Impact Blank Austin, 2-0
August 23, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Montreal Impact News Release
MONTREAL - The Montreal Impact (9-10-5) shut out the Austin Aztex (3-13-8) 2-0 (halftime 1-0), Sunday in front of 13,034, at Saputo Stadium.
Defender Cédric Joqueviel scored his first career goal with the Impact following a spectacular play at the 23rd minute. Joqueviel dribbled over various meters on the right flank, beating on his way three Aztex players, then fired a low point blank shot near the goal line that slipped from the hands of goalkeeper Nick Noble.
On the play, midfielder David Testo earned his first career assist in the Montreal uniform in his 50th game with the club. Testo replaced Mauro Biello in the 70th after rolling his left ankle.
"We had the ball in midfield then I saw space in front of me and I took advantage of it," noted Joqueviel, who scored the winning goal and who was named Carlsberg Player of the Match. "It's always good when defenders contribute to score. Marc asks me to play offensively when my health allows it. I've been waiting for my first goal with the Impact for a long time. It's good for morale. We take it and enjoy it. We will try to reproduce this performance in the upcoming matches against Carolina."
Forward Peter Byers scored the insurance goal in stoppage time of the second half, his second in as many games. After defeating five Aztex players around him, Byers went in alone, then beat goalkeeper Nick Noble with a well placed shot to his right.
"It's good to earn six points in our last two matches, but there's still a lot of work to do", declared Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. At halftime, everybody understood that it wasn't enough and that we had to come back stronger in the second half. Even though we didn't play our best match, we still got a very positive result."
The Montreal Impact obtained a penalty at the 55th minute, following a foul from defender Bernard Keiron towards Impact forward Eduardo Sebrango. Roberto Brown's lobbed shot however hit the crossbar, and on the rebound, Sebrango's header ended in Noble's hands.
With this win, Montreal remains in sixth position in the USL First Division standings with 32 points, four points ahead of the Vancouver Whitecaps and two behind the Rochester Rhinos.
The Impact, which dominated 16-4 in shots, also remains undefeated in three matches against Austin this season (2-0-1).
Goalkeeper Matt Jordan, who was playing his first regular season home game since July 5, registered his 25th career shutout and his fifth this season.
Simon Gatti was serving an automatic one-game suspension after receiving five cautions and was therefore unavailable for the match.
Left defender Stephen Deroux was back on the lineup after a seven game absence due to a light cheekbone fracture.
The Impact played in front of a sold out crowd for the first time this season, having sold all 13,034 available tickets.
"It's been a long time that we haven't had a break, so the day off tomorrow will allow the players to come back focused for our two matches against Carolina. We will have a good week of work," concluded Dos Santos."
The Montreal Impact will play its next two matches at home against the Carolina Railhawks, Sunday, at Saputo Stadium, (3:30 pm, Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990USLlive.com) and Wednesday, September 2 (7:30 pm, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS 19th minute - Following a deep pass from midfielder Ciaran O'Brien, midfielder Joey Gjertsen took a left footed shot from inside the box that Aztex goalkeeper Nick Noble caught with both hands.
30th minute - Aztex midfielder Silva Sullivan fired a low shot 15 meters out, but Impact goalkeeper Matt Jordan made the save by diving to his right.
53rd minute - Following a series of passes, Silva Sullivan completed the action with a point blank shot in the hands of Matt Jordan.
60th minute - After accepting a back pass from Tony Donatelli, Joey Gjertsen took a low 20 meter shot that went just to the right of the Aztex goal.
85th minute - Aztex forward Alexandre Jean unleashed a powerful high shot 25 meters out that hit the crossbar.
NEXT MATCHES - Sunday, August 30 - Carolina @ IMPACT - Saputo Stadium - 3:30 pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com) - Wednesday, September 2 - Carolina @ IMPACT - Saputo Stadium - 7:30 pm (CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, USLlive.com) - Saturday, September 5 - IMPACT @ Cleveland - Middlefield Cheese Stadium - 2 pm
USL First Division Stories from August 23, 2009
- Miami FC Drops Second Leg of West Coast Trip - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Whitecaps Beat Miami - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Impact Blank Austin, 2-0 - Montreal Impact
- RailHawks, Rhinos end in scoreless stalemate - North Carolina FC
- Miami Suffers Heart Breaking Loss - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Keita's Two Goals Leads Timbers To Win, 23-Game Unbeaten Streak - Portland Timbers
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