EDMONTON, June 15, 2004 - Rebounding from their poor showing in Portland, the Edmonton Aviators were able to scratch out a 1-1 draw against arguably the best team in the A-League - the Montreal Impact. The well-rested Aviators were facing a Montreal team that was playing their third game in 5 days.
Once again using their tried and true 3-5-2 formation the Aviators settled in to a defensive shape early, obviously expecting a long match under pressure from the potent Montreal attack. Jose Luis Campi was once again backstopping the team, with Claudio Salinas, Liam de Silva, Chris Handsor holding the defence, and Jaime Lopresti, Kurt Bosch, Nikola Vignjevic in the middle of the pitch. Gordon Chin and Sean Fraser provided some support from the wings and Chris Lemire supporting the attack slightly behind Freddu Akok.
Things started brightly for the Aviators, Montreal looked not quite ready for the match and the Aviators were able to get a nice cross in to an onrushing Fraser, only to have Fraser taken down near the edge of the box and the booked for diving by the referee in the 5'.
Edmonton kept pushing forward and were awarded a free kick in the 9' from about 20 yards out. Taken by Lemire, his sharp strike was over everyone's head and bounced easily for Montreal goalkeeper Greg Sutton to make his first touch of the match. This seemed to wake up the Impact as they started putting together a crisp set of passes and a minute later Ze Roberto was able to get a nice cross in to a forward moving Antonio Ribeiro. Fortunately for the Aviators, his header bounced wide.
With the energy of the match taken up a notch, things became a little rougher and Montreal forward Frederick Commodore was cautioned and booked in the 15' for tripping. Despite their up tempo game being played largely in the Edmonton end, Montreal weren't really able to test Campi with much.
Edmonton's had the best chance of the half after Campi was able to grab the ball of a Montreal corner and send the Aviators up field on a counter-attack in the 20'. Fraser ran down a cross sent in over his head to the Montreal 16-yard box, snagging it just before it went over the end line and then rolled it right across the mouth of goal. Unfortunately no other Aivators players were in position to do anything about it and the ball rolled out into touch.
Montreal looked very solid defensively, as a tricky little move by Lemire sprung Fraser into space, only to run into the very solid Montreal backline. On the ensuing counter-attack, Joel John Bailey made a very nice run down the left side and slotted a cross on the ground right through the box. Fortunately for Edmonton, it was just out of the reach Commodore and the ball went out for a goal kick.
Two minutes after the Aviators' Chin was booked for tripping in the 38', Montreal once again showed their passing prowess as Chris Williams and Ribeiro connected well to find Gabriel Gervais all alone in the Edmonton box only to have him shoot the ball well wide of goal.
Montreal's best chance of the first half came late of a free kick from about 20 yards out. The strike by Nevio Pizzolitto rebounded off the Aviators wall, was gathered up and sent back into box by Williams and nearly caught Campi off his line. The Edmonton keeper was able to reach out to grab the ball and kept the game scoreless going into the break.
The second half began much as the first ended, with Montreal showing some speed up the middle as Bailey slipped between Bosch and Salinas around the 54' and got the ball forward to Commodore; forcing Campi to rush off his line and knock the ball out to safety. Edmonton dealt well with the early Montreal pressure and was able to make some nice defensive plays to stifle the Montreal attack.
Halfway through the second half, Montreal started to show the signs of a team playing it's 3rd match in 5 days and Edmonton was able to press the issue. In the 72' Edmonton was awarded a free kick as Vignjevic was fouled at the edge of the Impact's box. Lemire took the free kick and curled the ball just wide of the post.
Then, after a Montreal corner in the 74' minute, Edmonton was able to send 4 players forward on the counter-attack, Chris Lemire's initial shot was blocked, but Vignjevic picked up the ball and fired a hard, low shot at goal - forcing Impact goalkeeper Sutton to make a nice save.
Sensing an opportunity against a tired opponent, Edmonton kept pushing forward and in the 79' Lemire was taken down in the box. With no hesitation, the referee point to the spot - penalty kick!
Edmonton went with their proven penalty kick taker Lopresti. He stepped up to the mark and struck a powerful shot into the top left corner as Sutton dived to the right. 81' - GOAL Edmonton! Caught up in the emotion of scoring Edmonton's first goal on home soil, Lopresti pulled off his shirt in celebration and was promptly yellow carded.
With Edmonton's first win of the season 10 minutes away, Montreal made it's first substitution of the game, taking defender Lloyd Barker off for the more offensive-minded Nikola Budalic. To counter the move, Edmonton took off forward Freddy Akok and adding holding-midfielder Ebo.
Seeing their undefeated streak coming to an end Montreal pushed forward in numbers and Edmonton was hard pressed to hold their defensive shape. Caught up in the flurry of Montreal chances, in the 85' Lopresti clipped in the head by a slighty sloppy attempt at a bicycle kick by Montreal forward Commodore. Taking out all stops, Montreal made their second substitution in the 87', bringing in another forward, Darko Kolic for midfielder Antonio Ribeiro.
The move would prove to be a good one as just minutes later at 90'+ Montreal's Lloyd Barker took a short freekick, slotted the ball over to Joel John Baily who's lob found the head of a charging Darko Kolic and pulled Montreal even with the late equalizer.
Both teams seemed satisfied with the draw and overtime settled nothing. In the end Montreal preserved their undefeated streak, and a heartbroken Edmonton settled for a draw against one of the best teams in the league.
Greg Baker
Webmaster - The Hangar
www.aviatorshangar.com
