MLS Club de Foot Montreal

Commendable Impact Performance in 2-0 Defeat against A.S. Roma

Published on August 3, 2016 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club de Foot Montreal News Release


Edin Dzeko and Radja Nainggolan scored the only goals of the game in the first half. The second half saw both teams make several changes - the Impact, at one point, fielded no fewer than seven of its Homegrown Players at the same time.

"We were a bit nervous at first, but we grew into the game against a top-class opponent," said Montreal Impact head coach Mauro Biello. "We made a lot of changes, but we created a lot of good chances and managed to unbalance them. In the end, we could have had some goals tonight."

"We liked it very much here," said A.S. Roma head coach Luciano Spalletti. "This was a nice atmosphere. We faced a very good team fitting of this fine city. The club has a nice stadium and great facilities. Should we return in North America, this would be the ideal place to stay for a week."

Strong Roma lineup sets the tone The Bleu-blanc-noir took on Roma's big guns from the get-go. Many Roma regulars such as Kostas Manolas, Daniele De Rossi, Kevin Strootman, Radja Nainggolan and Edin Džeko were on the field for the opening kickoff.

Still, the Impact created the early chances. Homegrown Player David Choiniere, first, won a corner after forcing Roma goalkeeper Alisson into a save four minutes in. Then, a minute later, Didier Drogba tried to lob the ball past Alisson and into the net, but it crashed onto the crossbar.

But Roma took the lead seconds later. Diego Perotti picked up a lost ball to goalkeeper Eric Kronberg's right and cut it back to Dzeko, who slammed it home first-time with his left foot.

Džeko missed another opportunity in the 18th minute, but Nainggolan doubled the visitors' lead three minutes later. Running onto a through ball by Mohamed Salah, Nainggolan beat Kronberg with a low shot to his right.

The Impact hit the frame again on 30 minutes, as only the post could stop a Choiniere shot to Alisson's left. The ball bounced back for Didier Drogba, but Alisson somehow returned in the middle of his goal in time to make the save.

The last minutes of the first half were the scene for several Montreal chances. Alisson was strong again in the 42nd minute as he deflected a Michael Salazar attempt away for a corner kick. Then, two straight opportunities didn't go Salazar's way. First, a fine Drogba cross from the left just missed his extended foot, after which captain Patrice Bernier got a touch on an attempted clearance by Alisson. The ball fell for Salazar, but his shot barely missed the frame.

Roma tifosi couldn't wait to see their captain, Francesco Totti, who came on as a sub at halftime. Totti made his presence felt in the 53rd minute as he tried his luck against goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, but the shot missed the net.

"You don't face A.S. Roma every day," said Maxime Crepeau. "We had fun out there. We didn't put pressure on ourselves. I'm pleased with my 45 minutes. We didn't concede, which is the biggest objective."

The Impact then created numerous opportunities. Lucas Ontivero, in the 63rd minute, cut inside before unleashing a shot that didn't miss by much. Five minutes later, Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla came close on a fine transition led by Anthony Jackson-Hamel, who had a goal called back for offside in the 75th minute as he tapped home a rebound after Tabla hit the crossbar.

Crepeau was solid throughout the second half, most notably in the 89th minute when he denied Stephan El Shaarawy on a one-on-one. The Homegrown 'keeper made seven second-half saves.

Next game The next MLS game at Stade Saputo will be played on Saturday, August 6, against the Houston Dynamo (TVA Sports, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). Excellent individual tickets are still available for this game on 3cd680110be977c0663a429ef impactmontreal.com.

LINEUPS

MTL - GK-Eric Kronberg (Maxime Crepeau 46'); D-Donny Toia (Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare 67'), Victor Cabrera (Wandrille Lefevre 46'), Kyle Fisher (Thomas Meilleur-Giguere 67'), Amadou Dia; M-Marco Donadel (Hernan Bernardello 31', Balou Jean-Yves Tabla 67'), Patrice Bernier (Kyle Bekker 46'), Ignacio Piatti (Michael Salazar 31', Johan Venegas 67'), Dominic Oduro (Lucas Ontivero 46', Anthony Jackson-Hamel 67'), David Choiniere; F-Didier Drogba (Matteo Mancosu 46')

Unused sub - GK-Evan Bush

ROMA - GK-Alisson; D-Emerson (Moustapha Seck 46'), Juan Jesus (Norbert Gyomber 46'), Kostas Manolas (Stephan El Shaarawy 46'), Alessandro Florenzi; M-Daniele De Rossi (Federico Ricci 64'), Kevin Strootman (Gerson 46'), Radja Nainggolan (Francesco Totti 46'), Diego Perotti (Riccardo Marchizza 46'); F-Edin Dzeko (Leandro Paredes 46'), Mohamed Salah (Juan Iturbe 46')

Unused subs - GK-Bogdan Lobont, Andrea Romagnoli, Lorenzo Crisanto; D-Eros De Santis, Vasilis Torosidis; M-William Vainqueur, Lorenzo Di Livio, Christian D'Urso; F-Edoardo Soleri

GOALS

ROMA - Dzeko (Perotti) 6'

ROMA - Nainggolan (Salah) 21'

CAUTIONS

ROMA - Iturbe 76'

ROMA - Gerson 79'

Check out the Club de Foot Montreal Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from August 3, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central