Impact swept by Syracuse
July 17, 2004 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Montreal Impact News Release
EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y., July 16, 2004 â A goal by Mauro Carabajal at the 56th minute of play, followed by a penalty kick converted by Rene Rivas at the 82nd minute, Friday, led to a 2-1 loss by the Montreal Impact against the Salty Dogs at P & C Stadium in Syracuse. Eduardo Sebrango scored the lone Montreal goal, at the 85th minute, by heading in a cross by Mauricio Vincello. It was Sebrango's second goal in as many games. He has a total of four goals this season.
The Impact therefore was swept in its home-and-home series against Syracuse this week, after suffering a 2-1 loss against the Salty Dogs at Claude Robillard Stadium, Wednesday.
The Salty Dogs picked up their fourth straigth win. They are now only six points away from the Richmond Kickers and fourth place in the Eastern Conference, the last one good enough for a playoff spot. Syracuse has one game in hand over Richmond.
"We're playing well, but we have lapses in concentration," said Impact head coach Nick DeSantis, who was furious in his team's locker room after the game. "I don't know if the guys thought it would be easier against a team like Syracuse after beating Rochester twice... But I don't think it's the case."
The game's first goal was scored following a cross by Attila Vendegh that Impact rookie defender Adrian Cann was unable to clear. The ball ended up in front of the goal mouth, where Carabajal's shot left no chance for goalkeeper Greg Sutton.
The penalty kick was awarded after Sutton, bothered by Salty Dogs forward Mauro Carabajal in his area, replied by pushing him with his elbow. Carabajal let himself fall to the ground and Sutton was ejected on the play. Rivas then beat goalkeeper Andrew Olivieri, who came into the game for Patrick Leduc.
"We can't afford to do things like that," said DeSantis. "Greg put his team in trouble. At 1-0, we were still in the game. The postive aspect is that even one man down, we scored and we kept creating scoring chances."
Mauricio Vincello almost tied it up in the dying seconds, but Syracuse goalkeeper Byron Foss pushed his 20-yard shot out of harm's way.
In the first half, the Impact came close to scoring at the 32nd minute when following a cross by Grande, goalkeeper Foss lost hold of the ball after hitting the ground. Sebrango picked up the loose ball and turned around, but his low shot was stopped at the goal line by a Salty Dogs defender.
The Impact will once again play twice next week. The Calgary Mustangs will be the visitors at Claude Robillard Stadium, Wednesday (7:30 pm, live on RDS, CKAC), and the Montreal club will then travel to Atlanta to face the Silverbacks, Saturday, July 24 (6:00 pm).
USL First Division Stories from July 17, 2004
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