Impact Earn 4-1 Win
Published on March 25, 2011 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Montreal Impact News Release
BROSSARD ¬" The Montreal Impact defeated a selection of university players (IUSF) 4-1, Friday, at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard.
Forwards Reda Agourram (17 ¬â¢) and Ali Gerba (24 ¬â¢), as well as midfielder Anthony Le Gall (62 ¬â¢ and 85 ¬â¢) scored for the Impact. Mohamed Aborig responded for the university squad in the final few seconds of the 100-minute exhibition match.
"We ¬â¢re doing a better job of understanding and applying each and every principles of our game," said Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. "Despite a tough week of training, the players responded well and I was very satisfied with their level of intensity. We did very well against an opponent that managed to give us a few problems. It ¬â¢s important for our confidence level to win friendlies like this."
Agourram picked up where he left off last week versus the U21 Academy, once again scoring the opener. After taking a pass from Gerba behind the defensive line, defender Philippe Billy crossed a low ball to Agourram, who scored into a wide open net.
Less than 10 minutes later, midfielder Hassoun Camara deflected a Leonardo Di Lorenzo corner kick with a header, Gerba jumped on the loose ball near the goal line and tapped it in to double Montreal ¬â¢s lead.
Anthony Le Gall scored twice in the second half, after replacing Luke Kreamalmeyer in the 60th minute. Le Gall tallied his first goal of the match off an Idriss Ech Chergui free kick. Positioned in the box, Le Gall took control of the ball before unleashing a shot from point-blank range. In the 85th minute, Le Gall intercepted a pass and dribbled past the goalkeeper for his second of the game.
"Everyone took this match seriously and we obtained a good result because of that," said Le Gall. "We can feel the team getting better and everyone is doing a better job of finding each other on the pitch."
Reda Agourram left the game in the 39th minute with a left thigh injury and was replaced by Pierre-Rudolph Mayard. In the 48th minute, Mayard took a short pass from Richard Pelletier and had a great scoring chance, but his shot from 18 yards out sailed just right of the net.
Midfielders Miniane Diouf (Diambars Centre in Senegal) and Jared VanSchaik (University of Portland), took part in the game. They are both on tryout with the Impact.
The Impact will play its final two pre-season matches on Friday, April 1 versus McGill University at 10am and on Sunday, April 3 at 1pm against an opponent to be determined. Both matches will take place at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard.
Montreal ¬â¢s first game in the North American Soccer League (NASL) season will take place on April 9 in Tampa Bay. The home opener at Saputo Stadium is set for April 23.
North American Soccer League Stories from March 25, 2011
- Impact Earn 4-1 Win - Montreal Impact
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