A goal by Martin Nash in the 51st minute lifted the Montreal Impact over the Toronto Lynx in a game played before 6,872 spectators. Montreal keeper Greg Sutton, who was named second star of the game, recorded his fourth shutout of the season making six saves in all.
The Lynx controlled most of the play but were kept off the score sheet by a tenacious Montreal defense and the stellar play of Sutton. Both teams played intensely to start the game but the Lynx had the bulk of the chances. Montreal striker Eduardo Sebrango had the first chance of the game when he was fed a great pass by Nash in the 7th minute but he could not squeeze past defenders Mauricio Vincello and Jan Veenhoff in the box. Vincello had a good chance five minutes later when he took a free kick from 45 yards out but his shot went just wide of the net. The Lynx continued to press in the 16th minute as Robbie Aristodemo fought two Impact defenders and managed to get a pass off to teammate Ali Ngon who could not convert.
A terrible clearing attempt by Toronto keeper Theo Zagar in the 27th minute almost resulted in a Montreal goal. The ball was intercepted by Mauro Biello who shot wide from inside the box. Three minutes later a goal by Montreal was disallowed because of an offside. Sebrango stepped up the pressure a minute later making a great run on the right but took a very weak shot from inside the 18 yard box that Zagar easily stopped. Both teams continued to press for a goal. Just one minute later, Ngon unleashed a rocket from 20 yards out that Sutton smothered. On the very next play, Patrick Leduc sent a great cross into the Toronto box but Sebrango headed the ball well over the bar.
In the 34th minute Leduc made a run down the right side and sent a shot in on goal. Lynx defender Josue Mayard tried to kick the ball out of harm's way but almost put it into his own net. Two minutes later with the Lynx on the counterattack, Brian Ashton tested Sutton with a good shot from just outside the box but the Montreal keeper was up to the task. The game remained scoreless going into half-time.
In the second half, the Lynx started to increase the fouls. Substitute Adrian Serioux was yellow carded for a hard tackle on Sebrango just outside the Toronto box. On the resulting free kick, Nash sent a precise hard shot past Zagar and into the top left hand side of the net. Montreal 1 Toronto 0.
Trailing by one goal, the Lynx intensified their attack. Ngon had the best chance of the game when he was fed a great cross by Aristodemo and headed the ball towards the net. Sutton made a spectacular dive to the right to steer the ball just wide. Midfielder Joe Mattacchione had an excellent chance in the 70th minute sending a bullet towards Sutton who somehow smothered the ball. Sutton made another unbelievable save four minutes later when he stopped a point blank shot from Ryan Lucas with his shoulder. Sutton continued his spectacular play in the 74th minute on a Toronto corner. With Lynx player swarming in the box, he punched out a precise cross by Nikola Vignjevic. The Lynx continued to press until the very last second but Sutton stood tall in the Montreal net. Final score, Montreal 1 Toronto 0.
After the game Sutton praised his defense saying, "We're playing well as a unit. We have a couple of big players in the back. The teamwork is the key in the back." Nash, who scored his first goal in a Montreal uniform, said "I think we struggled a bit early in the game but we worked hard."
The two teams will now head to Toronto to play the second game in this home and away series on Sunday afternoon.
Game notes: Martin Nash and Nevio Pizzolitto returned to the Impact after playing with the Canadian National Team on Sunday against Germany in Wolfsburg. Rumors abound that the Canadian Soccer Association will ask FIFA to make an exception and allow Eduardo Sebrango to play for Canada even though he has already played some 20 games with the National team of Cuba on the grounds that he has defected from that country and is now a Canadian citizen.
Lineups:
Montreal-Greg Sutton (GK), Jason DiTullio, Nevio Pizzolitto, Gabriel Gervais, David Fronimadis, Nick DeSantis, Ze Roberto Santana, Patrick Leduc (sub. Mark Rowland 74th minute [sub Chris Williams 90th minute]), Martin Nash (sub. Drew Kopp 79th minute), Eduardo Sebrango, Mauro Biello (sub. Abraham Francois 64th minute). Substitutes not used: Michael Ueltschey (GK), Sita-Taty Matondo, Chris Lemire.
Toronto-Theo Zagar (GK), Jan Veenhoff (sub. Nicholas Blicharski 85th minute), Mauricio Vincello, Josue Mayard (sub. Sebastian Barclay 79th minute), Tyler Hughes (sub. Adrian Serioux 46th minute), Brian Ashton, David DiPlacido, Joe Mattacchione, Robbie Aristodemo (sub. Elvis Thomas 71st minute), Nikola Vignjevic, Ali Ngon (sub. Ryan Lucas 67th minute). Substitutes not used: James Kryger (GK).
Cautions: Serioux (Toronto 50th minute)
Goal: Nash (Montreal 51st minute, unassisted)
Conditions: Warm, field dry.
Attendance: 6, 872
Three stars: 1) Martin Nash 2) Greg Sutton 3) Nevio Pizzolitto
