Impact suffer second consecutive loss
Published on May 21, 2011 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Montreal Impact News Release
ST.PETERSBURG, Florida - The Montreal Impact suffered a second consecutive loss, losing 3-0 to FC Tampa Bay, Saturday at Al Lang Stadium.
Tampa opened the scoring at the 40th minute. Alone in the middle, forward Warren Ukah pivoted before taking a point blank shot from 20 meters to the top of the net. Defender David Hayes registered an assist on the play.
Midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo was ejected at the 72nd minute, after stopping the ball with his hand on the goal line. Tampa then added to its lead on the following penalty, from midfielder Mike Ambersley, on a low shot to the right of Gaudette, who dove in the opposing direction.
With the Impact playing with one man down, midfielder Tsuyoshi Yoshitake scored the insurance goal at the 84th minute when he dribbled Gaudette before scoring in an empty net.
"We didn't play well enough to win," said Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos. "We gave them too much space in the first half. We did better in the second half, but we couldn't score and Tampa Bay made the best of their scoring opportunities. The team isn't doing well at the moment, but I think we have the elements on the squad to get back on track."
Montreal had its best scoring chances in the second half. At the 63rd minute, forward Reda Agourram took a point blank shot that hit the post to the left of Attinella. Then, at the 81st minute, Hassoun Camara, who was playing his second game of the season, hit the post on a free kick from 35 meters.
Even though he allowed three goals, Impact goalkeeper Bill Gaudette made a few key saves. At the 27th minute, midfielder Keith Savage took a low shot but Gaudette dove to his right to stop the ball. At the 72nd minute, he also stopped a point blank shot from Ambersley.
At the 34th minute, team captain Nevio Pizzolitto saved a goal when he deflected with his foot a shot from Yoshitake from inside the six-yard box.
Tampa had a chance to open the scoring at the 17th minute when midfielder Tsuyoshi Yoshitake, standing in the six-yard box, deflected a cross from teammate Takuya Yamada with his head just a few inches to the right of the Impact net.
At the 61st minute, from the six-yard box, midfielder Anthony Le Gall took a low shot but goalkeeper Attinella stopped it diving to his right. Camara then had another chance at the 76th minute but his low shot from 25 meters was stopped by Attinella.
With his red card, Di Lorenzo will serve an automatic one-game suspension and will miss Saturday's game in Fort Lauderdale.
Midfielder Antonio Ribeiro played his 136th career game with the Impact, joining Eduardo Sebrango for 10th place on the Impact All-Time list.
Defender Richard Pelletier served his last of a six-game suspension, following incidents that occurred during last year's playoff semifinals against the Carolina RailHawks.
It was the Impact's second loss in three games against FCTB this season. Both teams will meet for the last time on August 10 in Montreal.
The Impact will play its next game on Saturday, May 28 in Fort Lauderdale, and will play its next home game on June 4 against FC Edmonton.
North American Soccer League Stories from May 21, 2011
- Team records first shutout of the season - Atlanta Silverbacks
- Strikers Earn Important Road Point Along with First Shutout - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Impact suffer second consecutive loss - Montreal Impact
- Barbara Bags Two More as RailHawks Bury Puerto Rico, 3-0 - North Carolina FC
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