal Impact
- Mending Fences: Fox 9 Teams with NSC Minnesota Stars to Help Raise Money for Tornado Relief - Minnesota United FC
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